The brilliant stars of Bayang Magiliw

MANILA, Philippines - Bayang Magiliw gathers an array of brilliant stars coming from mainstream and indie cinema. Stage and television, too.

Wendell Ramos is an award-winning actor, at home with drama and equal to any role, be it lead or villain, or a combination of both. In Bayang Magiliw, Wendell plays the small-town mayor who sires many children out of wedlock. He outlaws family planning, including the use of artificial contraception.

Sharing stellar roles with Wendell are the Hollywood-trained Giselle Tongi and Arnold Reyes, who may well be called indie prince, having topbilled and shone in many independently-produced movies. They fight the mayor along with Jackie Lou Blanco and Lloyd Samartino (playing Giselle’s parents) and Raquel Villavicencio as the crusading barangay chairman in the small town, shot in Pagbilao, Quezon.

Years and years back, Jackie Lou and Lloyd were an item and Bayang Magiliw is some kind of reunion. On the set, they shared the good and painful times that they had, now laughing them off.

Giselle plays a lawyer while Arnold a doctor.

Raquel is more than an award-winning actress. She is also a noted writer and production designer — and once upon a time, a fashion model.

The women of the mayor include Sue Prado (wife) as well as Althea Vega and Princess Manzon (mistresses). Althea and Princess have previously been directed by Gil Portes, the last being Two Funerals, written by Eric Ramos, who collaborated for the third time with Gil in Bayang Magiliw. Gil hopes to work with Althea and Princess again. Ditto Sue, who the director says is a pleasure to work with.

Introducing is Aaron Yanga.

Leading the supporting cast is Tony Mabesa, mentor to many actors and directors at UP. Tony is the parish priest of the town called Magiliw, a role he has mastered to perfection. Dax Alejandro is the assistant of “Fr. Mabesa.”

Others in the cast are Benjie Felipe, Jess Evardone, Gino dela Peña, Rob Sy, AJ Dee and Ellen Adarna.

Also Alvin Fortuna and Menggie Cobrarrubias, with Tony Marino as narrator. Tony played in The King and I in Australia and appeared in several Broadway musicals. The people of Pagbilao have special participation in Bayang Magiliw.