Remembering Rico Yan: His First Three Movies

The late matinee idol Rico Yan would have turned 39 years old today. Many fans liked Yan because of what they say his boy-next-door looks. Yan's advocacy of education also added to his popularity. He was one of the few film and television actors who earned a college degree first before entering show business.

Image Credit: ABS-CBNNews.com

Yan's career was at its peak when cut short by his death from acute pancreatitis on Good Friday of 2002 at the young age of 27. Close to 10,000 people attended Yan's funeral attesting to the extent of how much fans adored him. Who knows? If not for this tragedy, he might be still thriving in the entertainment industry. His first three movies, all released by Star Cinema in 1996, are remembered here.

Rico Yan was introduced in the Radio Romance, Star Cinema's Valentine offering for 1996. At that time "Radio Romance" was also the branding of DWRR-FM, the Manila radio station of ABS-CBN. The movie was directed by Jose Javier Reyes while the theme song was performed by Jose Mari Chan. Other members of the cast include Sharmaine Arnaiz, John Estrada, Robin Da Roza, Paolo Abrera and Gelli De Belen.

Incidentally, Radio Romance was also the first movie that featured the love team that pairs him with Claudine Barretto. (Yan's last movie, Got 2 Believe, was also the final movie of his screen tandem with Barretto.)

Fifteen days later, on February 29, the second movie that features Yan opened in theaters. Ama, Ina, Anak (Tagalog: "Father, Mother, Child"). This drama movie was topbilled by Maricel Soriano and Edu Manzano, under the direction of Jose Javier Reyes. Yan plays a supporting role opposite Jolina Magdangal. Other cast members of Ama, Ina, Anak include Boots Anson Roa, Jackie Lou Blanco, Cherry Pie Picache, Teresa Loyzaga and Angelica Panganiban.

Yan and Barretto supported Sharon Cuneta in Madrasta (Tagalog: "Stepmother") which opened in theaters on August 14 that year. Madrasta was Cuneta's first movie outside Viva Films, her home studio. It was directed by Olivia M. Lamasan. Aside from Yan and Barretto, the cast also includes Camille Prats, Patrick Garcia, Nida Blanca, Christopher De Leon and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Robin Padilla and Daniel Padilla in "Sa Ngalan ng Ama Ina at mga Anak"

More than a month after starring in their respective entries to the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival, action star Robin Padilla and his nephew, teen heartthrob Daniel Padilla, will co-star in a new movie, titled Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at mga Anak. This joint venture between Star Cinema and Robin Padilla's RCP Productions is scheduled to open in Philippine cinemas on January 29, 2014.

The film is based on the story of the Kuratong Baleleng, an anti-communist vigilante group that turned into an organized crime syndicate. The group was founded in Mindanao during the '80s. The movie also apparently indicates the industry's renewed interest in the action genre, which started to decline in the early 2000s

It can be recalled that many of Robin Padilla's past movies such as Mistah feature his real-life brothers. Other younger members of the Padilla clan such as Kylie, Bela, Matt, and RJ also play key roles in Sa Ngalan ng Ama Ina at mga Anak. Following is the first trailer for this movie.




Video Credit: YouTube / ABSstarcinema

Star Cinema's Adaptations of Tagalog-Dubbed Anime Series

Many of us who were children in the 1990s remember the Tagalog-dubbed anime series Princess Sarah and Cedie: Ang Munting Prinsipe (Cedie: The Little Prince). Who can forget Sarah Crewe's riches-to-rags-then-back-riches story? I bet there are many who still recall Miss Minchin, her tormentor, with hate. Cedric "Cedie" Errol, on the other hand, is the boy from Brooklyn who turned out to be the heir of the Earl of Dorincourt, his grandfather. With Cedie's charm and innocence, the grumpy Earl becomes the benevolent and beloved benefactor to his tenants.

Both were part of ABS-CBN's programming for young people that time. The television network's film production outfit, Star Cinema, was also just starting back then. As Star Cinema celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, it can be recalled the two of its best-remembered productions were movie versions of those programs. 

Movie Ads: "Pare Ko" (1995)

On January 11, 1995 Star Cinema presented Pare Ko, which is also the title of a song by rock band Eraserheads. Mark Anthony Fernandez, Jomari Yllana, Claudine Barretto, Jao Mapa, Gio Alvarez, Nikka Valencia, and Victor Neri led the cast of this youth-oriented movie. Jose Javier Reyes wrote and directed Pare Ko.

Star Cinema's First Foreign Film Offering

According to an online news item by ABS-CBN News on January 3, Star Cinema's upcoming release of the Jackie Chan movie Chinese Zodiac will be the first time the leading Philippine film production company will be distributing a foreign film.

SOURCE: Facebook page of Star Cinema

This might not be the first time, however, based on an article that was published on the Manila Bulletin on August 8, 1993. Star Cinema's first foreign film offering was Hear No Evil, starring the John C. McGinley, Martin Sheen, and the Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin.

Some Movies Based on '90s Pinoy Sitcoms

Philippine television saw the heyday of some sitcoms during the '90s. The popularity of these programs warranted movie adaptations that also became box-office hits. Some of these sitcoms are Home Along Da Riles, Ober da Bakod, and Oki Doki Doc.

Home Along Da Riles: Da Movie is based on Dolphy's long-running sitcom on ABS-CBN. This co-production between Dolphy's RVQ Productions and ABS-CBN's Star Cinema opened on August 26, 1993.

Oki Doki Doc is another ABS-CBN sitcom that was made into a movie. Both television and movie versions feature Aga Muhlach as the friendly neighborhood veterinarian. The movie version was Star Cinema's initial offering for 1996, opening on January 11 that year.

A Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film: "May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo" (1996)

[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.]

May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo, a film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, opened in theaters on January 25, 1996. This Star Cinema presentation is topbilled by Lorna Tolentino,  Gina Pareño, Jaclyn Jose, Claudine Barretto, and Ariel Rivera.  The film also introduces child star Stefano Mori.

Dulce sung the similarly-titled theme song of this movie, which tells the story of a mother's search for her long-lost son.

A Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film: "Kapag May Katwiran ... Ipaglaban Mo!" (1995)

[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.]

Kapag May Katwiran ... Ipaglaban Mo!, a film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, opened in theaters on March 29, 1995. This Star Cinema presentation is based on the ABS-CBN drama program of the same title based on real-life legal cases.

It features two stories based on rape cases. Sharmaine Arnaiz, Ronaldo Valdez, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Nida Blanca are in the first one. Chin Chin Gutierrez, Ricky Davao, Joel Torre, and Gina Alajar are in the second one.

Atty. Jose Sison, the presentor of the drama program, has a special participation in the movie.

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...")

Dolphy's "Home" Movies

Dolphy will be laid to rest this afternoon at the Heritage Park in Taguig. His memory will remain in the hearts of many people. Recognizing that in many ways heart equates with home, I'll be sharing some images relating to some of Dolphy's movies, titles of which include the word 'home.' 

(NOTE: Movie rights belong to RVQ Productions and Star Cinema.)

Home Along Da Riles is the first movie version of the ABS-CBN sitcom. Dolphy plays the role of Kevin Kosme, a widower who makes ends meet for his children.  Released in August 1993, the movie was co-produced by Dolphy's RVQ Productions and Star Cinema under the direction of Johnny Manahan.

Star Cinema's First Production

Star Cinema, the film production outfit of television network ABS-CBN will be celebrating its nineteenth anniversary with the release of Every Breath U Take on May 16, 2012.  Every Breath U Take stars Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban under the direction of Mae Czarina Cruz.


Nineteen years back on May 13, 1993 the action movie Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite , Laking Tondo was released in theaters. The movie, Star Cinema's first, was produced in collaboration with Regal Films.  It stars Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Sheryl Cruz, and Miguel Rodriguez, under the direction of Joey del Rosario.


Following is a newspaper clipping of the movie advertisement:

John Lloyd Cruz, Angel Locsin, and the Manila Bulletin

John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin starred in ÜnOfficially Yours, the recent blockbuster from Star Cinema. In this film, Macky (played by Cruz) is a young man who had a one night stand with Ces (Locsin). They later met at the office of a newspaper company, when Macky found work as a reporter. Ces trained him on the rudiments of journalism.


Sorry to disappoint other readers, but I'll not delve into the juicy details of the movie's plot.  I will discuss something we see everyday.