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| Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jose "Kaka" Balagtas |
| Written by | Ed Samson |
| Based on | Gen. Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Revolution by Edberto Malvar Villegas[1] |
| Produced by |
|
Production company | JMV Film Productions |
| Distributed by | Star Cinema |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
| Budget | ₱100 million[2] |
Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban[1] (lit. 'Malvar: The Fight Continues') is an unfinished Filipinobiographicalwar film directed byJose "Kaka" Balagtas and written by Ed Samson. It would have depicted the life ofMiguel Malvar, one of the last Filipino generals to surrender in thePhilippine–American War.[3] The film's cast includedManny Pacquiao as the titular General Malvar, withIsko Moreno asAndrés Bonifacio andE.R. Ejercito asEmilio Aguinaldo.[3]
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. AfterRodrigo Duterte becamePresident of the Philippines in 2016 and favored a more independentforeign 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 inBatangas, theeruption of Taal Volcano in the province forced the production to move toBulacan.
As plans for aMalvar 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]
The full cast was presented at the Great Eastern Hotel's Aberdeen Court inQuezon City on December 22, 2019, withPresidential SpokespersonSalvador Panelo in attendance.[11][9]
Producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr.'s plans for a biographical film about GeneralMiguel Malvar began in 2000, which at the time was stalled for an extended period due to the risk of offending the American government. However, afterRodrigo Duterte became president and advocated for a more independentforeign 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]
Malvar was directed byJose "Kaka" Balagtas and the provincial government ofBatangas had involvement in its production.[13] According to Balagtas, filming locations forMalvar would have included thePadre Pio Shrine inSanto Tomas,Batangas and the Bay Laguna, a 40 hectares (99 acres) development were the Malvar Ecumenical and Film World Center would 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, served as the producer of the film. Director Balagtas also doubled 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 would have been moved from Batangas to the municipalities ofPlaridel andPandi inBulacan due to theJanuary 2020 eruption ofTaal Volcano.[17] Production was hampered once again by March, this time due to theCOVID-19 pandemic which has led to alockdown of the entireLuzon area on March 17.[18][19]
The film was intended to be submitted to the 46th edition (2020) of theMetro Manila Film Festival, in addition to other international film festivals,[11] but as of December 2020, it had yet to be completed.[20]
The production ofMalvar 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 would "dominate" the film which he believed would detract the audience's attention from his grandfather's life to Pacquiao.[16][3]
Nakatakdang mag[-]shoot ang Gen. Malvar Movie sa mga bayan ng Plaridel at [P]andi at iba pang makasaysayang lugar sa Bulacan...
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.
