Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban

Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban[1] (lit. 'Malvar: The Fight Continues') is an upcoming Filipino biographical war film directed by Jose "Kaka" Balagtas and written by Ed Samson. It will depict the life of Miguel Malvar, one of the last Filipino generals to surrender in the Philippine–American War.[3] The film will star Manny Pacquiao as the titular General Malvar, with Isko Moreno as Andrés Bonifacio and E.R. Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo.[3]

Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban
Directed byJose "Kaka" Balagtas
Written byEd Samson
Based onGen. Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Revolution
by Edberto Malvar Villegas[1]
Produced by
  • Jose Malvar Villegas Jr.
  • Florita Santos
Starring
Production
company
JMV Film Productions
Distributed byStar Cinema
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
Budget₱100 million[2]

Producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. began plans for a film about General Malvar in 2000, though it was stalled due to apprehension that the American government, a close ally of the Philippines, could be offended with the work. After Rodrigo Duterte became President of the Philippines in 2016 and favored a more independent foreign policy for the country, Villegas was encouraged to proceed with his plans, with Pacquiao cast as Malvar by mid-2019. Though shooting was intended to take place in Batangas, the eruption of Taal Volcano in the province forced the production to move to Bulacan.

As plans for a Malvar film production became more public in late 2019, controversy arose over the production's lack of sought permission from Malvar's descendants, while the casting of Pacquiao as Malvar has been criticized.[4]

Cast

The full cast was presented at the Great Eastern Hotel's Aberdeen Court in Quezon City on December 22, 2019, with Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in attendance.[11][9]

Production

Development

Producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr.'s plans for a biographical film about General Miguel Malvar began in 2000, which at the time was stalled for an extended period due to the risk of offending the American government. However, after Rodrigo Duterte became president and advocated for a more independent foreign policy, Villegas was encouraged to proceed with his plans and committed to depicting in the film the atrocities committed during American colonization of the Philippine islands.[12]

Filming

Malvar was directed by Jose "Kaka" Balagtas and the provincial government of Batangas had involvement in its production.[13] According to Balagtas, filming locations for Malvar will include the Padre Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas and the Bay Laguna, a 40 hectares (99 acres) development were the Malvar Ecumenical and Film World Center will be built.[14] Filming for the trailer began on October 18, 2019.[15]

Villegas Jr., the head of JMV Film Production who reportedly is also a grandson of Malvar, serves as the producer of the film. Director Balagtas also doubles as the event producer. Imelda Papin, a singer and songwriter is Malvar's line producer with Florita Santos also involved as a co-producer.[16]

According to Michael Balaguer of the online news site Diaryong Tagalog, shooting locations will be moved from Batangas to the municipalities of Plaridel and Pandi in Bulacan due to the January 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano.[17] Production was hampered once again by March, this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to a lockdown of the entire Luzon area on March 17.[18][19]

The film was intended to be submitted to the 46th edition (2020) of the Metro Manila Film Festival, in addition to other international film festivals,[11] but as of December 2020, it has yet to be completed.[20]

Controversy

The production of Malvar has received controversy for the lack of sought permission from any of the descendants of Miguel Malvar other than producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. and his historian brother Edberto. Gabriel Malvar, the great grandson of Miguel Malvar, questioned the casting choice for the titular general of the film saying that his grandfather have his name "associated with anyone in politics" since Pacquiao is also an incumbent senator and also noted how Pacquiao's personality will "dominate" the film which he believed would detract the audience's attention from his grandfather's life to Pacquiao.[16][3]

References
  1. The Manila Times (September 11, 2020). "Malvar grandson dies". The Manila Times. The Manila Times, Publishing Company. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  2. Samio, Veronica (September 25, 2019). "Pacman gagastusan ng P100-m ang gagawing pelikula" [Pacman will spend P100-m in making a film]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino and English). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. Chua, Michael Charleston (October 26, 2019). "A historian's perspective: Gen. Malvar could have been the Pacquiao of his day, but..." ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  4. Madarang, Catalina Ricci (October 14, 2019). "Kin of Filipino hero General Malvar apprehensive about Pacquiao's portrayal". Interaksyon. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  5. Macaraig, Mark Jonathan (August 28, 2019). "People's champ Manny Pacquiao, "adopted son" ng Lalawigan ng Batangas". Province of Batangas (in Filipino and English). Province of Batangas. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. Samio, Veronica (October 22, 2019). "Mayor Isko tuloy na sa pelikula ni Sen. Manny!" [Mayor Isko to push through (his involvement) in Sen. Manny's film!]. Pilipino Star Ngayon. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  7. Bistado.Net (October 2019). "TF ni Mayor Isko sa 'Heneral Malvar". Bistado News Online (in Tagalog and English). Bistado Illustrator. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  8. Severo, Jan Milo (October 29, 2019). "'Fake news': TBA on John Arcilla playing 'Heneral Luna' in Manny Pacquiao's 'Malvar' film". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  9. TDT (December 28, 2019). "On atrocities and heroism". The Daily Tribune. Concept & Information Group, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. Ejercito, ER (January 5, 2020). "GENERAL MIGUEL MALVAR FILM PRESSCON..." Facebook. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  11. Manila Standard Showbiz (November 19, 2019). "'Malvar' intended for MMFF 2020, international fest". ManilaStandard.net. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  12. Manila Standard Showbiz (January 8, 2020). "Camera to start rolling for 'Malvar'". Manila Standard Mobile. manilastandard.net. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  13. Chua, Zsarlene (October 15, 2019). "Gen. Malvar's great-grandson opposes upcoming film". BusinessWorld. BusinessWorld Publishing. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  14. Asis, Salve (September 25, 2019). "Pacquiao gaganap na Bayani!" [Pacquiao will portray a Hero!]. Pang-Masa (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  15. "First day of shoot GENERAL MALVAR". Facebook. SWORD TV Philippines Broadcasting. October 18, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  16. Gregorio, Xave (October 13, 2019). "New Malvar biopic didn't get entire family's permission, kin says". CNN Philippines. Nine Media Corporation. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  17. Balaguer, Michael (February 25, 2020). "Syuting ng Pelikulang Gen. Malvar Ililipat sa Bulacan" [Shooting of Gen. Malvar Film to be Moved to Bulacan]. Diaryong Tagalog (in Tagalog). Diaryong Tagalog Networks Limited. Retrieved March 6, 2020. Nakatakdang mag[-]shoot ang Gen. Malvar Movie sa mga bayan ng Plaridel at [P]andi at iba pang makasaysayang lugar sa Bulacan...
  18. Rula, Gorgy (March 18, 2020). "Mayor Sara naghahanda na para sa kanyang filmbio?!" [Mayor Sara is now preparing for her filmbio?!]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved March 24, 2020. Bukod dito, nandiyan pa rin ang iba pang pagpu-produce ng biopic kagaya ng Malvar na pagbibidahan ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao na tigil-shooting din.
  19. Rappler.com (March 18, 2020). "Disney postpones 'Black Widow' Philippine release". Rappler. Manila, Philippines: Rappler, Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  20. Balagtas, Jose (December 9, 2020). "Miting for Malvar @greenwich pizza..." Facebook. Facebook Inc. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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