Costanilla: ‘Palad’ trailer on Google

COMMENDABLE. Believe it or not but the remaking of the 1969 Visayan movie, Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot (Our Fate Decides), has been supported by a number of Visayans in California, who chipped in varying amounts to enable MYR Productions to do it.

This is very commendable of our Visayan brothers, whose concern for the eventual revival of the local film industry is beyond question. True, they are now residing in the US but their concern for the Visayan movie industry is genuine. So when they asked Dandin Ranillo to direct the movie, he readily said yes and accepted the challenge. He was still a kid in knee shorts when the original film was created and shown 43 years ago.

His mother, Gloria Sevilla, the Queen of Visayan Movies, and boxing champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde were then the lead stars.

Boxer. Coincidence or not, it’s worth noting that in this remake, another “Flash” is playing the lead role. He is also a world boxing champion like Elorde. I’m referring to Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire who is a true-blue Boholano. In this movie, he displays his natural flair for acting and does well in drama, action and comedy.

I should know because when we shot our scenes in Sucat, Parañaque, last month, I had the chance to observe him up close and personal. Off camera, Donaire is a very friendly and approachable person, someone you can talk to easily. Yes, he is a world boxing champ but you can see that his humility and simplicity are the traits that he values a lot.

Stars. Except for Sevilla and Suzette Ranillo, the rest of the stars of Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot are not that hugely popular but Dandin is right in getting them as actors. He believes that giving them the chance to appear in this remake is one of the best steps he has to take as film director. The leading lady here is Crissel Valdez, a lovely lady from Davao, who was first runner-up in Starpower. Karla Estrada, Lolly Mara, Akiko Solon, Baldo Marro, Bobby Vale, Dionne Monsanto, Max Surban, Garry Lim, Angelie Bayani, Amay Bisaya and the veteran actress Perla Bautista appear in special roles in this movie. 

Plan. It makes us happy to know that Dandin has already lined up at least five more Visayan movies after Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot but he emphasized that this plan would largely depend upon the outcome of the remake. We should pray harder for this film to have an impressive showing at the tills so that Dandin and his supportive friends in California will be encouraged to produce the next Visayan motion picture. Trying to revive the Visayan film industry may be a tall order but if we do not do something now, nothing will ever happen to this ambitious goal.

Bilingual. So that non-Visayans would understand the movie, it is a bilingual production, meaning the speaking lines are in Visayan and Pilipino (Tagalog) with English subtitles. This would enable even foreigners to watch and appreciate Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot. 

Trailer. If you want to watch the trailer of this remake, simply go to Google and type “palad ta ang nagbuot movie trailer” and you will see that this movie is a feel-good and a wholesome family-oriented production. There’s a moral lesson behind it—that to achieve success, one must not give up in the midst of life’s obstacles and challenges.

At any rate, the premiere showing has been slated on Oct. 21 at SM City Cebu and the regular run starts on Oct. 31.