An enchanted bottle of lambanog sparks friction among a
group of friends during a drinking session. This is the premise of Paolo
Herras' film that will be screened at Robinsons Galleria IndieSine from
September 10-16, 2008.
Lambanog is the Filipino term for fermented coconut flower sap. This alcoholic drink is distilled from the sap of the unopened coconut flower and is known for having a typical alcohol content of 80 to 90 proof.
The indie film Lambanog (international title: Coconut
Whiskey) stars Danica Sotto, Luis Alandy, John Lapus, Lauren Novero, and CJ
Mercado. The film competed in the 8th Asiaticafilmmediale in Rome in November
2007.
SYNOPSIS. Maria (Danica Sotto), a lovelorn lambanog
vendor, casts love spells on her coconut wine, making the drinker remember his
great love. College boy Mark (Luis Alandy) revisits his provincial hometown and
bumps into Maria; captivated by her beauty and the mystery of her magic, Mark
buys a bottle. That night, Mark serves the lambanog to his playboy best friend
Eric (Lauren Novero), and Eric's girlfriend, Hasmin (CJ Mercado), a karaoke
singer in a local restaurant.
Mark doesn't warn them that what they're drinking is
enchanted. In every shot of lambanog, a love story is remembered. Later, they
are joined by the demure gay landlord Rico (John Lapus) who brings another
bottle of lambanog, also from Maria. As the alcohol level gets high, Maria's
call for love becomes a curse as secrets are exposed and the truth of their
sordid interwoven lives are revealed.
When one drinks from the bottle of love, the truth it brings could end as a bad hangover.
Lambanog (2006)
Cast:
Danica Sotto as Maria
Luis Alandy as Mark
John "Sweet" Lapus as Rico
Lauren Novero as Eric
CJ Mercado as Hasmin
Writer & Director: Paolo Herras
Director of Photography: Tamara Benitez & Katrina Holigores
Editor: Dempster Samarista
Assistant Director: Caloy Santos
Production Manager: Ickay Eusebio
Production Design: Kristine Balmes
Music: Isha
Executive Producer: Joseph David Santos
Paolo Herras, 26, is currently taking his masters in
Philippine Studies, Major in Film at the University of the Philippines. A
graduate of BA Comparative Literature, Paolo's first full-length script, P1.00/MIN
(One Peso Per Minute) won the 3rd Prize of Star Cinema's 1st Scriptwriting Contest.
He has written and directed two films: Lambanog (Coconut
Whiskey); and Rekados (Special Ingredients), an official
entry to the 2nd Annual Cinema One Originals. Paolo is currently developing his
third film, The Fortuneteller, supported by the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts.
Tickets of Lambanog are priced at P120.