Hari ng Tondo – A little fantasy behind real life.

I just got the chance to see the premier of the movie “Hari ng Tondo” in Cinemalaya. It is really not everytime you get a chance to watch Cinemalaya – well, compare to the price of the ticket,  mainstream cinema is more expensive – but that is not the point.

Cinemalaya is about independent films.

So… Hari ng Tondo? Hmm… the title is very familiar with that show that featured a street thug.

Anyway, the show is not what I expect.

It was a story about an old man going bankrupt (Robert Arevalo) yet amidst of the growing problem, he brings his two grandchildren Ricky and Anna (Rafa Siguion-Reyna and Cris Villonco) to an old apartment building called Alapaap in Tondo, where he grew up from to teach them some lessons in life: Learn to have balls!

It’s not really a heavy drama nor a comedy, but I think the writer had given much of the story to the comedy aspect. The story has its “ups” and “downs” and personally, I find some of the plots and scenes a little too much uh… unrealistic. But, hey! Movies are all about exaggerated reality anyway.

As expected, Robert Arevalo did a very good performance as Ricardo Villena (the grandpa who’s facing bankruptcy), and so are the other cast like Rez Cortes as the Care Taker Boyong – I find Rez character too predictable – Anyway, the other cast did a good job. Aiza Suguerra did a very good job in her role – “bumagay sya.” I didn’t find anything interesting on Ms. Liza Lorena’s character Felisa – well, maybe that’s because the story didn’t really revolve around her, so does the salesgirl Sally (Ciara Sotto), her security guard live-in partner Vic (Gian Magdangal), and the charming silent guy Emil (Lorenz Martinez). As for the two grandchildren, I think it was Anna who really stands out, thanks for the performance of the theatre-trained actress Ms. Cris Villonco.

All in all – I give the show a “thumbs up” for being different and what I really like about it is when they re-interpret the “Hari ng Tondo” – no more thugs and low-life ganster – the Hari ng Tondo are the revolutionaries, the poets, the entrepreneurs who  because of hard-work and achieving self-respect, they became kings.

Gian Magdangal

Lorenz Martinez

Mr. Robert Arevalo and Mr. Carlos Seguion-Reyna

Miss Ciara Sotto, Mr. Robert Arevalo and Mr. Carlos Seguion-Reyna

The legend herself, Ms. Armida Seguion-Reyna

Ms. Cris Villonco

Ms. Aiza Seguerra

Rafa Seguion-Reyna

Mr. Rez Cortes

[ By the way, thanks Mr. Rence Chan for the ticket. ]

The schedule of film showings in major movie theaters in Metro Manila

Cinemalaya 2014 Official Screening Schedule for HARI NG TONDO: Aug 2 (Sat): 12:45pm CCP Little Theater 4:00pm TriNoma Cinema 4 Aug 3 (Sun): 1:30pm TriNoma Cinema 1 Aug 4 (Mon): 12:45pm CCP Main Theater 4:00pm Greenbelt 3 Cinema 4 4:00pm Alabang Town Center Cinema 4 Aug 5 (Tue): 1:30pm Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5 Aug 6 (Wed): 12:45pm CCP Multi-Purpose Hall (Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino) 6:15pm CCP Main Theater 9:00pm Fairview Terraces Cinema 5 Aug 7 (Thu): 4:00pm Fairview Terraces Cinema 5 6:15pm CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater) Aug 8 (Fri): 10:00am CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater) 6:30pm Greenbelt 3 Cinema 4 6:30pm Alabang Town Center Cinema 4 9:00pm TriNoma Cinema 1 Aug 9 (Sat): 3:30pm CCP Multi-Purpose Hall (Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino) 6:30pm Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5 9:00pm TriNoma Cinema 4