Flick Review: Manila Kingpin – The Asiong Salonga Story

01/05/2012 | 12:45 PM

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Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story is a motion picture made by Scenema Concept International, distributed thru VIVA Films. It has an all-star cast led by Jeorge Estregan, Carla Abellana, Phillip Salvador, Joko Diaz, Ketchup Eusebio, Yul Servo, Baron Geisler, Jay Manalo, John Regala, Jaycee Parker, Ping Medina, Paloma, Valerie Concepcion, Dennis Padilla, and a whole lot more. Screenplay by Roy Iglesias and Rey Ventura, Directed by Tikoy Aguiluz and produced by Maylyn Enriquez and Leonard Villalon.

It is one of the seven entries on the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival held from 25 December 2011 to 7 January 2012.

The movie revolves around the life and times of one of the Philippines' "Public Enemy #1" in the name of Nicasio Salonga, popularly known as Hito, Asiong, and Manila Kingpin for his Robin hood-like tactics. He stole money from other gangs to give money to the poor. And self-proclaimed owning Tondo and protecting his people from the other gangsters and rivals. He turned out to be popular then and a Liberal party follower on how he managed to fight and brutally kill his enemy hoodlums. He faced a life sentence but managed to evade these punishments. How strong his advocacy for change, and even his untimely death of that fateful day of 7 October 1951.

However, this film was hampered by controversy inside its personnel and its releases. Movie Director Tikoy Aguiluz took legal action that removed his name from the reel, promotional materials that include even in the side of social media and the internet. His efforts were due to scenes that had been re-shoot without his consent. Another thing is the so-called "sabotage." In fact, this film was shown to only 17 out of 51 movie theaters in Metro Manila on Christmas Day of 2011, prompting lead actor, also known as Laguna Governor ER Ejercito, to cry "Sabotage!"

But here's my take:

Breaking out at 21

12/01/2011 11:49AM

When I was a young kid, my ambition was to be just a driver. That changed when I was studying at the elementary level. I got bullied a lot, though, at lesser times, I fought back at them. At the same time, I became interested in writing, creating PowerPoint presentations and maybe wanted to be a cartoonist after attempting to draw Dexter many times. And I was even trying to do web designing on my own right then. Perhaps, would people think about me being a whiz kid despite having weird antics with those ability to type fast that earned me the right to have a special award for computer subject then?

Random Things that Rocked My College Life (Part 2)

12/01/2011 11:24 AM

College life doesn't revolve around school. For most of the time, it used to be off-campus. Like those that I mentioned in my previous post, it's not primarily happened in class. When my first-year buddy left school for a premier state university then, I knew it would be a heartbreaker for my part, not because of something involved but the fact that she's one of the guys who held me back on my feet through the time. But I have to accept it. People come for a while and eventually leave. Nothing is permanent. And to tell you the truth, my penname (SlickMaster) was influenced by this fellow.

Highway Naming Right Blues

11/24/2011 12:50 PM

Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue was the primary highway at Metro Manila. It has 23.8 kilometers in length and covering the cities of Caloocan, Quezon, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay. On this road, you will see a lot of industrial and commercial establishments, roadway infrastructures, advertisement billboards, and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.