Filipino Movies with Titles that Include the Word "Huli" (End or Last): 1995 to 1996

Knowledge that today is the end of February led me to browse the collection and look for Filipino movies with titles that include the word huli.  In this context, huli that means "end or last" is pronounced with stress in the second syllable. It should be noted that huli pronounced without stress means "to catch" or "to arrest." From 1995 to 1996, there were four action movies with titles that include the word huli.


Robin Padilla and Andrew E. played the role of partner cops in P're Hanggang sa Huli! (Dude, Until to the End!), a Viva Films presentation that was released on March 22, 1995. This action-comedy was directed by Ricardo "Bebong" Osorio. Other members of the cast include Mat Ranillo III, Daniel Fernando, Donita Rose, Angelu De Leon and Charlene Gonzalez.

The release of actor-turned-politician Lito Lapid's Hanggang Sa Huling Bala (Down to the Last Bullet) marks his win as provincial governor of Pampanga. It was released on May 31, 1995 just a few weeks later after the May 12 elections. Lapid's political career started in three years earlier, when he won as provincial vice governor. In the 1995 elections, Lapid defeated the incumbent Bren Z. Guiao.

This Megavision Films presentation was written and directed by Jose N. Carreon. It also features Plinky Recto, Dennis Roldan, Dante Rivero, Jess Lapid Jr., Sharmaine Suarez and Dick Israel. Hanggang Sa Huling Bala has the following tagline: "Alone and Down to His Last Bullet, Can This Man Survive the Final Battle?"


Ace Vergel, Monsour del Rosario, and Aiko Melendez were dubbed as the "The Ultimate Action Triangle"during the promotions for Huling Sagupaan (Last Battle). Vergel's career as an action star started in the late 1970s, while Del Rosario was a taekwondo champion prior to venturing into movies. Melendez is still known for her dramatic portrayals in movies and television.  Huling Sagupaan, a Regal Films presentation, opened in theaters on August 8, 1996. Philip Ko and Teddy Gomez co-directed this action movie.

Ben Balasador ... Akin ang Huling Alas! (Ben Balasador ... The Last Ace Is Mine!) had Ian Veneracion in the title role. In Filipino gambling parlance, balasador refers to someone who shuffles the cards. This co-production by OctoArts Films and Cinemax Studios opened in theaters on August 21, 1996. Under the direction of Pepe Marcos, other members of the cast include Patrick Guzman, Mark Gil, Shirley Fuentes, King Gutierrez, Charlie Davao, Bing Davao, Teresa Loyzaga and Beth Tamayo.

Great Appetizer: Fresh "Talaba" (Oysters) in Vinegar

Talaba (oyster) is a type of shellfish that is commonly found in coastal areas in the Philippines. This shellfish can be used as an ingredient in many kinds of dishes, but it is also best eaten raw when freshly plucked out from the shell. Talaba is also an affordable source of protein. It may be sold with or without the shell. A package that includes about half a cup of shucked oyster meat sells for as low as 20 pesos in public markets.

Talaba shells

As said before, talaba can be eaten raw. To add twist to the eating experience, raw talaba can be made into kilawin. Kilawin is an appetizer similar to ceviche, but vinegar is used instead of lemon juice. Shown below is talaba prepared kilawin. It is made by adding vinegar, ground black pepper, crushed garlic and chopped onions to about half a cup of talaba. At least two chili peppers are then cut into threes and added to the mixture to make a spicier appetizer.

Implications of the 1986 People Power Revolution

In a 1996 article for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Amando Doronila wrote that the 1986 People Power Revolution hindered a military plot to seize the government. He said that ten years later, the Philippines did not make a clean break from the Marcos dictatorship so its democracy and its transition remain flawed. Following is a copy of Doronila's analysis of the People Power Revolution.

"The prediction that the fervor of celebration of the People Power Revolution would wane over the years has been proved wrong. Ten years after the event, Edsa is commemorated with even more intense passion and partisanship than it was in the past..."

"If there should be a coup after the collapse of civil authority, it is certain to come from segments of the armed forces which not only monopolize the power of state coercion. The military also continues to harbor messianic officers who believe that the army has a right to intervene to save the nation from chaos..."

The EDSA Shrine on the corner of Ortigas and the People's Power Monument on the corner of White Plains were the center of the tenth anniversary celebration of the uprising. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer / February 25, 1996)

Remembering the 1986 People Power Revolution

Today is the twenty-eighth anniversary of the culmination of the People Power Revolution, a series of nonviolent demonstrations that resulted in the departure of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the country.

Philippine Daily Inquirer February 25, 1996

The People Power Revolution also paved the way for Corazon Aquino, the widow of opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., to become the Philippines' first woman president. It is also known as EDSA Revolution because majority of the demonstrations took place on a long stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, popularly known by its acronym EDSA.

In 1996, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published a series of excerpts from Chronology of a Revolution, a book researched and written by Angela Stuart-Santiago and edited by Lorna Kalaw-Tirol. The book provides snippets of the People Power Revolution. The following are scanned copies of the fourth part of the series.

"MALACANANG PALACE: (Ferdinand) Marcos' two sons-in-law were supervising the packing of dozens of crates of family possessions, including hundreds of thousands of dollars of gold bullion and bonds, more than $1 million worth of freshly printed pesos, as well as artifacts and jewels. These were delivered by boat to a bayfront lawn adjacent to the US Embassy..."

"MALACANANG PALACE: (Col. Arturo C.) Aruiza saw Fe Roa Gimenez, Ms. Marcos' private secretary, emptying her desk of papers. At first, she fed them to the shredder but it was slow work. Aruiza suggested that she pile them all in one place and he would order the boys to burn them ..."

This Week in Philippine History and Culture (February 22 to 28)

Feb. 22, 1899: Filipino forces under the command of General Antonio Luna started counterattacks against the American forces during the Philippine-American War. Manila, however, is not regained from the Americans. 


Feb. 22, 1927: Florencio Campomanes (d. May 3, 2010), the first Filipino to hold the presidency of the Federation internationale des echecs (FIDE) or World Chess Federation, is born in Manila. Campomanes held office as FIDE president from  1982 to 1995. 


Feb. 22, 1942: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as the victory of the Japanese military forces in the Pacific theatre of the Second World War becomes imminent. 


Feb. 22, 1971:  Actress and singer Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, more popularly known as Lea Salonga, is born in Angeles City, Pampanga. Salonga is known for playing the lead role of Kim in the original West End and Broadway productions of the musical Miss Saigon. For her performance, Salonga won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.

Aside from being the first Filipino artist to be signed to an international record label (Atlantic Records in 1993), Salonga is also the first Philippine-based artist to have received a major album release and distribution deal in the U.S. Salonga is also the first Asian actress to play the roles of Eponine and Fantine in the musical Les Miserables on Broadway.


Feb. 22, 1986: The People Power Revolution started in the Philippines.


Feb. 23, 1945: The 11th Airborne Division, with the assistance of Filipino guerrillas, free the captives of the internment camp in Los Baños, Laguna.


Feb. 23, 1945: Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands, is liberated by combined Filipino and American forces.


Feb. 24, 1945:  Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declares Proclamation 1017 placing the country in a state of emergency in an attempt to avert a possible military coup.


Feb. 25, 1965: Award-winning film and television actress Maricel Soriano is born in Manila. Popularly known as "The Diamond Star," Soriano's filmography encompasses different genres including drama, comedy, fantasy, horror, suspense, action and romance. 


Feb. 25, 1986: The People Power Revolution culminates with the President Ferdinand Marcos fleeing the Philippines after two decades of rule. On the other hand, Corazon Aquino is sworn in as the Philippines' first woman president.


Feb. 25, 1993: Mary Walter (b. September 10, 1912) dies at the age of 80. Walter's career as an actress spanned almost seven decades, starting with the 1927 film Ang Lumang Simbahan. She retired to her hometown in Sorsogon province in 1948 but was persuaded to act again a decade later, appearing in Kastilaloy, an LVN Studios production.

Walter was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in 1980 and the Gawad Urian in 1992.


Feb. 26, 1937:  Zamboanga is declared a city by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 39.  Located in the tip of Zamboanga Peninsula, the city was formerly known as Jambangan or "Land of Flowers." 


Feb. 27, 2004: A bomb planted by terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf Group in SuperFerry 14  explodes, killing 116 aboard. SuperFerry 14 was a 10,192-ton vessel that sailed out of Manila for Cagayan de Oro City via Bacolod City and Iloilo City. The explosion tore through the vessel an hour after its 11 p.m. sailing. The 3.6-kilogram TNT bomb was inside a television set placed in the vessel's lower decks.


Feb. 28, 1916: Cesar Climaco (d. November 14, 1984) a politician who served as mayor of Zamboanga City for 11 years and three nonconsecutive terms, is born in the said city. He was a prominent critic of the martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Climaco became famous for his refusal to cut his hair until democratic rule was restored in the Philippines. An unknown gunman assassinated Climaco in 1984. Nobody has been convicted for the crime.

Movie Ads: "Ultimatum" (1994)

Ultimatum, an action movie produced by Viva Films, opened in theaters on February 23, 1994. This movie features veteran actor Eddie Garcia in the lead role, under the direction of Cirio H. Santiago. Other cast members include Dina Bonnevie and Vernon Wells.

"Pan de Sal" Featured in Saveur Magazine

The January-February 2014 issue of Saveur Magazine features what it calls "The 100 most mind-bending, eye-opening, and palate-awakening dishes, drinks, ingredients, people, places, publications, and tools ..." The Philippines is represented through the pan de sal, which is No. 89 in the list.

In the write-up for the magazine, Kellie Evans describes pan de sal as "pillowy rolls that the Filipino women in our Catholic congregation would bring along with them from home. The rolls, which take a tumble in bread crumbs before proofing and baking, have a sweet and tender, spongy interior."

A recipe for the pan de sal is also included in that issue of Saveur Magazine.

Image Credit: Saveur Magazine

Pan De Sal (Sweet Filipino-Style Bread Rolls)
MAKES 20 ROLLS

Ingredients:
6 cups bread four, plus more
1 cup, plus 1 tbsp. sugar
1 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
2 1⁄2 cups milk, heated to 115°
1 tbsp. active dry yeast
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more
1 egg
1 cup plain bread crumbs

1. Whisk four, 1 cup sugar, and salt in a bowl. Stir 1 tbsp. sugar, 1 cup milk, and yeast in another bowl; let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add remaining milk, plus the melted butter and egg; whisk until smooth. Slowly stir in dry ingredients until dough comes together. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap; set in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

2. Place bread crumbs on a plate. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time, pat dough into a 4" x 9" rectangle  about 1⁄2" thick. Working from one long end, roll dough into a tight cylinder. Cut dough crosswise into five 1 1⁄2" rolls. Gently coat cut sides of rolls in bread crumbs; place cut side up on parchment paper–lined baking sheets, spaced about 2" apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; set in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

3. Heat oven to 350°. Bake rolls until golden, 15-20 minutes.