Filipinas: A relevant, timely family drama

Viva Films joins the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival with a grand family drama, Filipinas, topbilled by the biggest and brightest stars of Philippine cinema and directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Roi Iglesias. Filipinas is the surname of the family featured in the story, but it may as well refer to the country. Like the Philippines, the family is undergoing trying and tumultuous times.

Topbilling the star-studded cast are Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Aiko Melendez, Victor Neri, and Wendell Ramos. They play the children of Armida Siguion Reyna, a widowed former principal who keeps her family together despite overwhelming odds.

Portraying other important roles in Filipinas are Raymond Bagatsing, Andrea del Rosario, Sunshine Dizon, Tanya Garcia, Anne Curtis and Sarah Geronimo in her big screen debut. Sarah sings the theme song, Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan.

The story is told from the point of view of Maricel, the devoted daughter who remains loyal to her mother despite feeling betrayed by her siblings.

Like many present-day Filipino families, the children of Filipinas are divided by ambition, principles and geography. Richard, who is his mother’s favorite, has a white-collar job in California. Dawn, who makes a much-awaited acting comeback, plays a caregiver in Israel. Aiko is the self-centered daughter. Victor is a union leader who goes underground. Wendell follows in the footsteps of his late father, a soldier fighting rebels in Mindanao. Maricel keeps her mother company, helping the family business, cooking and bottling preserved sweets. Aiko is engaged in an Indian trader (Raymond). Wendell is secretly married to Tanya. Sunshine is the adopted daughter of the family. Anne and Sarah are the daughters of Richard. Andrea del Rosario plays the ex-girlfriend of Richard.

Viva Films prepared the Filipinas project especially for the Metro Manila Film Festival, hoping to entertain and inspire the Filipino audience with a story that captures the dream and frustrations, joy and sadness of the country today.

Viva assembled a giant cast never before seen together on the big screen. Filipinas is a Lamangan-Iglesias collaboration. The tandem was also behind last year’s Mano Po, Metro Manila Filmfest top grosser and big award winner.

Joel received several filmfest offers, but he opted to do Filipinas as the story is close to his heart.

Maricel, Richard, Dawn, Aiko, Raymond and Armida are awardees, honored by the Urian, Academy, Star, FAMAS, Young Critics Circle, Metro Manila Filmfest and Manila Filmfest.

Joel and Roi are awardees too, the former meriting exposure and raves in Cairo, Toronto, Brussels, Pusan, Fukuoka. Flor Contemplacion, which Joel directed for Viva, won Best Picture and Best Actress (Nora Aunt) at the Cairo International Film Festival.

Armida gets the role of her life as the matriarch in Filipinas, an exemplary mother, who raises her children alone, loving, caring and fighting for them to the very end. She teaches them to love God and country, to remain united no matter what.

But deep-seated hurts and clashing egoes and interests divide the Filipinas children, leaving the mother broken-hearted. A tragedy strikes the family in the season of joy, hope and peace – Christmas and New Year. It keeps the family praying and staying together.

Filipinas, a grand family drama, is the most timely and relevant filmfest entry. It entertains and at the same time inspires parents and children alike. It is a must-see this coming Metro Manila Film Festival.