Ako si Ninoy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVincent Tañada
Written byVincent Tañada
Based onAko Si Ninoy
by Vince Tañada
Produced by
  • Base Hernandez
  • Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel
  • Bianca Zialcita
Starring
CinematographyManuel Abanto
Edited byMark Jason Sucgang
Music byPipo Cifra
Production
company
Philstagers Films
Release dates
  • February 18, 2022 (2022-02-18) (Power Plant Mall)
  • February 22, 2023 (2023-02-22)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Ako si Ninoy (I Am Ninoy) is a 2022 Filipino musical drama and biographical film written and directed by Vincent Tañada. Adapted from Tañada's 2008 stage play of the same name, it focuses on the lives of 11 Filipinos which draw parallels to the life of Ninoy Aquino. It stars Juan Karlos Labajo, Sarah Holmes, and an ensemble cast of Johnrey Rivas, Marlo Mortel, Cassy Legaspi, Joaquin Domagoso, Nicole Laurel Asensio, JM Yosures, Adelle Ibarrientos, Vean Olmedo, Jomar Tañada, Brae Luke Quirante, and Bodjie Pascua.

The film was premiered at the Power Plant Mall on February 18, 2022 and theatrically released on February 22, 2023. It is the second stage play adapted by Vincent Tañada to film, following Katips.

Cast

Production

The original musical stage play was written by Vincent Tañada and commissioned by Corazon Aquino through the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (now the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation) in 2009.[1][2] It was released shortly after her death in August 2009.[3] Tañada said in a speech at the film's premiere that Aquino specifically requested that that Tañada "[should not] write only about us [the Aquino family]. Write also about our people."[1] The stage play had over 500 shows all over the Philippines.[4] Tañada decided to create a film adaptation of his stage play in 2022 as a response to the proliferation of historical distortion within the Philippines.[4][5] He intended to make the film available for younger audiences to combat the increasing distortion against Aquino.[5]

The stage play was originally developed together with historians, academics, and Corazon Aquino herself prior to her death.[5] In writing the film, Tañada consulted historian Michael "Xiao" Chua, archivist Karl Patrick Suyat of Project Gunita, and Rebecca Quijano, who witnessed Aquino's assassination, to ensure the accuracy of scenes depicting historical events regarding Aquino, such as his assassination and his sentencing by a military commission to death.[4][5][6] According to Chua, inaccuracies remained in the final film but the most important details were preserved.[6]

Tañada considered actors Piolo Pascual and Jericho Rosales before choosing Juan Karlos Labajo to play Aquino in the film.[4] Tañada chose Labajo to play the role of Aquino due to his young age and prior experience in singing.[4][7] Pipo Cifra, a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, was chosen by Tañada as the composer of the film. Cifra earlier collaborated with Tañada for Katips, a similar film detailing the life of activists during Marcos' martial law regime.[8] Tañada served as the lyricist for the musical's songs, with the exception of Buwan, which was written and released by Labajo in 2018 and performed using a different rendition for the film.[8]

In his premiere speech, Tañada also recalled attending the funeral of Ninoy Aquino as a child, who clung to the fabric of Aquino's hearse after being separated from his father.[1] This scene is depicted in the movie, with Tañada's son, Peter Parker Tañada, playing as his father's younger self.[9]

Release

The film was premiered at the Power Plant Mall on February 18, 2022. Its premiere was attended by Aquino's daughter Viel Aquino-Dee, her son, Francis Joseph “Kiko” Aquino-Dee, and Aquino's nephew Bam Aquino.[3][10] At the premiere, Bam Aquino highlighted the importance of the film, noting the prevalence of disinformation regarding Ninoy Aquino.[10]

The film was theatrically released on February 22, 2023. It was released exactly a week before the releases of two other historical films related to Ferdinand Marcos: Oras de Peligro, which tells the story of an impoverished family during the People Power Revolution, and Martyr or Murderer.[3][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "JK Labajo pinatunayan ang galing sa pagkanta at pagdadrama sa 'Ako Si Ninoy'; Vince Tañada may inamin sa premiere night" [JK Labajo proves his talent for singing and acting in 'Ako SI Ninoy'; Vince Tañada gives confession on premiere night]. Inquirer Bandera (in Filipino). February 20, 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "'Ako si Ninoy' director tells story behind the musical film". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Tomada, Nathalie. "Ninoy Aquino grandson shows support for Ako Si Ninoy, Oras De Peligro films". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Ako si Ninoy' director tells story behind the musical film". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Director Vince Tañada says Aquino family supports musical film 'Ako si Ninoy'". ABS-CBN News. January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Chua, Michael “Xiao” (February 21, 2023). "History in a musical". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ "'Good luck to me': Juan Karlos Labajo challenged in musical film 'Ako si Ninoy'". ABS-CBN News. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Tariman, Pablo (February 20, 2023). "Ninoy as Everyman according to Vince Tañada". VERA Files. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Hawson, Fred (February 22, 2023). "Movie review: Juan Karlos gives his all in 'Ako si Ninoy'". ABS-CBN News.
  10. 1 2 Felipe, MJ (February 19, 2023). "Aquino family attends 'Ako Si Ninoy' premiere". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ Alpad, Christina (February 23, 2023). "'Ako Si Ninoy' opens ahead of Marcos film 'Martyr or Murderer'". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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