Tagalog Movie

Directed by Susana C. De Guzman
Story by Susana C. De Guzman
Screenplay by Susana C. De Guzman, Jose De Cordova

'Bold' scene, circa 1947
Rogelio dela Rosa, Mila del Sol, Lopita

Nanding (Rogelio dela Rosa) is a fisherman/farmer who also happens to possess a fine singing voice. Never without his guitar, either he's singing in church with the local choir or at the village store owned by Kapitan Bestre (Jose Cris Soto). Bestre's store also happens to be the only source of news, gossip, local or otherwise. And the barrio is astir with the return of Marina (Mila del Sol), the daughter of the despotic Cabesang Berong (Engracio Ibarra), the town's richest resident.

News at the village store: Tony Arnaldo,
Jose Cris Soto, Leonora Ruiz, Rogelio dela Rosa

A flashback reveals that Marina and Nanding were childhood friends, a situation Marina's father never approved of, Nanding being a fisherman's son. Berong's wife, Doray (Rosa Mia), on the other hand, was a saintly woman, loved and respected as much as her husband was despised.

Marina and Nanding renew their old friendship and the friendship inevitably turns into love. Berong tries his best to destroy the relationship but Marina defies her father and moves into the village store, to be close to Nanding. There she learns to live like the rest of the rural folk, working and saving up for the day she and Nanding can afford to marry.

But fate intervenes in the form a film crew arriving to shoot a feature film in their village. The star of the film is Rosa Rosal, who plays herself. She is immmediately attracted to the handsome Nanding, especially after Marina convinces him to sing one of his compositions, Sarung Banggi (Isang Gabi). Nanding is offered a screen test, and Marina is ecstatic over her sweetheart's incredible luck.

Before he departs for Manila, he makes a promise to Marina - whenever, wherever he sings Sarung Banggi publicly for the first time, he shall dedicate the song and the event to none other than Marina.

In Manila, he passes the screen test and gets the leading role but the scheming Rosa Rosal tries to win his love as well. Ever the consummate villainess, she exploits every opportunity to ruin his relationship with Marina.

Finally, the long-awaited moment arrives and Nanding, now known as Fernando Flores, sings Sarung Banggi over the radio. Back in the village, in Bestre's store, Marina and Nanding's friends are huddled around a radio, thrilled about the village boy who made it to the big time.

Sarung Banggi heard over station KZRH,
now better known as DZRH

But Marina's happiness is shattered when Nanding dedicates the song and expresses his profound gratitude to - Rosa Rosal.

Rosa then convinces a studio bit player, Tikoy (Armando Canseco) to intercept all letters between Nanding and Marina. Nanding returns to the village but the barrio folk are cold and distant. Nanding is stunned to hear that Marina has returned to her father and is about to marry someone else. Meanwhile, Tikoy, his conscience nagging him, reveals the truth to Maning, Nanding's best friend, (Tony Arnaldo).

Sick with worry, but happy that her daughter is back, Doray finally works up the courage to confront Berong about his cruelty and blames him for Marina's unhappiness.

Nanding back with the choir
on Christmas Eve

Maning urges Nanding to sing in church at the Christmas Eve mass. Nanding agrees, if only to find an opportunity to speak to Marina one last time before they part forever. The former sweethearts meet again but Cabesang Berong shows up unexpectedly. Trailing meekly behind him is Doray. Expecting the worst, Marina and Nanding get the best news of their lives instead. The old man declares that the coming New Year will see the emergence of a new reformed Berong. He now demands that Marina and Na nding marry as soon as possible, but on one condition - that they remain in the barrio and Nanding never returns to Manila… and to show business.

(through the courtesy of Danny Dolor
and Cesar Hernando)

NOTES: VHS versions come in plain box.
Copying is done entirely by LVN Pictures.
This vintage video is not a restored version.

• Rogelio dela Rosa
• Mila Del Sol
• Rosa Rosal
• Tony Arnaldo
• Alfonso Carvajal
• Citas Gonzales

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