‘Kampilan’: A film chronicling Lapu-Lapu’s heroism as told in Maranao’s version

MANILA, Philippines — The Sultanate Films International is brewing a historical film that chronicles the heroism of Lapu-Lapu, regarded as the first Filipino hero who, along with his men, gallantly fought and beat the Spanish forces in the Battle of Mactan in 1521.

Titled “Kampilan: The Untold Story of Kalip Pulaka,” it will depict the legendary tale of Kalip Pulaka, also known as Lapu-Lapu, as told through the lens of Maranao’s oral tradition called darangan.

The movie is written and directed by Angelo Carpio, and executively produced by former police provincial director of Lanao Del Sur and currently the bureau director of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Cosanie Derogongan, and produced by Sultan Bob Datimbang and Shiekh Abdulrazzaq Siddiq.

Direk Carpio stressed that they “don’t want to alter history” and that they are just presenting the version of the people from the South.

He noted that the only primary source we have on Lapu-Lapu is Antonio Pigafetta, a chronicler of Ferdinand Magellan’s expeditions. “Until we came up for the first time on what we called ‘darangan’ from the Maranao tribe and this is our basis,” shared direk Carpio in a presscon.

“At this point, magkakaroon ng mga pag-aaral ulit. That is what we need. We need to establish (present) the historical injustice natin sa mga Moro people that we weren’t able to include in our history. It’s very wide, rich and mas marami pa tayong mahuhukay from our history if we go back to our brothers in the South.

“And that is what we are giving them — the opportunity, the chance for them to be heard. Our Moro brothers have a lot of stories that we will try to uncover and share their stories through Sultanate Films.”

Direk Carpio enumerated the actors who portrayed Lapu-Lapu in past films, namely, Lamberto Avellana (1955), Mario Montenegro (1955), Calvin Millado (1995), (Sen.) Lito Lapid (2002), and Michael Copon (2023).

And the next one?

It remains to be seen in “Kampilan: The Untold Story of Kalip Pulaka” as direk Carpio mentioned that they are still searching for the actor who will play the lead in the forthcoming film.

Nevertheless, he assured the viewers that more epic fighting scenes will be seen in the movie.

The title “Kampilan” is named after what Muslims consider as their “royal sword.” They will be using an actual kampilan, a historical treasure from Mindanao and owned by the sultan himself, in the film, said direk Carpio.

Datimbang explained that the kampilan is historical for Muslims like him. “When the first invaders came, kampilan was our weapon (against them) and the Japanese followed, kampilan din ang tumalo sa kanila.”

He also told The STAR that through the movie, they will relive history. “The Sultanate Films International will try to come up with a historical film to (re)awaken the Filipinos.”

“Kumita man o hindi, sapat na sa amin ng mapalitaw namin ang kasaysayan ng mga Filipinos,” he added.

Siddiq, for his part, cited the Philippines’ very brave history. “There are people who defended their land (from) these colonial powers. They can see (through this film) how great this nation is and how great they defended their land from the colonial powers,” he added.

Derogongan, on the other hand, described “Kampilan: The Untold Story of Kalip Pulaka” as an educational film, saying, “(The movie will) provide more knowledge to non-Muslims about the Muslim culture as told in the Muslim version from the South.”