The life of General Miguel Malvar — one of the last Filipino revolutionaries to surrender to the Americans during the war — is headed to the big screen, but not everyone’s happy about it.
The late general’s great-grandson Gabriel Malvar, in fact, initially refused to even believe it when he heard the revolutionary hero would be played by boxing legend-turned-senator-turned-“actor” Manny Pacquiao.
In a Facebook post yesterday, he said he’d believed the casting announcement had been “fake news” before seeing the evidence — a contract signing from four days ago posted on the film’s official social media.
“Apparently, a relative had unilaterally decided that he would enter into an agreement with outside parties to produce the Malvar film without the express consent of the entire clan. This caught us by surprise,” he said.
Gabriel, who said his grandfather is the youngest of General Malvar and wife Paula “Ulay” Malvar’s 11 children, said the family should have been involved in the decision to sell the film rights.
“The different lines of direct descendants were not informed nor consulted. This should not be difficult to do, as the prominent representatives of each line can easily call or message each other,” he wrote.
Gabriel said that despite having a place in history as a military leader, his great-grandfather was a simple man, and that had he been consulted, General Malvar would have preferred someone who was not involved in politics to portray him. (Editor: Or possibly a real actor.)
“I do not think he would have preferred to have his name associated with anyone in politics. I would like his name and legacy totally apart from the political milieu,” he said.
He also believes Pacquiao is simply not the right actor for the role.
“If he plays lolo (grandpa) Miguel, the viewers will not be able to see and appreciate my grandfather. Senator Pacquiao’s personality will dominate. That is not a knock on the senator. It is the truth,” Gabriel said. He added that a bad film about the general would only “taint his legacy, [and] do more harm than good.”
In a statement on the film’s Facebook account, however, General Malvar producer Jose Malvar Villegas — who also says he is a grandson of the late general — defended both his right to do a movie without the family’s permission as well as his controversial casting choice.
“General Malvar’s life story and the value it holds in the Philippine history belongs to the people and cannot be monopolized by his immediate family,” Villegas said.
He adds that under Republic Act No. 10066, or the Heritage Law, anybody “can write or do a movie on the national hero without the consent or knowledge of his kin.”
Villegas went on to defend Pacquiao as a “consummate actor” and that he predicts the film will be a “blockbuster.”
Written by Ed Samson and directed by Jose “Kaka” Balagtas, General Malvar began filming on Saturday, and is scheduled for release in 2020.
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