Comments on "Si Ayala at si Zobel" and "Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa"

Si Ayala at si Zobel (Tagalog: Ayala and Zobel) and Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa (Tagalog: The Longest Chin in the Face of Earth) are two comedy films from the 1990s that are part of our guilty pleasure list.

We would like to share some thoughts on these movies, both of which have been viewed for the nth time.

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Photo Credit: OctoArts Films

Si Ayala at si Zobel is a 1994 movie that employs humor to shed light on the most Filipinos' aspirations to become wealthy.

The protagonists are implicitly named after the Zobel de Ayala family, one of the richest in the country.

Ironically, Ayala (Anjo Yllana) and Zobel (Ogie Alcasid) portray janitors -- members of the working class.

One day, they got a windfall. From there, hilarious situations arise.

More than thirty years later, the same economic woes beleaguer Filipino society. The working-class dream of getting a huge amount of wealth strikes a chord in this movie.

Si Ayala at si Zobel is escapist entertainment that digs into the working-class dream of getting rich. It is not the type that will earn the approval of critics, but will be enjoyable to the masses.

These views come with a caveat: some of the humor might be considered politically incorrect, given today's sensibilities.

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Photo Credit: Good Harvest Productions / IMDb

The late Filipino comedian Pablo Martin Sarmiento, better known as Babalu, had a screen name that refers to his long, sharp chin (baba is the Tagalog term for chin).

Released in 1997, Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa is the first one of movies starring Babalu having a title that explicitly mentions the anatomical feature for which he became famous.

The title is translated to English as The Longest Chin in the Face of Earth.

Babalu plays a supporting role to the lead comedian(s) or is cast in equal billing with other comedians in the majority of the entries in his filmography. (For example, Si Ayala at si Zobel)

For a welcome change, Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa is one of the few movies in which Babalu is the lead comedian. It is a quintessential movie STARRING Babalu.

Released a year before Babalu's passing in 1998, the movie Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa is definitely one of the movies that will define his place in the history of Filipino comedy movies.

Movies That Mark 30th Year in December 2024

At least six Filipino movies were released in theaters in December 1994, right before the 20th Metro Manila Film Festival. At present, some of these movies can be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television. An upcoming post is about the six entries to the 20th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Syempre, Ikaw Lang: Ang Syota Kong Imported 
Oo Na, Sige Na: Matigil Ka Na Lang!
Machete II
Paano Na Sa Mundo ni Janet?
Boy Timbog
Silang Matatapang: Walang Atras Sa Laban!

Details of each mentioned title follow.

Syempre, Ikaw Lang: Ang Syota Kong Imported (Tagalog: Of Course, Just You: My Imported Girlfriend)

Original Release Date: December 07, 1994

Production Company: OctoArts Films

MAIN CAST

Anjo Yllana ... Pepito

Michelle Van Eimeren ... Soraya

Michael V. ... Kevin

Lailani Navarro ... Nanette

Aileen Angeles ... Gretchen

SELECTED CREW

Direction, Story and Screenplay ... Mike Relon Makiling

Cinematography ... Ben Lobo

Production Design ... Raymond Bajarias

Editing    ...    Rudy Tabotabo

Musical Direction    ...    Jessie Lasaten

Executive Producer ... Orly Ilacad

NOTES

*** Anjo Yllana plays the role of a bellboy named Pepito. A sitcom titled Pepito Manaloto, topbilled by Michael V., made its TV more than 15 years later.
*** The only one of four movies starring Michelle Van Eimeren that does not include Ogie Alcasid in the main cast.  

Oo Na, Sige Na: Matigil Ka Na Lang! (Tagalog: Okay, It's Fine: So You Will Just Stop!)

Original Release Date: December 07, 1994

Production Company: Viva Films

MAIN CAST

Robin Padilla ... Bonggoy

Ana Roces ... Shirley

Tonton Gutierrez ... Ernie

Eddie Rodriguez ... Don Perfecto

Amado Cortez ... Uncle of Bonggoy

Niño Muhlach ... Jimbo

Amy Perez ... Nina Bermudez

Roi Vinzon ... Lt. Ramirez

SELECTED CREW

Direction    ...    Ricardo 'Bebong' Osorio

Story and Screenplay … Maning Borlaza

Cinematography ... Joe Batac

Production Design ... Judy Lou De Pio

Editing … Rene Tala

Musical Direction ... Armando Ferrer

Executive Producer ... Vic Del Rosario

NOTE

*** The other 1994 movie in which Robin Padilla and Ana Roces collaborated.

Machete II

Original Release Date: December 14, 1994

Production Company: Seiko Films

MAIN CAST

Gardo Versoza ... David

Rosanna Roces ... Margarita

Snooky Serna ... Lai

Abby Viduya ... [information to be provided upon availability]

Harvey Gomez ... [information to be provided upon availability]

SELECTED CREW

Direction, Story, and Screenplay ... Mauro Gia Samonte

Cinematography ... Joe Batac

Production Design ... Raymond Bajarias

Editing … Ferren Salumbides

Musical Direction ... Benny Medina

Executive Producer ... Robbie Tan

NOTES

*** Blurb on Newspaper Advertisement: "At Long Last, MACHETE II will be shown. NO HUSTLE! NO BAN! NO CUTS! See this Film in its Beautiful Entirety. The Film Contains Nudity and Some Delicate Scenes Suitable for Adults Only. 
*** Warning: PARENTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO LET THEIR MINOR CHILDREN VIEW THIS FILM WHICH WAS APPROVED WITHOUT CUTS BY MTRCB."

Paano Na sa Mundo ni Janet? (Tagalog: How Would It Be in Janet's World?)

Original Release Date: December 14, 1994

Production Company: Good Harvest Productions

 

MAIN CAST

Sheryl Cruz ... Janet

Christopher De Leon ... Gaston

Alma Moreno … Gilda

Zoren Legaspi … [information to be provided upon availability]

Aiza Seguerra ... Jing-Jing 

SELECTED CREW

Direction, Story and Screenplay ... Jose N. Carreon

Cinematography ... Felizardo Bailen

Production Design ... Boyet Ocampo

Editing … Rogelio Salvador

Musical Direction ... Nonong Buencamino

Executive Producer ... Joey Gosiengfiao

Boy Timbog

Original Release Date: December 15, 1994

Production Company: Pioneer Films

MAIN CAST

Reb Belleza ... Boy Timbog

Tony Ferrer ... Vincent

Mutya Crisostomo ... [information to be provided upon availability]

Jobelle Salvador ... Jo-Anne

Jorge Estregan ... [information to be provided upon availability]

Rex Lapid ... Jack

Philip Gamboa ... Philip

Conrad Poe     ... Boy Negro of Pritil

Giovanni Calvo    ...    Tito Vanni

SELECTED CREW

Direction     ... Esmeraldo 'Bing' Santos

Story and Screenplay ... Radosa

Cinematography ... Romulo Araojo

Production Design ... [information to be provided upon availability]

Editing … Samuel Domondon

Musical Direction    ...    Joey Elvinia

Executive Producer ... Wilson Yulo Que

NOTES

*** Timbog is a Tagalog slang term that means arrested, captured or caught.

*** Cast members Tony Ferrer and Mutya Crisostomo are father and daughter in real life.

Silang Matatapang: Walang Atras Sa Laban! (Tagalog:  They Who Are All Brave: No Retreat in Fighting)

Original Release Date: December 17, 1994

Production Companies: ATB-4 Films International

MAIN CAST

Raymond Bagatsing … [information to be provided upon availability]

Shirley Fuentes … [information to be provided upon availability]

Carol Dauden … [information to be provided upon availability]

Lanirose Oteyza … [information to be provided upon availability]

Jennifer Dimla … [information to be provided upon availability]

Cheryl Gorospe … [information to be provided upon availability]

SELECTED CREW

Direction    ... Robert Talvy

Story and Screenplay ... Jerry O. Tirazona

Cinematography ... Felizardo Anastacio

Production Design ... Ver Lang

Editing … Nap Montebon

Musical Direction ... Demet Velasquez

Executive Producers ... Erlinda T. Burayag, Anna Theresa and Leona S. Tolentino

NOTE

*** Aside from the 1992 film Turing Gesmundo: Kapitan Langgam (Tagalog: Captain Ant), this is the other known directorial effort by character actor Robert Talby.