"IGINUHIT NG TADHANA" (1965): DID MARCOS KILL NALUNDASAN?

"Iginuhit ng Tadhana" (1965)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rosa Mia, Tony Cayado, Ven Medina, Venchito Galvez, Jose Morelos/ with Vilma Santos, Chona and Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr./ Directed by Mar S. Torres, Jose de Villa & Conrado Conde

Iginuhit ng Tadhana, a political propaganda movie, tells of the life and exploits of then Philippine Presidential candidate, Senator Ferdinand E. Marcos (played by Luis Gonzales). One of the highlights of the two-and-half movie was the celebrated Nalundasan case, where the young Marcos was accused of murder. Was he guilty of the crime or not?

On the evening of September 20, 1935, newly elected Ilocos Sur Rep. Julio Nalundasan was murdered in his home, after dinner, while brushing his teeth. The alleged assassin was the 18-year-old Ferdinand Marcos, then a University of the Philippines student, whose father Mariano had just lost to Nalundasan in the election for the Commonwealth-era National Assembly. Mariano's devastating defeat was made even more humiliating by Nalundasan's decision to hold a victory parade that featured a coffin bearing his rival's name. (see clip below)

Courtesy of 777 Film Productions

Ferdinand Marcos, along with his father and two uncles were arrested and charged with the murder of Nalundasan in 1938.

In April 1939, Marcos received Bachelors of Laws and studied for the bar examinations while in prison. He posted bail in August the same year to attend the bar exams. In September 1939, Marcos, his father and two uncles stood trial before Laoag Provincial Court of First Instance. In November 1939, Ferdinand Marcos was summoned by the university dean on suspicion of cheating in the bar exams. Marcos managed to justify his extremely high marks but was not allowed to take oath as his own trial was still pending. Some months later Marcos was found guilty by the Laoag Provincial Court and sentenced to imprisonment.

Marcos appealed to the Supreme Court and defended himself (see clip below). The Supreme Court under Justice Jose P. Laurel granted Marcos acquittal after finding the prosecution's case contradictory. In effect, Marcos has won his first case before he had even started to practice law. The Philippine Free Press called him lawyer of the year in the November 12, 1940 issue. Marcos became a trial lawyer in Manila.

Courtesy of 777 Film Productions

Sources:
http://www.philippines-archipelago.com/people/presidents/ferdinand_e_marcos.html
http://www.pcij.org/i-report/2007/dynasty-building3.html

"A DANGEROUS LIFE" (1988): THE FALL OF MARCOS

In 1988, a docu-drama TV-movie was made chronicling the events leading to the 1986 EDSA People’s Power Revolution. It was originally released as a six-hour HBO mini-series in the United States. It was later edited to 162-minute television movie. It was released in home video and was made available in the Philippines in Laser Disc format. The movie, “A Dangerous Life,” directed by Robert Markowitz, starred a miscast Gary Busey in the role of an American journalist, Tony O’Neil, covering the last years of the Marcos regime. It starts in August 21, 1983 when Senator Benigno Aquino was assassinated and ends in February 25, 1986 when the Marcoses fled the country and installed Corazon Aquino to power. What could have been a relatively good movie turned out to be a disaster in some parts--- a ridiculous and funny retelling of some important and momentous events. Some scenes were filmed in Sri Lanka when then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and the government ordered the producers out of the country for taking liberties with the truth. It’s funny seeing Sri Lankans as Filipinos in the EDSA uprising. Another scene with Imelda (played by Tessie Tomas) singing New York New York on the plane to Hawaii? 

What glued me watching this two-and-a-half movie are the performances of some of our Filipino talents, particularly veteran actor Ruben Rustia as Ferdinand Marcos, Tessie Tomas as Imelda Marcos and Laurice Guillen as Cory Aquino. Other local talents include Dina Bonnevie, Johnny Delgado, Roy Alvarez, Rolando Tinio, Joonee Gamboa, Rez Cortez, Vic Diaz and many more.

There are some good scenes but one of the best parts of the movie worth mentioning was when Ruben Rustia as Marcos, felt betrayed, disappointed and frustrated, being told by the US government to "cut clean and leave." The whole Marcos household was in total disarray and you'll feel the Marcoses'anguish and agony losing grip of the power they held for 20 long years.

THE STORY BEHIND "MAHARLIKA" (1971)

"Maharlika" (1971)- Stars Paul Burke, Farley Granger
and Dovie Beams/ Directed by Gerry Hopper

Maharlika (1971), produced by Paul Mason and directed by Gerry Hopper, depicted the legendary exploits of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos during World War II. The lead stars are Paul Burke (in the role of the young Marcos), Farley Granger and starlet Dovie Beams who played the role of Isabella, a Fil-American mestiza. The movie was said to be a part of CIA-funded propaganda to portray Marcos as a war hero who fought the Japanese during WW II. It became a sizzling issue and controversy ensued when the press made an expose and divulged the existence of a tape recordings incriminating the President and allegedly confirming the rumors that Ms. Beams was the President’s mistress.

Beams held a press conference before leaving the country, and delighted the press and public by playing the controversial erotic tape recordings of her with Ferdinand Marcos. She managed to hide a tape recorder under the bed to record while making love with the former President. According to her, she was forced to come into the open since there were threats to her life.

Although the film was yanked out of exhibition, it enjoyed a brief run at several theaters after the EDSA revolution in 1986.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1965: MOVIE [IGINUHIT NG TADHANA] ON MARCOS SUSPENDED

In 1965, the Board of Censors suspended the movie exhibition of Iginuhit ng Tadhana (a movie biography of Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos). Many believed and suspected that Malacanang had a hand in the board's decision and such action was a wrong political maneuver and ploy that proved disastrous to the reelection bid of incumbent President Diosadado Macapagal. It practically ensured the Presidential electoral victory of Marcos.

Let’s relive that moment in history from the front pages of The Manila Times.

Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Luciano B. Carlos, Mar S. Torres and Conrado Conde

MOVIE ON MARCOS SUSPENDED
PALACE BODY DEFENDS ACTION
By Isagani Yambot/ Sept. 3, 1965

The suspension of the showing of a movie on the life of Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos stirred yesterday a political storm and precipitated the resignation of the chairman of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures. Officials of the board said that the board voted to suspend the exhibition of the movie, “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” (Destined by Fate) because its producer failed to submit it for preview by the board en banc or by the entire board.

The film had been approved for showing by a subcommittee of four headed by Mrs. Rosalina I. Castro last August 24. The board said it interpreted the refusal of the movie company, the 777 Film Productions, to comply with its order as defiance of the Board. The order of the board also suspends the showing of the movie in eight provinces and cities--- Camarines Norte, Batangas, Marawi City, Pampanga, Cotabato, Aklan, Masbate, and Sulu. The film has been showing in theaters in these places since Aug. 24, the date of the approval of the picture by the subcommittee of four.

In the wake of the suspension of the showing of the film, columnist Jose L. Guevarra, chairman of the board of censors, tendered his resignation. Guevarra did not state his reason for resigning in his letter to President Macapagal, but sources close to him said that the resolution of suspension, which was adopted in his absence, had something to do with it.

NPs HIT CENSORS’ ACTION

Nacionalista leaders last night assailed the suspension of the showing of the Marcos movie, “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” (Destined by Fate) as “unfair and unsportsmanlike” and denounced it as an infringement on the freedom of expression.” The order of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures caused the postponement of a press preview of the movie at 2 p.m. and the gala premiere at 8 p.m. yesterday, both scheduled at the Rizal Theater in Makati, Rizal.

Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos, NP Presidential candidate and the subject of the movie, apologized to the gala premiere audience at the Rizal Theater for the inconvenience caused them. Marcos appeared before the audience briefly with his wife, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and his running mate, Senate President Pro-tempore Fernando Lopez.

The movie film showing was later allowed but the damage caused by its suspension had caused tremendous dent on the political campaign of President Macapagal.

See Marcos vs. Macapagal

MARCOS VS MACAPAGAL: THE 1965 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

1965 Marcos campaign poster

1965 Macapagal campaign poster

Luis Gonzales and Gloria Romero in Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965)

The 1965 presidential campaigns of Macapagal versus Marcos became the "battle of books and film." Marcos struck first with the book, "For Every Tear a Victory: The Story of Ferdinand E. Marcos." Macapagal countered with "Macapagal the Incorruptible." The next arena was the silver screen: "Iginuhit ng Tadhana (Destined)" portrayed Marcos as an intellectual and hero while "Daigdig ng Mga Api (World of the Oppressed)" illustrated Macapagal's grandiose blueprint to deliver the masses from poverty. http://www.pcij.org/imag/2004Elections/Campaign/songs2.html
In terms of box-office take, Iginuhit was way ahead of Daigdig--- I saw Iginuhit when I was kid at Life Theater and its a SRO. Though Daigdig didn't do well much in the box-office, it however garnered eight FAMAS awards including Best Picture and Best Director [for Gerry de Leon]. I haven't seen the film and it's a pity that such masterpiece may be lost forever.

Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965)

Tagumpay ng Mahirap (1965) - Probably this was the movie, and not Daigdig ng mga Api as reported, that was based on the book "Macapagal The Incorruptible." It was also released in 1965 by Cinema Masters, Inc., the same company that gave us Daigdig ng mga Api. The movie was directed by Lamberto Avellana, Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon, all National Artists.

Daigdig ng mga Api (1965)

The Macapagal Story (1963)- the forgotten movie on the life of President Diosdado Macapagal shown in 1963 starring the great Leopoldo Salcedo.