Another Guilty Pleasure: Two Themes to Think Over With in "I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko 'Day!)"

The 1997 comedy film I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko 'Day!) gained its place in the Pinoy pop culture because of hilarious scenes that went viral on the Internet in the latter part of the 2010s.

Bernardo "Bernie" Mendiola (Edu Manzano) owns an antique shop with Domeng (Babalu) and Mokong (Redford White) being his employees. One morning, Bernie fired Domeng and Mokong. He did not know that the two had just come from an overnight job ordered by the manager (Joji Isla).

Mokong and Domeng on their way to try their luck in a construction site.

Screen Capture: Star Cinema

The trouble is that Bernie owns the site

Screen Capture: Star Cinema

Instead of receiving a bonus and vacation, Domeng and Mokong were forced to look for new work. Their job hunt led to a series of hilarious situations. Many of us already know what happened. For now, we will just focus on two themes:

Theme Number One is the different kinds of diligence.  Bernie showed diligence with direction. He worked hard for his family and became successful. It also affected his relationship with his wife and children, but that’s another story.

Domeng and Mokong, on the other hand, showed diligence without rest. They were motivated by the promise of a bonus and vacation. But they got tired and slept at the wrong time and place. Bernie then saw this as negligence.

Theme Number Two is monopoly capitalism, presented through comedy.  Bernie can be seen as a monopolist. He recurringly appears as the owner or boss of different business enterprises. 

For Domeng and Mokong, one man can control their fate and opportunities. In the bigger picture, this seems like the "illusion of choice" in capitalism.

Domeng and Mokong decided to just beg instead, saying there is no boss, the income is good, and there are no taxes. (For most minimum wage earners, taxes are a burden—especially if they are not properly allocated to public services.)

So Domeng and Mokong started begging. The twist? Bernie was still the one inside the car they knocked on. 🤣

Anyway, this post is getting nowhere. If there is a need to escape the heaviness of the world's pressing issues, we can just go to YouTube and watch these scenes.

Full Movie: Star Cinema / YouTube

"Bagsik ng Kamao" (Fierceness of Fist): A World Boxing Champion's Foray into Movies

Bagsik ng Kamao (Tagalog: Fierceness of Fist) is a 1996 action-drama film about police investigators who probe a crusading politician's murder, unraveling a web of criminal activities. Directed by Leonardo L. Garcia, the film is topbilled by Edu Manzano and Luisito Espinosa, who is the World Boxing Council featherweight champion at the time of release. The film expectedly showcases Espinosa's pugilistic skills.

PLOT

The film opens in a boxing gym, where trainees are shown honing the speed and power of their punches. Soon after, friends Ibañez and David are jogging at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Ibañez suddenly makes a pass at a lady jogger. He introduced himself as a boxer with an upcoming fight in Japan, with David purportedly his trainer.

In a warehouse, Ibañez sneaks in disguised as a worker. He discovers crates of weapons and is caught by a gun runner, but manages to outsmart the latter. A shootout ensues, and Ibañez takes down the other gun runners. Police reinforcements arrive and seize the shipment.

Meanwhile, at the mansion of Ex-Governor Pablo Gabor is having a discussion with the police chief and Raf, the henchman. The ex-governor accuses the vice mayor of leaking information about his illegal businesses to the authorities. Raf confirms this, claiming he saw the vice mayor coming from Manila.

The ex-governor advises the police chief to talk to the vice mayor to gain his support. He secretly orders Raf to get ahead of the police chief at the site of the vice mayor's consultation with the townsfolk.

At the community meeting, Barangay Captain Milo stresses the need to stop the ex-governor's illegal businesses for the sake of the townsfolk's children. They sign a petition in support of this move. However, a spy informs Raf of the meeting's location, prompting an attack. Milo, Karias and the vice mayor manage to escape.

Elsewhere, Cris is unable to attend the meeting due to illness. He sends his daughter Bella to the fish pond. There, Bella witnesses Raf shooting the vice mayor. Shocked, she flees from Raf's men and narrowly escapes.

The CIS Chief orders Ibañez to proceed to Sto. Niño, Ilocos to investigate the vice mayor's murder -- with David as his mission partner. Though hesitant because of David's hot temper, Ibañez is told their contrasting personalities make a good team. Upon arrival, they coordinate with Milo to arrange protection for Bella, the sole witness to the crime.

While Bella hesitates to testify, Ibañez and David continue to clash with the ex-governor's men. Eventually, Bella agrees to speak and joins the duo. In retaliation, Raf brutally beats Cris.

The police chief, acting as the ex-governor's emissary, approaches Ibañez and David separately with bribes. Both refuse, but David mistakenly believes Ibañez accepted money, sparking a fight. Bella intervenes, threatening not to testify if they continue.

The ex-governor then orders Raf to summon a hitman called El Tigre to finish the job. This move also prompts the police chief to break away from the ex-governor's influence. Attacks against Ibañez and David intensify, and Raf kidnaps Bella. With Ibañez’s help, David rescues her successfully.

Raf and his men retaliated, killing Milo. Together with the police chief's men, Ibañez and David stormed the stronghold of the ex-governor. Ibañez killed El Tigre, who was hiding in the confessional, followed by Raf, and finally the ex-governor himself. David came to Ibañez’s aid—though he had fallen, he was saved by his bulletproof vest. In the end, Ibañez and David bid farewell to Bella as they needed to undergo debriefing. But Bella insisted on joining them. In a final moment, Ibañez and David kissed her on both cheeks.

MAIN CAST

Edu Manzano ... Ibanez

Luisito Espinosa ... David

Sharmaine Suarez ... Bella

Charlie Davao ... Ex-Governor Pablo Gabor

Jess Lapid Jr. ... Raf

Romy Diaz ... El Tigre

Conrad Poe ... Gun Runner

Jess Vargas ... CIS Chief

Max Alvarado ... Barangay Captain Milo

Renato Robles ... Police Chief

Dante Castro ... Karias

Cris Daluz ... Cris

Robert Rivera ... Vice Mayor

SELECTED CREW

Direction ... Leonardo L. Garcia

Story and Screenplay ... Oden Amurao

Cinematography ... Ricardo Herrera

Production Designer ... Neil Espolong

Editing ... Rene Tala

Musical Direction ... Nonong Buencamino

Executive Producer ... Espiridion Laxa

Full Movie: EDL Productions / OctoArts Films / YouTube

Hilarious Sequence in "I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko 'Day!)"

A few years ago a sequence from the 1997 Filipino comedy film I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko 'Day!) went viral on social media and remained popular ever since.

The main characters in this sequence are Bernardo 'Bernie' Mendiola (Edu Manzano), Domeng (Babalu) and Mokong (Redford White).

Bernie is the owner of an antiques shop, and Domeng and Mokong are his employees.

One morning, Bernie fired Domeng and Mokong after catching them sleeping on the job. 

Bernie made the decision without knowing that Domeng and Mokong were tired from the overnight tasks assigned by the shop manager (Joji Isla).

Instead of getting a bonus and a vacation for their sleepless shift, Domeng and Mokong embarked on an amusingly futile quest to find a new job.

After choosing a country club as their initial prospect, they approached the manager (Cesar Mozo) and ask him if there are any job vacancies.

The club manager told them he will refer them to the club's president and then asked them to wait for the meantime.

As they waited at the driving range, Domeng and Mokong saw a golfer who keeps on missing the ball.

They taunted  this golfer; Domeng advised him to use a basketball instead of a golf ball while Mokong said he should just pick the golf ball and throw it away.

Domeng topped the barrage of insults with a remark about a marble.

The club manager then approached the golfer, who turned out to be Bernie.

Photo Credit: ABS-CBN Star Cinema

After getting introduced by the manager as the club president, Bernie laughed mockingly at Domeng and Mokong.

Still optimistic following the missed job opportunity at the club, Domeng and Mokong chanced upon a long line of applicants at a construction site.

They fell in line only to find out that Bernie (again!) is the owner.

As they tried to find another job, Domeng and Mokong saw a few beggars who are asking for alms from motorists. 

Domeng and Mokong had a lightbulb moment and dressed as beggars too.

Domeng reasoned out to Mokong that begging is a highly profitable venture. 

He added that there would be no boss like Bernie, and that there would be no taxes.

They chose a car and tapped on the window.

To their consternation, the car owner turned out to be Bernie who laughed at them ridiculously (again!)

Photo Credit: ABS-CBN Star Cinema

Domeng and Mokong then resolved to seek revenge against Bernie. 

Their attempts to get back at Bernie set a chain of uproarious misadventures toward the end of the movie.

Following is a portion of the movie which includes the sequence.

Video Credit: ABS-CBN Star Cinema

Thanks and More Power to ABS-CBN Film Restoration

The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season may have delayed but not stopped me from extending heartfelt gratitude to ABS-CBN Film Restoration for giving me a ticket for two to the screening of the digitally restored version of  the Mike de Leon classic, Hindi Nahahati ang Langit, last November.

Photo credit: ABS-CBN Film Restoration

The 1985 movie adaptation is based on a Tagalog Komiks series by Nerissa Cabral. The powerhouse cast includes Christopher de Leon, Edu Manzano, Dina Bonnevie and Lorna Tolentino. Hindi Nahahati ang Langit is one of the more than 60 movies that have been remastered by ABS-CBN Film Restoration. Its trailer follows:

Video credit: YouTube / ABS-CBN Film Restoration

The organization emphasizes in its slogan: "We all deserve to see classic films." As I fully support this statement, I express my thanks  to ABS-CBN Film Restoration's efforts. The remastering of old movies allows the new generation of audiences to get a glimpse of Filipino culture in the past.

As the New Year begins, I am hoping that ABS-CBN Film Restoration will continue to achieve success. Its advocacy should become known to other enthusiasts  of Philippine cinema and culture, in general.

Movie Ads: "Magkasangga sa Batas" (1993)

Magkasangga sa Batas, an action film in which film producers from the Philippines and Hong Kong collaborated, was shown in Philippine theaters on February 3, 1993. Under the direction of Philip Ko and Erwin T. Lanado, this Golden Kay/Harvest Films release stars Edu Manzano, Cynthia Luster, Gabriel Romulo, Sheila Ysrael, Rachel Lobangco, Charlie Davao, and Monsour Del Rosario. Following is a newspaper advertisement for the film:

A Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film: "Ika-11 Utos, Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo" (1994)

[NOTE: As a tribute to the late film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, we will be presenting some newspaper movie advertisements that are part of our collection.]

Ika-11 Utos, Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo, a film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, opened in theaters on November 16, 1994. This presentation by Regal Films and Star Cinema is topbilled by Maricel Laxa, Zsa Zsa Padilla, amd Aiko Melendez. Gabby Concepcion and Edu Manzano complete the main cast.

This film about domestic violence has the tagline, "Minsan lang niya ako binigyan ng bulaklak, pero ilang beses niya akong binugbog..." ("He gave me flowers only once, but he has beaten me many times...")

A Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film: "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo" (1993)

[NOTE: As a tribute to the late film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, we will be presenting some newspaper movie advertisements that are part of our collection.]

Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo, a film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, opened in theaters on August 5, 1993. This Regal Films presentation is topbilled by Lorna Tolentino,  Edu Manzano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Gabby Concepcion. The film also introduces then-child stars Antoinette Taus, Tom Taus, Jr., and Sarah Jane Abad.

Zsa Zsa Padilla sung the theme song, titled Paano ang Gabi Kung 'Di Ka Mamasdan Sa Pagtulog Ko Pa'no Kung Di Ka Mahagkan...