LIPA MASSACRE (1994)

Basic Information: Directed, story, screenplay: Carlo J. Caparas; Cast: Vilma Santos, Joel Torre, John Regala, Charina Scott, Angelica Panganiban, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Phillip Gamboa, Liezel Martinez, Ronnie Lazaro, Mia Gutierrez, Tony Mabesa; Executive producer: Carlo J. Caparas, Vic del Rosario Jr., Donna Villa; Cinematography: Boy Dominguez; Film Editing: Abelardo Hulleza

Plot Description: A family of an overseas Filipino worker is murdered in their own home in Lipa City. While boarding a plane bound for the Philippines, Mr. Arandia is shocked to see his family in the front page of a newspaper. - Pelikula.net

Film Achievement: FAMAS: Best Picture, Best Director - Carlo J. Caparas, Best Child Actress - Angelica Panganiban. Best Actor Nomination – Joel Torre, Best Child Actress Nomination – Charina Scott (READ MORE)

Film Reviews: Vilma Santos portrayed the role of Mrs. Helen Arandia, wife of an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia. The Star for All Seasons starred with John Regala, Joel Torre, and then-child actors Charina Scott and Angelica Panganiban in this 1994 movie. While boarding a plane back to the Philippines, Mr. Ronald Arandia (played by Joel Torre) was shocked when he saw his murdered family on a newspaper’s front page. The killer (John Regala) visited Mrs. Arandia at their home in Lipa City, Batangas, and brutally murdered her and her two daughters, aged 8 and 6. The film directed by Carlo Caparas won Best Picture and Best Director at the 43rd Famas Awards (1994). - Jagger Keith (READ MORE)

"...Mula 1994 hanggang 2003 ay hindi na nagkatunggali sa Best Actress award sina Nora at Vilma. Early 1994 nang huling magkasabay as contenders for the acting plum sina Nora (Inay) at Vilma (Dahil Mahal Kita). For the whole year, Nora didn’t topbill any movie. She hosted Modern Romance sa Telebisyon on GMA 7 and the monthly special Superstar Beyond Time on RPN 9, and appeared on several telesines and a successful two-night concert at the Mandarin Hotel Ballroom. Naulit ang pangyayari noong 1992 na walang pelikula si Nora (she only appeared in her second stage play, DH, na nag-world-tour in 1993) and this will be repeated 10 years later, when she did the ABS-CBN 2 drama series Bituin that aired from September 2002 to May 2003 and several concerts. Vilma notched two films: Regal’s Nag-iisang Bituin (by Joey Reyes) and Golden Lions’ Lipa Massacre (by Carlo J. Caparas), which won as Best Picture sa FAMAS..." - William Reyes (READ MORE)

"Vilma Santos finally gets her wish to star in a massacre movie under director Carlo Caparas with her role as Helen Arandia in the Lipa Massacre. The film is about the Arandia family tragedy (a mother and her two daughters were killed by a neighbor while Mr. Arandia was abroad). Congressman Ralph Recto plays himself in the movie. Vilma had to forego a trip abroad to shoot another film just to help promote this massacre movie. Producer Donna Villa is all praises for Vi's professionalism and her concern for this movie. Playing Mr Arandia is Joel Torre, who has become a favorite of the Golden Lions couple after he worked with them in the Antipolo Massacre. The Lipa Massacre movie will have a playdate on November 9. Donna and Carlo are now ready with their new movie..." - Norma Japitana, Manila Standard, Nov 2 1994 (READ MORE)

Related Reading:

• Massacre era
• IMDB: Lipa Arandia Massacre (Lord Deliver Us from Evil) (1994)
• Carlo J. Caparas, Filipino Komiks King
• Wikipilipinas: Carlo J. Caparas

RISAL ALIH ZAMBOANGA MASSACRE(1989)

Basic Information Directed, screenplay: Carlo J. Caparas; Cast: Eddie Garcia, Ramon Revilla, Vilma Santos, Marianne De La Riva, Raoul Aragon, Joonee Gamboa, Antonio Carreon, Paquito Diaz, Charlie Davao; Executive producer: Donna Villa; Cinematography: Ramon Marcelino

Plot Description: Rizal Alih was a rogue cop who fought with his superior Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla in January 1989, then held him and several others hostage in Camp Cawa-Cawa, Zamboanga City. By the time the hostage-taking ended, 19 people were dead, including Batalla…” - Carlo J. Caparas, GMANews.TV The Revenge of Carlo J. Caparas (God Help Us)

Film Achievement: Screen heavyweights Ramon Revilla and Eddie Garcia played Risal Alih and Gen. Batalla respectively in this 1989 movie, Arrest: Patrolman Risal Alih: Zamboanga Massacre. Vilma Santos had a special role in the movie as Risal's wife and future action star Robin Padilla was also cast in a supporting role.

Film Reviews: “Of all the films he has made, Caparas says the ones he is proudest of are Pieta, Kahit Ako’y Lupa, Bubbles, and Zamboanga Massacre…Zamboanga Massacre was one big testosterone rush. “Hino-hostage pa lang si General Batalla, nagsu-shooting na ako, kasi gusto ko fresh talaga.” (“General Batalla was still being hostaged, I was already shooting because I wanted the footage to be really fresh.”)…(Rizal Alih was a rogue cop who fought with his superior Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla in January 1989, then held him and several others hostage in Camp Cawa-Cawa, Zamboanga City. By the time the hostage-taking ended, 19 people were dead, including Batalla.) – Stephanie Dychiu (READ MORE)

"...Why the big fuss over Vilma Santos' participation in the Risal Alih movie. Bakit pinapalabas nilan isa sa tatlong main stars si Vi, samantalang guest lang pala ito at isang araw lang nag-shooting? Bakit? Ginagamit lang ba nilang box office bait ang aktress?..." - Dennis Adobas, Manila Standard, Mar 9 1989 (READ MORE)

"...He said the policeman later lent him a laptop so he could finally see the movie on Youtube. “I was indeed so shocked, speechless and angry that I was not able to finish watching the entire film,” he said in his complaint. Alih is facing charges in connection with the 1989 siege of Camp Cawa-Cawa in Zamboanga City, which left a number of his supporters and two top police officials dead. In his complaint filed through lawyer Fernando Pena in the Quezon City prosecutors’ office, Alih, 67, said the movie depicted him as having beheaded Gen. Eduardo Batalla during the siege. “The portrayal that I allegedly beheaded Batalla in the movie was utterly baseless, malicious and a downright lie perpetrated in order to make the movie such a big hit and to make a huge profit at the expense of maligning my name and reputation,” he argued. “I was likewise informed that the said film … became a blockbuster movie,” Alih said in his affidavit. “The only way we can rewrite history is file this case in hopes of rectifying a decades-long error,” Pena told reporters in an interview. Pena also maintained that the prescription period for filing a libel complaint is one year from the time the offense was discovered by the complainant, and not from the time of publication or release of the questioned material. Asked why Alih filed the case only now, the lawyer said his client went into hiding in Malaysia for a long time and had no access to traditional media. He said the government even declared Alih dead at one point. The movie had a star-studded cast that included veteran actors like Ramon Revilla Sr. as Rizal Alih, with Eddie Garcia portraying Batalla. Vilma Santos played Alih’s wife..." - Julie M. Aurelio, With a report from Bayani San Diego, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Aug 24 2012 (READ MORE)

Related Reading:

• Arrest: Patrolman Risal Alih: Zamboanga Massacre (1998)
• The Revenge of Carlo J. Caparas
• Carlo J. Caparas, GMANews.TV The Revenge of Carlo J. Caparas (God Help Us)
• IMDB: Eddie Garcia
• IMDB: Ramon Revilla
• IMDB: Carlo J. Caparas
• Arrest: Patrolman Risal Alih: Zamboanga Massacre (1988)