| Martyr or Murderer | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Darryl Yap |
| Written by | Darryl Yap |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Rain Yamson II |
| Edited by | Vincent L. Asis |
| Music by | Ashley Aunor Marion Aunor |
Production companies | VinCentiments Viva Films |
| Distributed by | Viva Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
| Box office | ₱5 million |
Martyr or Murderer is a 2023 Philippinefamilyperiod drama film based on afictionalized account of howFerdinand Marcos was accused of being responsible for theassassination of Ninoy Aquino.[1] Produced and distributed byViva Films, it is the second installment film byDarryl Yap about the Marcoses afterMaid in Malacañang (2022). Directed and written by Yap and produced by Vincent del Rosario III and Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, the film featuresCesar Montano,Cristine Reyes,Diego Loyzaga,Ella Cruz andRuffa Gutierrez reprising their roles, along withIsko Moreno,[2][3]Marco Gumabao,[2]Jerome Ponce,[2]Cindy Miranda, Sachzna Laparan,Elizabeth Oropesa andBeverly Salviejo.
During the release ofMaid in Malacañang, directorDarryl Yap revealed in an interview that the film is the first in a trilogy revolving around theMarcos family.[4]Martyr or Murderer is the second film in this trilogy, to be followed by an upcoming third film titledMabuhay Aloha Mabuhay, which will revolve around the exile in Hawaii of theMarcos family after thePeople Power Revolution in 1986.[2][4] Before the release of the trailer, the film was originally planned to be released in February 2023 in time for the anniversary of People Power Revolution, but was pushed back to March 1.[5] The film was not as successful as its predecessor, grossing around₱5 million worldwide.[6]
The movie begins with a voice recording of SenatorImee Marcos about what really happened to her family after her fatherFerdinand Marcos was removed from his post asPresident of the Philippines and forced to exile in Hawaii in 1986. Then it flashes back to 1954, when Ferdinand, then a congressman ofIlocos Norte, hosted a party for his fraternityUpsilon Sigma Phi. Among his fraternity brothers wereMel Mathay andThe Manila Times reporterNinoy Aquino. In a speech, Ferdinand proposed toImelda Romualdez, who came from a prominent family inLeyte, whom he only knew for 11 days. However, Ninoy had a huge feeling towards Imelda, but Imelda rejected him. In 1989, Imee who was inMorocco was visited by her cousin Maricar, who told her about what really happened after they were exiled. Then, Imee recalled theassassination of Ninoy Aquino.
In 1983, weeks before Ninoy was assassinated, there was a festive mood in the town ofSarrat, Ilocos Norte for the wedding ofIrene Marcos to Greggy Araneta. Imee recalled that her mother would often talk to Ninoy in New York City. During their conversation, Imelda told Ninoy that he should be grateful to her and Ferdinand for allowing him to go to the United States to undergo heart bypass surgery. Ninoy would recall the day Imelda rejected him many years ago.
The last time Ninoy and Ferdinand encountered was in 1968, during the golden anniversary of Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. There, Ferdinand lambasts Ninoy for his exposés regarding theJabidah massacre.
On August 21, 1983, Ninoy was assassinated. Imee, furiously confronted her father regarding on his statement that theNew People's Army killed Ninoy. Imee suggested that her father should expose Ninoy's connection with the communists.
Imee told Maricar that she would not be able to come back to the United States and that they have lost everything because of Corazon Aquino (thePresidential Commission on Good Government sequestered all of Marcos's properties). While wandering around Morocco, she saw her father, and followed him. She remember when they were in Hawaii, she was asked by Ferdinand to leave to prevent her from any investigation from the US government.
Imee, received a piece of paper, with a letter from a hospital in Hawaii. Upon calling to the hospital, she learned that her father is dying. Imee asked Imelda to talk to her father. She asked forgiveness for all of the mistakes she had done. Ferdinand told her that he loves her before dying.
In 2016, Imee, nowGovernor of Ilocos Norte, received a phone call from her younger brother, Bongbong, who is running forVice President of the Philippines. Bongbong told Imee that his opponent, CongresswomanLeni Robredo, cheated the elections. The scene cuts to the portrait ofNoynoy Aquino, Ninoy andCory Aquino's only son, who was the sitting president that time.
The final scene showsBongbong Marcos preparing for his inauguration as the 17th President of the Philippines, the prelude forMabuhay, Aloha, Mabuhay.
On October 11, 2022, Yap announced on social media that he had started writing the screenplay forMartyr or Murderer.[8] However, Yap expressed that he will step back from his directing role for the sequels and focus on writing their screenplays. On November 7, senatorImee Marcos confirmed that the sequel forMaid in Malacañang is in the works.[9]
Isko Moreno was cast in the role ofNinoy Aquino.[10][11] Additionally,Marco Gumabao,Jerome Ponce andCindy Miranda were announced to play the younger versions of Ferdinand Marcos, Ninoy Aquino and Imelda Marcos respectively.[12][13][14]
The teaser of the film was released on December 22, 2022.[15]