GORGY RULA
Totoong tao ba si Lapu-Lapu? O siya’y produkto ng imahinasyon?
Sa epic historical film ni Lav Diaz na Magellan, si Lapu-Lapu ay kathang-isip lamang na ginamit ni Rajah Humabon (Ronnie Lazaro) upang malansi si Ferdinand Magellan (Gael Garcia Bernal).
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“It’s a debate na buksan natin,” sabi ni Direk Lav sa talkback matapos ang special screening ng Magellan noong Setyembre 6, 2025, Sabado ng 6:00 P.M. sa Cinema 2 ng Central Square, BGC, Taguig City.
“Kasi, wala namang nakakita kay Lapu-Lapu, e. Seven years akong nag-research. Eventually, ultimately, naging investigation.
“Kasi, we see these details, nuances na hindi nagkokonek naman. So, bilang alagad ng sining, mas lalapit tayo sa katotohanan na nakikita natin at nasasagap natin.
“So, I had that debate within me nung… to the course of my investigation and research, yung pananaliksik ko na mahirap ito, parang walang Lapu-Lapu.
“So, I had to confront that sa trabaho. So, nag-manifest sa work. After seven years, we did the shoot.
“While I was writing the script, parang OK, let’s confront this theme. May Lapu-Lapu ba throughtout the film?
“So, OK na yung debate ko. Balikan natin yung kasaysayan.”
MAGELLAN IS PHILIPPINE ENTRY TO THE 98TH ACADEMY AWARDS
Ang Magellan ay Rated R-16 ng MTRCB. Showing ito sa local cinemas umpisa ngayong Setyembre 10, Miyerkules.
Itong Magellan ang isinumite ng Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) para sa kategoryang Best International Feature ng 98th Academy Awards o Oscars.
Ang mahigpit na nakalaban nito sa pilian ng selection committee ng FAP ay ang Some Nights I Feel Like Walking ni Petersen Vargas, kung saan bida sina Miguel Odron, Jomari Angeles, Argel Saycon, Tommy Alejandrino, at Gold Aceron.
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NOEL FERRER
Dalawang oras at 40 minuto ang running time ng Magellan, na naunang ipalabas sa 78th Cannes filmfest noong Mayo. May nine-hour cut daw ito?
“It’s another film. Kasi, extensive yung shoot, e,” paglilinaw ni Direk Lav.
“Andoon yung kuwento ni Beatriz, andoon yung kuwento ni King Manuel, andoon yung kuwento ni Bishop Fonseca, andoon yung kuwento ni King Carlos.
“Madami. Andoon yung kuwento ni Diego Barbosa. Ang lawak nung kuwan. Epic siya. Sa Pilipinas, marami pang nawala diyan.
“So, yung nine-hour film, it’s another film. This is a very unique one. Unique din yung nine-hour film.
“Pag yung nine-hour film, lalabas, wellness na siya. Puwede na kayong matulog… pampalakas ng katawan ng Pilipino. Makapagpahinga at matulog na kayo.
“Magdala kayo ng kumot at Advil, kasi nakakasakit ng ulo.”
Yung ipinalabas na cut, tatlong oras dapat ang running time.
“Nakiusap pa ang Cannes, ‘Puwede pa bang iksian natin?’ Chinop-chop-chop namin,” sey ni Direk Lav.
“Para kaming dagang kumakain ng cheese. Chop-chop, chop-chop.”
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JERRY OLEA
Tatlong bansa ang pinagsyutingan ni Direktor Lav Diaz para sa pelikulang Magellan — Pilipinas, Spain, at Portugal.
Sanib-puwersa rito ang tatlong production company — Black Cap Pictures (BCP), Rosa Filmes, at Andergraun Films.
RETURN OF INVESTMENT
Nag-e-expect ba ng return of investment (ROI) ang producer na si Direk Paul Soriano ng Black Cap?
“Of course we have a business plan,” tugon ni Direk Paul sa panayam namin ni katotong Marinel Cruz noong Mayo 26 sa office ng TEN17P sa Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
“You know, of course, as a producer you don’t just throw your money and not have a plan. So, may plano naman tayo.
“We’re working with Luxbox, a very respected distributor. And if everything falls into plan, definitely, you know, we should be able to make some money.
“And, you know, that’s the idea naman, e, I think. Of course it’s risky. But was Magellan worth the risk? A thousand percent.”
Yung mga nauna niyang prinodyus na projects, may ROI eventually?
“That’s why after 18 years, I’m still here, living to fight another day,” napangiting sambit ni Direk Paul.
“If I was losing money, I don’t think I’d be able to do this for this long.
“I think for me, the best-case scenario is that I can live to fight another day. Yun lang ang goal ko.
“Kasi if you can’t live to fight another day, patay ka na, di ba? So at least for me, thank God, by God’s grace, that after 18 years, it’s going on 19 — that I can live to fight another day.
“And that’s all I want.
“That’s why very calculated din ang mga project ko. That’s why if you notice in BCP, TEN17P, we haven’t done naman hundreds of films.
“We’ve done maybe what, close to 30 in the last 18 years. It’s very curated, very calculated naman.
“So I think that’s why I’m able to still do what I do, have this office, you know, have this company. But I’m also very blessed.
“I cannot thank God enough that He’s able to connect me to the right people.
“He’s able to give me the wisdom that I need, and to be able to just, you know, wake up each day grateful and blessed that I can do what I love to do for a living.
“Not many people can say that, di ba? So I don’t take that for granted.”
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