Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo

Make no mistake about that lengthy title. It’s not Imelda Papin’s mushy pop ballad known as Isang Linggong Pag-ibig. It is, in fact, a film title and the late Lino Brocka directed it from an original story and screenplay written by the late Orlando Nadres.

Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo was shown in 1976. It is about seven women who earn their keep as bar girls, each corresponding to a day in the week. “They defy, survive, accept or succumb to the cruelty and tenderness of sin city, Olongapo, the entertainment center created by the US naval base in the area,” was IMDb’s synopsis about the film.

A vintage photo of the stars of the from the movie was recently unearthed by singer Radha Cuadrado who, perhaps unknown to some people, is the granddaughter of acting great Lolita Rodriguez, the lead star of Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo. Lolita died in November last year in the US.

Also in the stellar cast are Laurice Guillen, Mitch Valdes, Bibeth Orteza, Sibyl Santiago, Lorli Villanueva and the late June Keithley. Bembol Roco, originally billed as Rafael Roco Jr., made his big screen debut in the film.

Chuchi and Metring David played aging strippers, according to Mitch. Both were “legitimate vaudeville performers,” as told in the original musical Katy! (with music and libretto by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab) that topbilled Mitch. Erstwhile radio talent Myrna Rosales was also in the cast of Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo.

“June just had Diego at that time and she had to leave him in Manila,” Mitch recalled. “She would travel back and forth by bus on days she had no shoot.” June was married to veteran broadcaster Angelo Castro Jr. and their eldest, Diego, is now also a news anchor.

The following year the movie was shown, Gawad Urian Awards started and Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo earned nominations for its lead stars. Lolita was cited as Best Actress, Bembol Roco for Best Actor and Mitch Valdes won as Best Supporting Actress (she tied with Yvonne of Ligaw na Bulaklak).

Laurice was also nominated as Best Supporting Actress and the film earned two other Urian citations as Best Production Design for Fiel Zabat and Best Music for Danny Subido. Laurice was also nominated for her supporting role in the FAMAS.

Radha found the photo of Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo in Lolita’s baul. “This is one for the books,” said Mitch, who posted the shot in her Facebook account. “Three cameras rolled at the same time, which was rare at that time. We played bar girls who performed a burlesque act every night, hence, the title. Our acts were filmed with a real audience of US navy men.”

Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo was a daring vehicle for its female stars. Recalled Mitch, “It was the first time I saw the Lolita slightly show nerves when she asked for scotch on the rocks and there was a little tremor in the hands as we were waiting for our numbers to begin. I was just waiting to pass out from not being able to breathe. Imagine performing a burlesque act to a big club full of drunken hooting sailors.”

Sadly, no copy of the film can be retrieved at this time. “It’s so very unfortunate that there is no copy of this movie anywhere to be found,” Mitch rued. “I don’t know how that happened. But it would have been cool to see it again just for the great memories.”

Interestingly, the year Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo was shown also yielded some of the most memorable, if not the best films, Philippine cinema has ever produced. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon was Eddie Romero’s classic which won Best Picture and Best Director at the Urian.

Then there were unforgettable works that included Lino’s Insiang, Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Mike de Leon’s Itim, Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara’s Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo, Ishmael Bernal’s Nunal sa Tubig and Ligaw na Bulaklak.