Content deleted Content added
No edit summary Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
No edit summary Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
||
| (47 intermediate revisions by 32 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = El Presidente:<br />
| image = File:Elpresidente1.jpg
| caption = Theatrical film poster
Line 31 ⟶ 33:
*English
}}
| budget = {{Philippine peso|130 million}}<ref>
| gross = {{Philippine Peso|22.6 million}}
}}
'''''El Presidente:
The film was one of the official entries to the [[2012 Metro Manila Film Festival]] and was released in theaters nationwide on December 25, 2012.<ref name="2012 MMFF Official Entries">{{cite web|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/362358/2012-mmff-official-entries-bared|title=2012 MMFF Official Entries: Official Website|website=[[Manila Bulletin]] |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927050350/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/362358/2012-mmff-official-entries-bared|archivedate=September 27, 2012}}</ref> Produced by [[Scenema Concept International]], CMB Films and [[Viva Films]], in cooperation with [[San Miguel Corporation]], [[Petron Corporation]], [[Boy Scouts of the Philippines]], [[Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar|Las Casas Filipinas de Acúzar]], and the [[Film Development Council of the Philippines]], it premiered on December 18, 2012, at the [[SM Mall of Asia]]'s [[SMX Convention Center Manila]].
==Plot==
In 1886, during [[History of the Philippines (1565-1898)|the Spanish colonial era]], a young [[Emilio Aguinaldo]] and his best friend Candido Tirona receive cryptic prophecies from an old woman; Aguinaldo learns of his rise to power and eventual downfall while Tirona learns of his death. Ten years later, Aguinaldo, now the [[gobernadorcillo]] of his hometown [[Cavite El Viejo]], is secretly inducted into the [[Katipunan]] by its leader [[Andrés Bonifacio]], and assumes leadership of its [[Cavite]] [[Magdalo (Katipunan faction)|chapter]]. When [[Battle of San Juan del Monte|trouble breaks out in Manila in late August]], the [[Philippine Revolution]] starts and Aguinaldo secretly mobilizes his army despite the lack of weapons. Learning that the Spaniards have deployed most of their forces in and around [[Manila]], Aguinaldo leads his army and defeats the Spanish troops in a series of battles that liberate Cavite from Spanish hands, but at great cost as Tirona is killed in action, as the old woman predicted.
As the Katipunan gains ground in Cavite and the nearby provinces, its Magdalo and Magdiwang factions [[Tejeros Convention|convene at Tejeros]] to create a revolutionary government that will unify the divided revolutionaries. The ensuing election ends with Aguinaldo elected as president, [[Mariano Trías]] as vice-president, and Bonifacio himself as interior minister. Bonifacio later storms out of the convention after [[Daniel Tirona]] objects to his position. Meanwhile, as Aguinaldo and his forces fight the Spaniards at [[Battle of Pasong Santol|Pasong Santol]], he receives news of his victory at the convention from [[Crispulo Aguinaldo|his brother]]. Aguinaldo leaves his men under his brother's command while he attends his inauguration. Aguinaldo eventually hears of his brother's death and his army's defeats. Aguinaldo also learns that an embittered Bonifacio has established his own government in [[Naic]] since no one in the Katipunan recognizes him as leader anymore. Bonifacio is soon arrested by Aguinaldo's supporters who accuse him of sedition during his trial. Unwilling to fracture the Katipunan any further as it will jeopardize their unity against the Spaniards, Aguinaldo orders Bonifacio simply be exiled but the war council secretly orders Bonifacio's execution.
Several months later, the war's tide is turned when Cavite is retaken by the Spaniards. Aguinaldo, with most of his forces, retreats to [[San Miguel, Bulacan#History|Biak-na-Bato]] in [[Bulacan]] where he creates a [[Republic of Biak-na-Bato|new revolutionary government]] and [[Pact of Biak-na-Bato|negotiates with the Spaniards]] to end the conflict and peacefully secure the country's independence; in exchange, however, Aguinaldo and his followers have to go [[British Hong Kong|to Hong Kong]]. In there, Aguinaldo meets with U.S. officials who offer him support. As the [[Spanish–American War]] takes place, Aguinaldo returns to the Philippines and [[Battle of Alapan|defeats the Spaniards]], finally winning [[Declaration of Philippine Independence|the country's freedom]]. The [[First Philippine Republic]] is then formed in [[Malolos]] while the diplomat [[Felipe Agoncillo]] tries in vain to represent the newly formed nation at the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|peace negotiations between Spain and the U.S. in Paris]].
The peace treaty eventually ends with Spain secretly selling the Philippines to the U.S. for $20,000,000 in order to evade humiliation. This results in a [[Philippine–American War|brutal war with the Americans]] in February of the following year. [[Antonio Luna]], a short-tempered general, is appointed commander of the [[Philippine Revolutionary Army|army]]. However, because of his brash and ruthless nature, Luna is brutally murdered by disgruntled troops and the Filipino forces are easily routed by the Americans. As a result, Aguinaldo flees to Northern Luzon. American forces quickly catch up and a young general [[Gregorio del Pilar]] holds them off at [[Battle of Tirad Pass|Tirad Pass]], allowing Aguinaldo to continue his escape. Two years later, in [[Palanan, Isabela]], Aguinaldo's loyal courier is captured by the Americans while getting some medicine for his sick son. After learning from him of Aguinaldo's whereabouts, American forces under [[Frederick Funston]] and their [[Philippine Scouts#Macabebe Scouts|Kapampangan]] scouts capture Aguinaldo. The war ends in American victory and, as the old woman predicted, Aguinaldo laments his downfall.
As an elderly Aguinaldo lies on his bed, the
▲Having been made to accept the American occupation over the Philippines, Aguinaldo lives a quiet life, which is marred by Hilaria's death in 1921. He meets and marries Agoncillo's niece María in 1930. Over the next few decades, the couple witness Philippine history unfold once more as he is defeated in the [[1935 Philippine presidential election|1935 presidential elections]], [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|Japanese occupation]], and the restoration of full independence. In 1962, an elderly Aguinaldo and his wife comfort each other over President [[Diosdado Macapagal]]'s decree to restore the actual date of the Philippine declaration of independence.
▲As Aguinaldo lies on his bed, the same woman who gave him his prophecy appears to him one more time.
==Cast==
{{castlist|
*[[Emilio Ramon Ejercito|Jeorge "E.R." Ejercito Estregan]] as Gen. [[Emilio Aguinaldo]]
**Jericho Ejercito as young Emilio Aguinaldo
Line 61:
*[[Cesar Montano]] as [[Andrés Bonifacio]]
*[[Cristine Reyes]] as [[Hilaria Aguinaldo]]
*[[Alicia Mayer|Alicia Meyer]] as the
*[[Ronnie Lazaro]] as Gen.
**[[Matt Lozano| Mav Lozano]] as
*[[Bayani Agbayani]] as Gen. [[Baldomero Aguinaldo]]
*Gerard Ejercito as Gen. [[Críspulo Aguinaldo]]
Line 88:
*[[William Martinez (actor)|William Martinez]] as Dr. Santiago Barcelona
*Ronnie Quizon as [[Apolinario Mabini]]
*[[
*[[Alvin Anson]] as [[Felipe Agoncillo]]
*[[Lou Veloso]] as [[Julián Felipe]]
Line 104:
*[[Tony Mabesa]] as Gen. Echaluche
*[[Troy Montero]] as Col. [[Frederick Funston]]
*James Paolleli as Gen. [[Arthur MacArthur
*Recto Cantimbulan as Padre Cenón Villafranca
*[[Joonee Gamboa]] as Amb. [[Felipe Buencamino]]
*Mark Meily as Presidente ng Indang
*[[Roldan Aquino]] as María Agoncillo's father
Line 115:
*Maita Ejercito as [[Marcela Agoncillo]]
*Jhulia Ejercito as [[Lorenza Agoncillo]]
**Leah Villalon as older
*Jenny Javier as [[Delfina Herbosa de Natividad]]
*Maylyn Enriquez as Felicidad Aguado
Line 122:
*[[Bearwin Meily]] as Benjamín San Luis
*Emmanuelle Ejercito as Gregorio Jocson
*Chris Perris as Capt. [[Harry Hill Bandholtz]]
*Brenton Metken as Rousenville Wildman
*Henry Strzalkowski as Gen. [[Francis Greene]]
*Oliver Borlen as [[Théophile Delcassé]]
*Allan Pérez as Governor-General [[Ramón Blanco, 1st Marquis of Peña Plata|Ramón Blanco]]
Line 143 ⟶ 144:
*Roger Clarico as Legarda
*Ace Mangamon as Flavio
}}
==Development==
A 350-page script emerged in 1998, with the proposed film meant for the Philippines' Independence Centennial, but no production was made.
Ejercito said Meily was chosen to direct the film due to his knowledge of Aguinaldo, experience in large productions, and personal belief in him.<ref name="replicatesuccess">{{cite
Despite the existence of the 1998 script, Meily opted to create an entirely different script instead.<ref name="interaksyon"/> He wanted to hire screenwriters at Ejercito's request, but volunteered to write it himself when no writers joined the project. Meily claims he tried to make the film as factually accurate as possible, and he describes the finished product as "95 percent" accurate to what really happened.<ref name="interaksyon"/> Historians were on set to ensure full accuracy.<ref name="mb" />
Ejercito described the film as much harder to make than ''Manila Kingpin'' because it "deals directly with our country's history." Over 50 professional actors and actresses were cast for the movie. He also described the "set, costumes, locations, and logistics" as "staggering by all Philippine cinema standards."<ref name="replicatesuccess" /> He also claimed that it was the biggest and most expensive Filipino film ever, as the film was made on a budget of {{Philippine Peso|130 million}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/guide/11092/ER-Ejercito-on |title=ER Ejercito on El Presidente's P130M budget: "''Ito na yata ang pinakamalaki at pinakamagastos na pelikulang Pilipino.''" (This
==Release==
''El Presidente'', along with seven other Metro Manila Film Festival entries, was released on December 25, 2012, in 54 theaters,<ref name="bworld">{{cite web |url=http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=64066 |title=Award and box office controversies: business as usual at the Metro Manila Film Fest |author=Jeffrey O. Valisno |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=January 14, 2013 |work=[[BusinessWorld]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221535/http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=64066 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although it was premiered on December 18, 2012, at the [[SMX Convention Center]] at the [[SM Mall of Asia]].<ref name="mb" /> It went on to gross PhP4.2 million in Metro Manila, the sixth most among MMFF films. After the film festival ended, the [[
==Critical reception==
Line 163:
In a review, Phillip Cu-Unjieng of the ''[[Philippine Star]]'' said it "vividly recaptures" one of the Philippines' most turbulent periods in history by exposing the infighting among the Katipunan's members and how Aguinaldo wanted to resolve them. He noted that the film's quality makes it almost stand out as much as Richard Attenborough's ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'', Steven Spielberg's ''[[Lincoln (2012 film)|Lincoln]]'', and Martin Scorsese's ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/27/12/review-aguinaldo-and-his-story-el-presidente |title=Aguinaldo and his story in 'El Presidente' |author=Phillip Cu-Unjieng |publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]] |date=December 27, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref> Philibert Ortiz-Dy of [[ClickTheCity.com]], on the other hand, gave the film two and a half stars out of five, describing ''El Presidente'' as "deeply flawed as an entertainment, but there's a lot in it to like." While he did note the film was ambitious, he also stated that the "lack of focus hurts it in the end", due to its large scope.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clickthecity.com/movies/?p=17212 |title=The Largeness of Life |author=Philibert Ortiz-Dy |publisher=[[ClickTheCity.com]] |date=December 27, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref>
Rommel R. Llanes of the
Columnist and radio show host [[Jessica Zafra]], however, was critical of the movie's treatment. She said the depiction of Bonifacio's death raised questions about its authenticity. She added that the film itself "does Emilio Aguinaldo a disservice by portraying him as a victim of circumstance" and even highlighted the "amnesia" prevalent among contemporary Filipinos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/article/51953/jessica-zafra--metro-manila-film-festival-2012-moviethon-day-7-bonifacio-was-not-a-traitor |title=Metro Manila Film Festival 2012 Moviethon: Day 7: Bonifacio was NOT a traitor |author=Jessica Zafra |date=January 4, 2013 |publisher=[[AksyonTV]] |access-date=January 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115110804/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/51953/jessica-zafra--metro-manila-film-festival-2012-moviethon-day-7-bonifacio-was-not-a-traitor |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Line 323:
{{Mark Meily}}
{{MMFF}}
{{FAMAS Award for Best Picture}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Presidente: General Emilio Aguinaldo Story And The First Philippine Republic, El}}
[[Category:2012 films]]
[[Category:2010s political thriller films]]
[[Category:Biographical films about military leaders]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Andrés Bonifacio]]
Line 342 ⟶ 344:
[[Category:Films shot in Laguna (province)]]
[[Category:Philippine biographical films]]
▲[[Category:Philippine films]]
[[Category:Philippine political thriller films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mark Meily]]
| |||