Ni ADOR SALUTA

SI Direk Jerrold Tarog ang nasa likod ng super blockbuster historical epic na Heneral Luna na ipinalabas last year. Ngayon, busy siya sa paghahanda para sa second installment, sa plano niyang trilogy, na tungkol naman sa buhay ng magiting na batang heneral na si Gregorio del Pilar.

(Editor’s note: Ang pangatlo ay tungkol naman kay Manuel L. Quezon.)

Sa isang panayam, ibinahagi ni Direk Jerrold ang kakaibang approach na gagawin niya sa pagbuo ng script ng Gregorio del Pilar.

“Iba ‘yung tema namin ngayon, this time the connection that we’re trying to make is the idea na back then we were a very young nation fighting for freedom, but with little insight on how to achieve greatness. We didn’t have much except for pride and ‘yung weakness natin. They were divided between their principles and their allegiances and sobrang hilig natin sa entertainment which is the same thing today,” pahayag ng magiting ding filmmaker.

Ipinaliwanag niya ang kahalagahan ng mga pelikulang tumatalakay sa buhay ng mga Pilipinong prominente sa ating kasaysayan.

“This is why I think historical films are important, when they try to say something about the past while connecting the narrative to who we are now. Du’n siya nagiging importante. Hindi siya nagiging importante dahil buhay ni Emilio Aguinaldo or Del Pilar ‘yun, nagiging importante siya kung meron siyang ibig sabihin para sa atin. Gregorio del Pilar was active during the Philippine-American war pero insecurities du’n, ‘yung kampihan, our tendency to go blind when you follow someone, our tendency to see things black and white are pretty much the same today. And it’s what were hoping to do once we get started with Gregorio del Pilar,” aniya.

Hangarin ni Direk Jerrold na mai-portray si Del Pilar bilang totoong tao na mailalapit sa mga manonood sa halip na bilang historical figure galing sa nakaraan.

“In doing one of this, assuming na ma-pull off namin, maybe the lives of our national heroes can become sources of reflection and enlightenment. Not because of the heroic things that they did but because of their flaws and their limitations. And if we succeed in making that connection, hopefully lahat ‘yun makapagbigay sa cultural growth and cultural evolution, so ‘yan ‘yung planned trilogy”.

“Sa cast, babalik si Carlo Aquino and then si (Apolinario) Mabini (played by Epy Quizon) will be back, of course. And then si Mon Confiado (Emilio Aguinaldo) definitely and mas malaki ‘yung role ngayon ni Alvin Anson who played General (Jose) Alejandrino and then may mga bago kaming ika-cast,”

Kinumpirma ni Direk  Jerrold na si Paulo Avelino ang magpapatuloy sa pagganap sa batang heneral na una nitong ginampanan sa Heneral Luna.

“Wala namang indication na we’re going with someone else so right now I would say 100% pa rin na siya,” sabi ni Direk.

Magsisimula ang shooting ng Gregorio del Pilar next year.

“Sa box office wala namang pressure. It’s more of sa family ni Gregorio del Pilar na they feel na kailangan medyo malinis ‘yung portrayal, so hayun. Actually, tapos na ‘yung script. Pino-polish na lang,” pahayag ng mahusay na direktor.