Salawahan

Two cousins meets after a family gathering displaces one of their brother and forces him to stay with brother's in Manila . Between them, a relationship between a Old-ish woman, a 'liberated' Balik-bayan, and a young ballerina haphazardly zigzags to the confusion of everyone involved.

Not the biggest fan. I think it has its moments especially when the girls unpredictably plays the line of Philippine Melodrama BUT it fails heavily when it kinda let's the chauvinism, ageist and short but very noteworthy homophobia fly-out. Its attitude ages the film out. I found the Jay Ilagan-Sandy Andolong-Rita Gomez particularly strong.

Performance wise, Sandy Andolong and Rita Gomez towers everyone in the film. I think they got the bulk of the truly witty lines in the film. Jay Ilagan is again on a highly acclaimed film. Kinda insane how much acclaimed films he did in his short life. I even saw him on Lino Brocka's relatively obscure 3,2,1 - which he was also good.

Not recommended. I wish this gets remade with a better mindset.

Thirty five years later, Salawahan remains fresh. Writer Carreon and director Bernal certainly knows how to make a good movie. This stars young stars Jay Ilagan playing Jerry and Mat Ranillo III playing Manny. They are two friends who are fond of girls, "playboy" as they call themselves. Manny is pursuing Rina (Rio Locsin), who doesn't believe Manny really likes her. Jerry on the other hand , tries the playboy life with a mature woman, played by Rita Gomez. Rita gamely plays the part with gusto and charm. Her relationship with Jerry comes out as funny and engaging. In one scene while they are in Baguio , Rita Gomez complains to Jerry that she is cold. Jerry smartly retorts that she should take the hot soup.

There are also plenty of witty dialogues,like Sandy Andolong and Jay Ilagan exchanging on what they think of each other, covering chauvinism and Maria Clara issues. Get to see other stars like Mark Gil, who plays Ilagan and Ranillo's friend. Don't miss also the small talks and posing all around the city. And Baguio in the 70's certainly looks cool.

It's good that the quality of the picture has not faded and we get to still see Bernal's forgotten classic-- funny and witty. This certainly prepared him for more smart comedies (meaning not resorting to slapstick) like Working Girls.