"Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising": What Filipino Romantic Movies Used To Be

As a child growing up in the 70s, I lived in a household where Filipino films reigned supreme. So early on I developed a deep appreciation for classic Filipino films: from the black-and-white drama/romance movies of LVN (the era of Rogelio de la Rosa and Rosa Rosal) , the sing-and-dance/comedy/fantasy of Sampaguita pictures (the era of Dolphy and Susan Roces), to what is arguably known as the golden age of Philippine cinema-the 70s. This period saw the unraveling of great storytellers such as Eddie Romero, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Mario O'hara and Mike de Leon.

Photo Credit: "Kung Mngarap Ka't Magising"

 

One of my all-time favorite Filipino movies is Mike de Leon's "Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising." Filmed in Baguio and Sagada in 1977, it's the coming-of-age story of a young college student, Joey (Christopher de Leon) who has lost all sense of direction and meaning in life, waking up every morning to the same old day that went before: fruitless, senseless, lifeless. He's a carefree kind of guy who just bums around with his friends. The only thing that inspires him is music. The problem is, he has yet to finish writing a song, which turns out to be the movie's theme song, and the theme song of his awakening (hence, it's called "Joey's Theme", one of the reasons why I also love this film!)

Then Joey meets Ana (Hilda Koronel) and she immediately sweeps him off his feet. A very sweet friendship develops between the two. All of a sudden Joey's world is turned upside down, and his mornings are never the same again. It seems he's finally found the inspiration to complete his song.

But the inspiration soon turns into disillusion when he learns that Ana is married and has a child.

Photo Credit: "Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising"

This is one movie I keep falling in love with everytime I see it. Or perhaps, it makes you want to fall in love all over again. For one thing, it's a very light-hearted film that breaks away from the typical mushy and cheesy stuff that Filipino love stories are made of. Mike de Leon brilliantly explores the real world of a down-and-out juvenile and creates a down-to-earth and heartwarming love story void of grand illusions and fantasies. The screenplay, which de Leon co-wrote with Rey Santayana, comes out so refreshing, resonating with the life and promise of youth which is really the central theme of the movie. Add to that the brilliant performances of the two main actors who simply strike magic on screen. Who can ever forget the famous scene where Joey and Ana are walking and smiling in the rain in beautiful Sagada? Up to now, whenever I am in Sagada or see its images, I remember and imagine this scene, reliving the memory of a movie that changed the way I look at romantic Filipino movies.

Watch the film's sweetest and funniest moments in these video clips from Youtube. (The entire film is also available in series or parts on Youtube.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPqKaj420wg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v83FhB7xgB0&feature=relmfu