Film producer and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio laments at the “formulaic” and “recycled” stories that flood today’s film entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
“Nawala na ang innovation sa film entries,” Topacio said. “Mike de Leon’s psychological horror drama, ‘Kisapmata’ (1981) and (Ishmael Bernals ‘Nunal sa Tubig’ (1976) with Elizabeth Oropesa and Daria Romero, classics na ang mga ‘yan. Vivian Velez in Celso Ad Castillo’s ‘Paradise Inn’ was really beautiful.
“I have more than 2,000 films at home. Si Bernal, cinema veritae ang style niya. Mabagal ang pace ng pelikula.”
Topacio was pleased with two films he watched early this year – Raymond Red’s “Manila’s Finest” and Lav Diaz’s historical epic “Magellan.”
“I choose the Filipino films I watch,” Topacio said. “Basta for the Filipino film industry, naka suporta talaga ako. I believe na dapat i-agat ang pelikulang Pilipino para hind maging formulaic. Kaya kung napapansin niyo, sumasadsad na ang viewership at attendance ng filmfest. Dapat itaas natin ang antas.
Dapat festival, ang ihahain mo, ang pinakamasarap na pagkain. Hindi pwedeng adobong kangkong lang o dilis. Kailangan masasarap na pagkain.”
Gerald Santos plays Heneral Emilio Jacinto in "Liwanag at Dilim"
Topacio supports the biopic of hero Emilio Jacinto, “Liwanag at Dilim,” that was recently submitted to the MMFF, hopefully to make it as one of the official eight entries in this year’s festival.
The film stars singer-actor Gerald Santos in the lead for his 20th anniversary in showbiz. While he wrapped up three concerts in 2025, he didn’t do any concert this year to focus on the film.
“Thank you, Atty. Topacio, for accompanying us here at the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) office to submit this entry,” Santos told Topacio. “We are so thankful for your support.”
Santos and production staff finished “Liwanag at Dilim” in six weeks last August. They started last June 13.
He is joined by a star-studded cast, with Alden Richards as Dr. Jose Rizal and Sid Lucero as Andres Bonifacio.
Alexa Miro plays Tinay, the wife of Emilio Jacinto, while Aljur Abrenica portrays Gen. Miguel Malvar. Mercedes Cabral plays Sisa, with Isay Alvarez as Doña Victorina and Robert Seña as Don Tiburcio. Angel Aquino takes on the role of Kalayaan, a composite character based on the essay written by Jacinto.
Jayson Gainza, Mike Pecto Nacua and Alex Medina are the other actors in the cast.
“Emilio Jacinto was really nationalistic,” Santos said. “Ipaglalaban niya ang bayan. He shared his God-given knowledge and gift with everyone. Kahit maraming forces ang pumipigil noon, maraming hadlang, hindi siya nagpadaig doon.
“He chose to share whatever he knows. He wrote the kartilya ng Katipunan ng Kalayaan. He authored many essays, 'Liwanag at Dilim,' where we got the title of the movie. Matalino talaga si Gat Emilio Jacinto. Despite the challenges at that time, he was not prevented to share what he knows.”
Gerald Santos as Emilio Jacinto (second from right) with writer-director Antonino Rommel Ramilo (extreme left) and producers Leroy Santos, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Chona Raymundo and Ivan Raymundo.
Santos worked with historian and professor Michael Charleston “Xiao” Briones Chua, the consultant for “Liwanag at Dilim.” The descendants of Jacinto also imparted information to Santos and the cast. The film’s writer and director, Antonino Rommel Ramilo, was constantly in touch with Chua throughout the filming.
“Direk Rommel said this film is 10 years in the making,” said Santos. “Ginawa ko siya for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in 2016. That was when direk Rommel was inspired to do a full-length film about Emilio Jacinto. Medyo nakakalimutan na nga si General Jacinto. Dapat malaman ng mga Pilipino ang contributions niya sa ating history.”
Emilio Jacinto’s biopic, “Liwanag at Dilim,” wrapped up in six weeks after being shot in Calatagan, Taal, Tanauan in Batangas, well as Calamba in Laguna. Santos also recorded the original theme song, “Taghoy ng Puso.”
The film was submitted early this week as an entry for the MMFF.
“This film is heavy drama,” said Santos. “Acting-wise, this is emotionally and physically demanding. We did so many challenging scenes but everything was so fulfilling. Ang ganda ng outcome. Atty. Topacio watched the film that was why we got his support to the project. Atty. Topacio is such a film critique. He will not just support the project if he doesn’t believe in it.”
Ramilo maintained “Liwanag at Dilim” is unprecedented. “There are many films in the past about Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Juan Luna, (Manuel) Quezon and (Emilio) Aguinaldo,” he said. “In the history of our filmmaking, we have not done any film about Emilio Jacinto. This the very first film about Jacinto.
“When I was still in elementary, Jacinto was number 4 in the hierarchy – the ranking was Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini and Jacinto. All of a sudden, nawala na si Jacinto sa heroes’ hierarchy. Nawala siya. But he was in the 25-centavo coin. It’s time to bring him back for the younger generation. Jacinto came from a family of singers. You are not a member of the Jacinto family if you do not sing or play an instrument.”
Jacinto, however, had no direct descendant. He and Tinay had no offspring. Their baby died when the child was still an infant.
Gerald Santos (center) with Emilio Jacinto producer lawyer Ferdinand Topacio (right) and writer-director Antonino Rommel Ramilo
Topacio, who majored in English Literature with minor in History at San Sebastian College, wrote a thesis about the Philippine Revolution.He came in to join the producers of “Liwanag at Dilim” after the film wrapped up.
“What struck me most about this ‘Liwanag at Dilim’ film, the circumstances and issues that plagued Philippine society before – factionalism, cynicism, collaboration with foreigners, ningas-cogon – up to this day, everything is still there," he said.
“When Andres Bonifacio was killed, hindi sumama ang grupo nila Emilio Jacinto, General Mariano Alvarez, Miguel Malvar, sa Magdalo na grupo ni Aguinaldo. Luna, who is the first head of Philippine army, he was not being followed by the people of Aguinaldo. That factionalism, that is the same thing destroying our society today.
“That is the reason we are left behind by fellow countries in Asia. This ‘Liwanag at Dilim’ is a movie. I was so impressed by the accuracy after I watched it. This takes some liberties with the historical facts. The message is very clear and very relevant. Very little has changed with Philippine society. What it was then, ganito pa rin ngayon. Kaya hindi tayo sumusulong.”
Topacio insists that for the past few decades the MMFF has yet to augment the grade of its film entries. “It’s supposed to be the premier festival,” he said. “We need to uplift the taste of Filipino film goers. If we keep on feeding them the same kind of diet, we cannot go higher. I hope the jurors or those running the film fest, will learn.
“Liwanag at Dilim” is a “passion” project, as Topacio insisted. “Hindi pwedeng puro pera lang ang showbiz.”