Virgin Forest

This article is about the movie. For the general meaning, see Old-growth forest. For the 2022 movie, see Virgin Forest (2022 film).

Virgin Forest
Directed by	Peque Gallaga [1]
Screenplay by	Rosauro Q. de la Cruz
Story by	T.E. Pagaspas [a]
Produced by	Lily Yu Monteverde
Starring	Sarsi Emmanuel Miguel Rodriguez Abel Jurado
Cinematography	Conrado Baltazar
Edited by	Jess Navarro
Music by	Jaime Fabregas [2]
Production company	Regal Films
Distributed by	Regal Films
Release date	January 22, 1985 (1985-1-22)
Running time	139 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English Spanish

Virgin Forest is a 1985 Filipino war drama ^[3] directed by Peque Gallaga from a story written by T.E. Pagaspas, adapted into a screenplay by Rosauro Q. Dela Cruz. A self-described B-movie, it stars Sarsi Emmanuel, Chayong, a barrio lass of Chinese ancestry; Miguel Rodriguez as Alfonsito, a Filipino-Spanish ilustrado; and Abel Jurado as Alipio, the lover of Sarsi's character. It also stars Leo Martinez, Ama Quiambao, Bruce Fanger, and Bob Zwanziger.

Synopsis

The film is set in the 1900s during the First Philippine Republic. ^[4] Macabebe soldiers are trying to capture Emilio Aguinaldo. ^[1] Alfonisto (Miguel Rodriguez) and Chayong (Sarsi Emmanuel) are caught up in this pursuit and in a love triangle. In the end, Aguinaldo is captured and the Macabebe soldiers are killed.

Plot

In the town of San Mateo, Tayabas on March 19, 1901, Chayong and Alipio, who were having sex in the beaches, were caught by the Guardia Civil and imprisoned in the town jail. On the same day, the revolutionaries took control of the town from the Americans and captured all of its Spaniard population.

Cast

• Sarsi Emmanuel as Chayong ^[5]
• Miguel Rodriguez as Alfonsito
• Abel Jurado as Alipio
• Jed Arboleda as Fonseca
• Arbie Antonio as Lt. Col. Pablo Dalmacio
• Bruce Fanger as Gallagher
• Bob Zwanziger as Snyder
• Ama Quiambao as Nana Isay
• Turko Cervantes and Pen Medina as leaders of the Macabebes
• Peque Gallaga as Kamaggay
• Leo Martinez as Hepe Elpidio Sales, the chief of the Guardia Civil
• Cris Daluz as Mayordomo
• Alfredo Saludares as the Mayordomo's son
• Mario Taguiwalo and Abbo Q. Dela Cruz as Guardia Civil soldiers
• Pepito Bosch as Priest
• Ray Ventura as Chua Tek

Production

Virgin Forest is director Brillante Mendoza's first film production, working as the production designer under the name Dante Mendoza. ^[6]

References

1. Deocampo, Nick (2017). Sine Gabay: A Film Study Guide. Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN   978-621-420-179-2 . Retrieved August 8, 2020.
2. San Diego Jr, Bayani (May 22, 2018). "Keeping score with Jaime Fabregas". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
3. Baumgärtel, Tilman (2012). Southeast Asian Independent Cinema: Essays, Documents, Interviews. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN   978-988-8083-60-2 . Retrieved August 8, 2020.
4. Marcelo, Sam L (May 8, 2020). "Oro, Plata, Mata director Peque Gallaga, 76 | BusinessWorld" . Retrieved August 8, 2020.
5. Arts Monthly. Cultural Center of the Philippines. 1982. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
6. Baumgärtel, Tilman (2012). "14". In Baumgärtel, Tilman (ed.). Southeast Asian Independent Cinema: Essays, Documents, Interviews. Hong Kong University Press. p. 156. ISBN   978-988-8083-60-2 . Retrieved March 21, 2024.

Notes

1. The name "T.E. Pagaspas" is a collective name that consists of directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes, writer Rosauro Q. Dela Cruz, and production designer Don Escudero.

External links

• Virgin Forest (1985) at IMDb