Love in a Time of War in "Baler"

What happens when a soldier falls in love with a rebel’s daughter? Will they fight for their love or will the war keep them apart? These are just some of the questions raised by ‘Baler’, Viva Films’ official entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival, as it explores a love story that goes beyond the boundaries of war.

‘Baler’ tells the story of a young Filipina named Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales), a Spanish-Filipino soldier. It is set in the backdrop of the 1898 wartime action between a 57-man Rifle Battalion of the Spanish military and the Filipino forces, more popularly known as the Siege of Baler.

Feliza is the beautiful daughter of Nanding (Phillip Salvador), who’s a member of the rebel movement. This is the very reason why she and Celso have to keep their love a secret. Nanding, whose primary goal is to completely wipe out the Spanish soldiers stationed in the town of Baler, can never accept Celso, a half-Indio, half-Spanish soldier who chooses to serve the enemies more than the Filipino insurgents who are struggling and fighting for their independence.

While ‘Baler’ is a story of conflict, betrayal, suffering and self-preservation, selfishness, obstinacy and self-interest, it is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism, endurance, chivalry, humanity and more importantly, a noble love story in the time of war.

“While we are drawn to the endearing and enduring story of classic love that knows no time, place and race,” says director Mark Meily, “we are also brought into the historic past to take a peek into what transpired inside the walls of the church of Baler where the last Spanish contingent (who were not aware that the war had actually ended) heroically defended Baler against the Filipino forces for 337 long grueling days.

Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales team up for the first time as star-crossed lovers.

“I fell in love with my character the moment I read the script,” says Curtis, who, so far, has been assigned with mostly light romantic roles.

“It’s my most challenging role so far, and I’m honored to be part of this landmark movie,” she adds. “I’m happy that I’m given a chance to work with Jericho. I hope to live to his expectations as well as everybody who is putting their trust in me.”

“Heavy” is how Rosales describes his role, the approach of which he supported with research and rigid preparation, including learning how to speak the way Filipinos spoke at that time and studying their way of life when they were under the Spanish rule.

He says, “I can’t help but identify with my role who is torn between love of country and love for a woman who, so to speak, belongs to the other side of the fence.”

Aside from Rosales and Curtis, the ensemble cast includes Salvador, Michael de Mesa, Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Ryan Eigenmann, Carlo Aquino, Leo Martinez, Baron Geisler, Bernard Palanca, Allen Dizon, Jao Mapa, DJ Durano, Nikki Bacolod, Alvin Anson, Mark Bautista, Andrew Schimmer, Mikel Campos, Arvee Quizon, and PJ Valerio.

‘Baler’, directed by Meily from a well-researched screenplay by Roy Iglesias, is also described as the biggest and most expensive film made among the entries entered in this year’s MMFF line-up. Viva Films shelled out close to P60 million for the making of the film, with more than P20 million was spent to reconstruct the interiors of the church where the historic encounter between the Spanish Riffle Battalion and the Filipino forces happened.

A big chunk of the budget also went to the making of guns designed like those that existed in 1898 and to the costumes of the main actors and the hundreds of extras.

“We can’t help it,” says Viva boss Vic del Rosario, Jr. “It really takes that much money and with such manpower to recreate on the big screen the historic events in 1898. Remember that we are bringing a big slice of life that happened more than a century ago.”

“Everything has to be authentic, we cannot settle for anything less,” says Meily.

‘Baler’ is endorsed by the Department of Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It opens on December 25 at theaters nationwide.