Basic Information: Directed: Pablo Santiago; Story: Herminio ‘Butch’ Bautista; Screenplay: Fred Navarro; Cast: Fernando Poe Jr., Vilma Santos, Dencio Padilla, Robert Talabis, Millie Mercado, Connie Angeles, Yvonne Salcedo, Tina Monasterio, Jun Soler, Jumbo Salvador, Phillip Salvador, Rowell Santiago; Executive producer: Fernando Poe Jr.; Original Music: Ernani Cuenco; Cinematography: Sergio Lobo; Theme Songs: “Bato sa Buhangin” performed by Cinderella; Film poster: Video48
Plot Description: An intriguing revelation from a Fortune Teller leads the spoiled Bamba (Vilma Santos) restless to meet her destined Lover. One day, the anxious Bamba comes across the humble Taxi Driver Rafael (Fernando Poe Jr.) after crashing his vehicle on the street. To make up for Bamba's blunder, Bamba's father offers the poor Rafael to work as his daughter's Bodyguard. Being the snotty brat she is, Bamba punishes Rafael by bossing him around and embarrassing him in front of her friends. Through it all, however, Bamba suddenly finds herself irresistibly falling in love with Rafael --- the one man who has patiently put up with all her mischief. The only hurdle to Bamba and Rafael's love story, though, is the secret Bamba has been keeping from everybody all her life - even to her beloved Rafael. Will this secret ruin the chance for Bamba to be with her fated Partner? - Pelikula.net (READ MORE)
Bamba (Vilma Santos) is eager to meet the love of her life after having her fortune told. Fate delivers her to the humble taxi driver, Rafael (Fernando Poe Jr.). And while their relationship is initially strained by Bamba's poor treatment of Rafael, they inevitably find themselves falling for one another. But Bamba is hiding a secret that she has kept from everyone in her life. Will this secret destroy any and all chance she has to be with the one she is fated to love? - TFC (READ MORE)
Film Achievement: 1976 FAMAS Best Theme Song – Ernani Cuenco for the song “Bato sa Buhangin”
Film Reviews: "...I really felt very sad as he’s one of the kindest men I ever met. We’ve done three films together. The first one was when I was only 19-years-old, Batya’t Palo-Palo, a big hit. He was the one who taught me how to swim while we were shooting that movie. Before that, I did Dyesebel where I played a mermaid but I didn’t even know how to swim. This was followed by Bato sa Buhangin. Our last film together was Ikaw ang Mahal Ko, which I did after I gave birth to Ryan Christian. Kuya Ronnie is a gentleman in the strictest sense of the word. Talagang maasikaso siya sa lahat ng kasama niya sa shooting and he feeds everyone with great food all the time. He’s fun to work with kasi palabiro siya at masaya talaga kasama. The whole industry will miss him..." - Mario E. Bautista (READ MORE)
Kundiman - "...Although the kundiman (or the love song in Tagalog) and the balad are like sisters by emotional affinity, so to speak, the former is more plaintive than the latter. Whereas the ballad (such asd Jerome Kern's All the Things You are or David Raksin's Laura or Victor Young Stella by Starlight) speaks of the anguish of romantic love with the emotions held in full gear, the kundiman is so mournful that it becomes maudlin. In a way, this is not surprising since the Filipino is, by nature, extremely sentimental. No wonder, a local film of the tearjerker variety is milked to excess to the point of nauseato the delight of its audience. The kundiman, then, fits perfectly into the innate psyche of the typical Filipino. Tearjerkers in Philippine cinema prior to the outbreak of World War II on Dec 8, 1941 were understandably lachrymose to the nth degree and were studded with the necessary kundiman...Kapalaran (music by Orly Ilacad and lyrics by Ernie de la Pena) was recorded by Rico J. Puno in 1976 and sang in Inday Garutay, a Trixia Gomez starrer. The meaningful lyrics embellished by the bewitching melody created an emotional carthasis on the sensitive listener. That same year, Bato sa Buhangin (an Ernani Cuenco composition), which starred Fernando Poe Jr. and Vilma Santos, was also shown. As sung by Cinderella (or Yolly Samson) in the single, Bato sa Buhangin, fought it out with Kapalaran in jukeboxes and on the airlanes, aside from the mouths of people who date on the beauty of melodies falling under the label of the kundiman..." - Leo P. Sergio, Manila Standard, 01 April 1988 p11 (READ MORE)
