Harold, Grace, Jay and I made a date to watch "Rosario," the movie based on the life of Manny V. Pangilinan's grandmother, written and financed by MVP himself.
![Rosario movie poster]()
The night before I heard bad reviews about it, so I had very low expectations.
While movie does fail within the first 30 minutes—all due to bad hair, bad styling, bad wardrobe, bad hats and bad facial hair—everything basically improves after Philip Salvador dies.
Philip Salvador is miscast as Rosario's father—with a very distracting dollar-store mustache that had a life of its own.
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The movie revolves around Rosario Pereira (Jennylyn Mercado), paragon of beauty and grace, intelligence, sophistication, and a liberal thinker (read: the town slut).
![Rosario]()
Set in the 1920s, Rosario has just arrived from New York and is spending her vacation in their hacienda.
The daughter of Don Enrique (Phillip Salvador) and Doña Adela (Eula Valdez), Rosario was a passionate woman who lived according to her heart’s desires. Because of it, she suffers many consequences.
![Jennylyn Mercado]()
She falls in love with an older man, scholar and poetry lover, Vicente (Yul Servo), who manages the tobacco plantation owned by Rosario's family.
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When Rosario's father discovers them rolling in the hay, Rosario is sent off to a convent to pay for her sins.
Here's where the wardrobe department completely fails, as nuns would never ever show their necks or legs in those times. For your reference, here are some perfectly covered nuns from the '20s.
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Pregnant, Rosario escapes and elopes with Vicente to Manila where they raise a family.
An accomplished pianist, Rosario passes on her talent to her daughter, also named Rosario.
![Rosario]()
But Rosario's life of married bliss slowly crumbles when Vicente becomes ill with tuberculosis.
Yul Servo plays TB so well, you feel like covering your face when he coughs.
![Yul Servo]()
Rosario is lured to committing adultery with her sister's douche bag/lover, successfully portrayed by Dennis Trillo, while Isabel Oli (R) plays Rosario's equally slutty sister.
![Dennis and Isabel]()
When Rosario's husband discovers the affair, the two are sued for adultery and exiled to Hong Kong—not a bad deal, if you ask me.
Rosario gives birth to her fourth child, Jesus, who becomes the storyteller, Dolphy.
![dolphy]()
After a few years, the three return to Manila to build a new life. They rent a room in a house owned by a sleaze bag played by Ricky Davao. Meanwhile, one of the house boarders, played by Sid Lucero also falls in love with Rosario.
![sid]()
Rosario's already screwed up life goes further downhill when her husband leaves her for good, leaving her with despicable means to pay the rent.
I leave it up to you to guess what happens next or go watch the movie.
The ending is especially moving and haunting. I give two thumbs up to Empress Schuck who plays Rosario's pianist daughter in one of the latter scenes.
So if you can tune out Philip Salvador and the first 30 minutes or less, I suggest you support Philippine cinema and give "Rosario" a chance.
Caution: There are many "mamaw"-looking actors in the movie due to bad hair and makeup. Jennylyn's hair is so stiff it remind you of Lego.
They could've benefitted from stylists who do research, wardrobe consultants who know costume history, and Mich Dulce millinery.
Look out for a ghoulish Rita Avila and ghostly Ara Mina who could've played lead in a remake of "Huwag Mong Buhayin Ang Bangkay."
P.S. The movie is already subtitled, in case any foreign guests are curious.
http://rosariomovie.com/
![Follow jiritajackson on Twitter]()
The night before I heard bad reviews about it, so I had very low expectations.
While movie does fail within the first 30 minutes—all due to bad hair, bad styling, bad wardrobe, bad hats and bad facial hair—everything basically improves after Philip Salvador dies.
Philip Salvador is miscast as Rosario's father—with a very distracting dollar-store mustache that had a life of its own.
The movie revolves around Rosario Pereira (Jennylyn Mercado), paragon of beauty and grace, intelligence, sophistication, and a liberal thinker (read: the town slut).
Set in the 1920s, Rosario has just arrived from New York and is spending her vacation in their hacienda.
The daughter of Don Enrique (Phillip Salvador) and Doña Adela (Eula Valdez), Rosario was a passionate woman who lived according to her heart’s desires. Because of it, she suffers many consequences.
She falls in love with an older man, scholar and poetry lover, Vicente (Yul Servo), who manages the tobacco plantation owned by Rosario's family.
When Rosario's father discovers them rolling in the hay, Rosario is sent off to a convent to pay for her sins.
Here's where the wardrobe department completely fails, as nuns would never ever show their necks or legs in those times. For your reference, here are some perfectly covered nuns from the '20s.
Pregnant, Rosario escapes and elopes with Vicente to Manila where they raise a family.
An accomplished pianist, Rosario passes on her talent to her daughter, also named Rosario.
But Rosario's life of married bliss slowly crumbles when Vicente becomes ill with tuberculosis.
Yul Servo plays TB so well, you feel like covering your face when he coughs.
Rosario is lured to committing adultery with her sister's douche bag/lover, successfully portrayed by Dennis Trillo, while Isabel Oli (R) plays Rosario's equally slutty sister.
When Rosario's husband discovers the affair, the two are sued for adultery and exiled to Hong Kong—not a bad deal, if you ask me.
Rosario gives birth to her fourth child, Jesus, who becomes the storyteller, Dolphy.
After a few years, the three return to Manila to build a new life. They rent a room in a house owned by a sleaze bag played by Ricky Davao. Meanwhile, one of the house boarders, played by Sid Lucero also falls in love with Rosario.
Rosario's already screwed up life goes further downhill when her husband leaves her for good, leaving her with despicable means to pay the rent.
I leave it up to you to guess what happens next or go watch the movie.
The ending is especially moving and haunting. I give two thumbs up to Empress Schuck who plays Rosario's pianist daughter in one of the latter scenes.
So if you can tune out Philip Salvador and the first 30 minutes or less, I suggest you support Philippine cinema and give "Rosario" a chance.
Caution: There are many "mamaw"-looking actors in the movie due to bad hair and makeup. Jennylyn's hair is so stiff it remind you of Lego.
They could've benefitted from stylists who do research, wardrobe consultants who know costume history, and Mich Dulce millinery.
Look out for a ghoulish Rita Avila and ghostly Ara Mina who could've played lead in a remake of "Huwag Mong Buhayin Ang Bangkay."
P.S. The movie is already subtitled, in case any foreign guests are curious.
http://rosariomovie.com/
