Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban

{{Short description|Upcoming biographical war film starring Manny Pacquiao}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| director = Jose "Kaka" Balagtas

| producer = {{ubl|Jose Malvar Villegas Jr.|Florita Santos}}

| writer = Ed Samson

| based_on = {{Based on|Gen. Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Revolution|Edberto Malvar Villegas}}{{cite news|author=The Manila Times|title=Malvar grandson dies|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/11/lifestyle-entertainment/show-times/malvar-grandson-dies/766908/|accessdate=November 8, 2020|work=The Manila Times|publisher=The Manila Times, Publishing Company|date=September 11, 2020}}

| starring = {{ubl|Manny Pacquiao|Isko Moreno|E.R. Ejercito}}

| music =

| cinematography =

| editing =

| studio = JMV Film Productions

| distributor = Star Cinema

| released =

| runtime =

| country = Philippines

| language = Filipino

| budget = {{Philippine peso|100 million}}{{cite news|last=Samio|first=Veronica|title=Pacman gagastusan ng P100-m ang gagawing pelikula|trans-title=Pacman will spend P100-m in making a film|url=https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/showbiz/2019/09/25/1954783/pacman-gagastusan-ng-p100-m-ang-gagawing-pelikula|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Pilipino Star Ngayon|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=September 25, 2019|language=Filipino, English}}

| gross =

}}

Malvar: Tuloy ang Laban ({{literal translation|Malvar: The Fight Continues}}) is an unfinished Filipino biographical war film directed by Jose "Kaka" Balagtas and written by Ed Samson. It will depict the life of Miguel Malvar, one of the last Filipino generals to surrender in the Philippine–American War.{{cite web|last=Chua|first=Michael Charleston|title=A historian's perspective: Gen. Malvar could have been the Pacquiao of his day, but...|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/10/26/19/a-historians-perspective-gen-malvar-could-have-been-the-pacquiao-of-his-day-but|website=ABS-CBN News|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|accessdate=November 1, 2019|date=October 26, 2019}} The film will star Manny Pacquiao as the titular General Malvar, with Isko Moreno as Andrés Bonifacio and E.R. Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo.

Producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. began plans for a film about General Malvar in 2000, though it was stalled due to apprehension that the American government, a close ally of the Philippines, could be offended with the work. After Rodrigo Duterte became President of the Philippines in 2016 and favored a more independent foreign policy for the country, Villegas was encouraged to proceed with his plans, with Pacquiao cast as Malvar by mid-2019. Though shooting was intended to take place in Batangas, the eruption of Taal Volcano in the province forced the production to move to Bulacan.

As plans for a Malvar film production became more public in late 2019, controversy arose over the production's lack of sought permission from Malvar's descendants, while the casting of Pacquiao as Malvar has been criticized.{{cite news|last=Madarang|first=Catalina Ricci|title=Kin of Filipino hero General Malvar apprehensive about Pacquiao's portrayal|url=https://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2019/10/14/156273/general-malvar-pacquiao/|accessdate=March 6, 2020|work=Interaksyon|date=October 14, 2019}}

Cast

Manny Pacquiao as Miguel Malvar
Filipino general in the Philippine–American War. Pacquiao's casting as Malvar was announced on August 27, 2019, by Batangas Governor Hermilando "DoDo" Mandanas during a ceremony declaring him as Batangas' "adopted son".{{cite news|last=Macaraig|first=Mark Jonathan|title=People's champ Manny Pacquiao, "adopted son" ng Lalawigan ng Batangas|url=http://www.batangas.gov.ph/portal/peoples-champ-manny-pacquiao-adopted-son-ng-lalawigan-ng-batangas/|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Province of Batangas|publisher=Province of Batangas|date=August 28, 2019|language=Filipino, English}} Director Jose "Kaka" Balagtas and Pacquiao have previously worked together on films such as Anak ng Kumander and Basagan ng Mukha.
Isko Moreno as Andrés Bonifacio
In September 2019, Pacquiao expressed interest in Judy Ann Santos taking the lead female role, while Mayor Isko Moreno of Manila and ER Ejercito were also strongly considered for other roles in the film. On October 21, Moreno was officially cast as Andres Bonifacio, with his talent fee to be fully donated to the Philippine General Hospital.{{cite news|last=Samio|first=Veronica|title=Mayor Isko tuloy na sa pelikula ni Sen. Manny!|trans-title=Mayor Isko to push through (his involvement) in Sen. Manny's film!|url=https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/showbiz/2019/10/22/1962203/mayor-isko-tuloy-na-sa-pelikula-ni-sen-manny|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Pilipino Star Ngayon|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=October 22, 2019}}{{cite news|author=Bistado.Net|title=TF ni Mayor Isko sa 'Heneral Malvar|url=https://bistadodailynews.net/news/Tiktaktik/64b6707a-a751-43e0-a8d5-20e513dd5205|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Bistado News Online|publisher=Bistado Illustrator|date=October 2019|language=Tagalog, English}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|last=Severo|first=Jan Milo|title='Fake news': TBA on John Arcilla playing 'Heneral Luna' in Manny Pacquiao's 'Malvar' film|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/10/29/1964336/fake-news-tba-john-arcilla-playing-heneral-luna-manny-pacquiaos-malvar-film|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Philstar.com|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=October 29, 2019}}
E.R. Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo{{cite news|author=TDT|title=On atrocities and heroism|url=https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/12/28/on-atrocities-and-heroism/|accessdate=December 31, 2019|work=The Daily Tribune|publisher=Concept & Information Group, Inc.|date=December 28, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231020335/https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/12/28/on-atrocities-and-heroism/|url-status=dead}}
Daniel Fernando as Emilio Jacinto
Jerico Ejercito as Gregorio del Pilar{{cite web|last=Ejercito|first=ER|authorlink=ER Ejercito|title=GENERAL MIGUEL MALVAR FILM PRESSCON...|url=https://www.facebook.com/GovEREjercito/posts/10157934181576054|website=Facebook|accessdate=January 13, 2020|date=January 5, 2020}}
Mark Leviste{{cite news|author=Manila Standard Showbiz|title='Malvar' intended for MMFF 2020, international fest|url=http://www.manilastandard.net/showbitz/tv-movies/310424/-malvar-intended-for-mmff-2020-international-fest.html|accessdate=November 19, 2019|work=ManilaStandard.net.|date=November 19, 2019}}

The full cast was presented at the Great Eastern Hotel's Aberdeen Court in Quezon City on December 22, 2019, with Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in attendance.

Production

=Development=

Producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr.'s plans for a biographical film about General Miguel Malvar began in 2000, which at the time was stalled for an extended period due to the risk of offending the American government. However, after Rodrigo Duterte became president and advocated for a more independent foreign policy, Villegas was encouraged to proceed with his plans and committed to depicting in the film the atrocities committed during American colonization of the Philippine islands.{{cite news|author=Manila Standard Showbiz|title=Camera to start rolling for 'Malvar'|url=https://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/314367|accessdate=January 13, 2020|work=Manila Standard Mobile|publisher=manilastandard.net|date=January 8, 2020}}

=Filming=

Malvar was directed by Jose "Kaka" Balagtas and the provincial government of Batangas had involvement in its production.{{cite news|last=Chua|first=Zsarlene|title=Gen. Malvar's great-grandson opposes upcoming film|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/10/26/19/a-historians-perspective-gen-malvar-could-have-been-the-pacquiao-of-his-day-but|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=BusinessWorld|publisher=BusinessWorld Publishing|date=October 15, 2019}} According to Balagtas, filming locations for Malvar will include the Padre Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas and the Bay Laguna, a {{convert|40|ha|acre}} development were the Malvar Ecumenical and Film World Center will be built.{{cite news|last=Asis|first=Salve|title=Pacquiao gaganap na Bayani!|trans-title=Pacquiao will portray a Hero!|url=https://www.philstar.com/pang-masa/pang-movies/2019/09/25/1954778/pacquiao-gaganap-na-bayani|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=Pang-Masa|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=September 25, 2019|language=Filipino}} Filming for the trailer began on October 18, 2019.{{cite web|title=First day of shoot GENERAL MALVAR|url=https://www.facebook.com/swordtvphilippines/posts/1125821247617208|website=Facebook|publisher=SWORD TV Philippines Broadcasting|accessdate=November 2, 2019|date=October 18, 2019}}

Villegas Jr., the head of JMV Film Production who reportedly is also a grandson of Malvar, serves as the producer of the film. Director Balagtas also doubles as the event producer. Imelda Papin, a singer and songwriter is Malvar's line producer with Florita Santos also involved as a co-producer.{{cite news|last=Gregorio|first=Xave|title=New Malvar biopic didn't get entire family's permission, kin says|url=https://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2019/10/13/General-Malvar-film-Manny-Pacquiao.html|accessdate=November 2, 2019|work=CNN Philippines|publisher=Nine Media Corporation|date=October 13, 2019|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014011333/https://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2019/10/13/General-Malvar-film-Manny-Pacquiao.html|url-status=dead}}

According to Michael Balaguer of the online news site Diaryong Tagalog, shooting locations will be moved from Batangas to the municipalities of Plaridel and Pandi in Bulacan due to the January 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano.{{cite news|last=Balaguer|first=Michael|title=Syuting ng Pelikulang Gen. Malvar Ililipat sa Bulacan|trans-title=Shooting of Gen. Malvar Film to be Moved to Bulacan|url=http://www.diaryongtagalog.net/kln/bul/syuting-ng-pelikulang-gen-malvar-ililipat-sa-bulacan/|accessdate=March 6, 2020|work=Diaryong Tagalog|publisher=Diaryong Tagalog Networks Limited|date=February 25, 2020|language=Tagalog|quote=Nakatakdang mag[-]shoot ang Gen. Malvar Movie sa mga bayan ng Plaridel at [P]andi at iba pang makasaysayang lugar sa Bulacan...}} Production was hampered once again by March, this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to a lockdown of the entire Luzon area on March 17.{{cite news|last=Rula|first=Gorgy|title=Mayor Sara naghahanda na para sa kanyang filmbio?!|trans-title=Mayor Sara is now preparing for her filmbio?!|url=https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/showbiz/2020/03/18/2001704/mayor-sara-naghahanda-na-para-sa-kanyang-filmbio|accessdate=March 24, 2020|work=Pilipino Star Ngayon|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 18, 2020|language=Filipino|quote=Bukod dito, nandiyan pa rin ang iba pang pagpu-produce ng biopic kagaya ng Malvar na pagbibidahan ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao na tigil-shooting din.}}{{cite news|author=Rappler.com|title=Disney postpones 'Black Widow' Philippine release|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/254957-disney-postpones-black-widow-philippine-release|accessdate=March 24, 2020|work=Rappler|publisher=Rappler, Inc.|date=March 18, 2020|location=Manila, Philippines}}

The film was intended to be submitted to the 46th edition (2020) of the Metro Manila Film Festival, in addition to other international film festivals, but as of December 2020, it has yet to be completed.{{cite web|last=Balagtas|first=Jose|author-link=Jose Balagtas|title=Miting for Malvar @greenwich pizza...|url=https://www.facebook.com/josekakabalagtas/posts/3677608045592515|website=Facebook|publisher=Facebook Inc.|access-date=December 14, 2020|date=December 9, 2020}}

Controversy

The production of Malvar has received controversy for the lack of sought permission from any of the descendants of Miguel Malvar other than producer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. and his historian brother Edberto. Gabriel Malvar, the great grandson of Miguel Malvar, questioned the casting choice for the titular general of the film saying that his grandfather have his name "associated with anyone in politics" since Pacquiao is also an incumbent senator and also noted how Pacquiao's personality will "dominate" the film which he believed would detract the audience's attention from his grandfather's life to Pacquiao.