This article is an updated version of “10 movies featuring PH national heroes” published in 2014.
MANILA, Philippines — Films have always been a great avenue for audiences to gain insights on history.
In the Philippines, filmmakers have done just that, taking inspiration from the lives of our heroes, letting the viewer visualize the weight that comes with the word bayani (hero). So in celebration of National Heroes Day, here are 17 movies and a series that have immortalized our national heroes’ stories on the screen.
1. Gabriela Silang (1971) Starring Virginia Aristorenas and Eddie Garcia. Directed by Jun Aristorenas
This old film produced by Juver Productions back in 1971 features the brave Gabriela Silang as a militant leader of the Ilocanos.
2. Sakay (1993) Starring Julio Diaz as Macario Sakay. Directed by Raymond Red
Multi-nominated at the 1994 FAMAS Awards and Gawad Urian Awards circles, Sakay focuses on the story of Macario Sakay, a Filipino general who fought both the Spanish and the American colonizers during his leadership.
3. Rizal sa Dapitan (1997) Starring Albert Martinez as Jose Rizal. Directed by Tikoy Aguiluz
Written by Jose F. Lacaba, the movie traces Rizal’s life during his exile. It also focused on his relationship with Josephine Bracken, one of Rizal’s known sweethearts. In the movie, she’s played by Amanda Page.
4. José Rizal (1998) Starring Cesar Montano as Dr. Jose Rizal. Directed by Marilou-Diaz Abaya
Considered one of the most acclaimed movies on the life of Jose Rizal, it was entered in the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and was hailed by many critics. It went on to be shown in international festivals in Berlin, Toronto, and Chicago).
5. Bayaning 3rd World (1999) Starring Joel Torre as Dr. Jose Rizal. Directed by Mike de Leon
A critical hit, the movie revolved around Jose Rizal’s supposed “retractions” against the Catholic Church.
6. Lapu-Lapu (2002) Starring Lito Lapid as Lapu-Lapu and Joyce Jimenez. Directed by William G. Mayo
Action star Lito Lapid steps into the shoes of one Lapu-Lapu, the first Philippine hero and defender of Mactan against the Spaniards. The hero met his death upon fighting Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan met his death at the Battle of Mactan.
7. Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio (2010) Starring Alfred Vargas as Andres Bonifacio, Lance Raymundo as Emilio Aguinaldo. Directed by Mario O’Hara
This movie was an entry to the Director’s Showcase category of Cinemalaya by the late Mario O’ Hara, and focused more on the conflicting sides represented by Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio.
8. Jose Rizal: The First Hero (2012) Documentary. Directed by Paolo Abella
Another documentary on the Philippine hero, Dr. Jose Rizal: The First Hero chronicles the more human side of Rizal before his death.
9. El Presidente (2012) Staring ER Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo. Directed by Mark Meily
The movie tells the story of the first president Emilio Aguinaldo and the battle for the country’s independence.
10. Supremo (2012) Starring Alfred Vargas as Andres Bonifacio. Directed by Richard Somes
Supremo features the life of Andres Bonifacio as the militant leader of the Katipuneros. An imagining of the revolutionaries’ plan in action, the film shows their revolt’s material and personal struggles.
11. Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo (2014) Starring Robin Padilla and Vina Morales. Directed by Enzo Williams.
Part of the 2014 lineup of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2014), this is another film featuring the life of Gat Andres Bonifacio.
12. Ang Kababaihan ng Malolos (2014) Musical documentary starring Zee Capacete and Jervis Adriano. Directed by Sari Dalena and Kiri Dalena
This drama tells the story of the twenty young women from Malolos who, through a petition made to Governor-General Valeriano Weyler, insisted on the right to be allowed to learn the Spanish language. The film features the inciting event that led Rizal to write his famous letter “Sa mga Kababayang Dalaga sa Malolos.”
13. Heneral Luna (2015) Starring John Arcilla as Antonio Luna. Directed by Jerrold Tarog
A show of the imperfections and the unwavering conviction of Antonio Luna as a Filipino general, this celebrated film is set in the Philippine-American war. Heneral Luna is a vivid narration of the hero’s temperament and trouble with traitors in the face of American colonizers.
14. Goyo: Batang Heneral (2018) Starring Paulo Avelino as Gregorio del Pilar and Carlo Aquino as Colonel Vicente. Directed by Jerrold Tarog
A “sequel” to Heneral Luna, this movie tells about Gregorio “Goyo” del Pilar, a young leader appointed as the general of Pangasinan. The plot picks up at Luna’s death, and tackles the government’s corrupt alliances, leading up to the Battle of Tirad Pass.
15. Lakambini (2015) starring Lovi Poe. Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
The role of Gregoria de Jesus, a leader and wife of Andres Bonifacio, is made central to this biopic showing women’s involvement in the 1896 Philippine Revolution. Lakambini is among other films that emphasize the role of women in Philippine history.
16. Liway (2018) Starring Glaiza de Castro. Directed by Kip Oebanda
One of the film entries in Cinemalaya 2018, Liway is based on a true story and is set near the end of Martial Law, within a prison military camp. Day and Ric live as detainees with their son Dakip, where Day tells Dakip stories about a brave woman named “Liway” to soothe the child amidst their conditions.
17. Gomburza (2023) Starring Dante Rivero, Edrick Juan, and Enchong Dee. Directed by Pepe Diokno
This multi-awarded film in the 49th MMFF features the country’s famous martyr-priests executed on the basis of sedition during the Spanish colonization period: Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgoz, and Jacinto Zamora. Gomburza, the moniker of the three priests taken from parts of their last names, narrates their massive contribution to the secularization movement of the Filipino Church and to the country’s liberation as a whole.
(BONUS): Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022) Starring Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, and Dennis Trillo. Directed by Zig Dulay
This television series broadcasted by GMA Network is another fan favorite. It’s an “if today’s Gen Z meets Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo” story, tightly knitting today’s struggles with Jose Rizal’s work.
Full episodes may be streamed on the GMA website.
Which of these Filipino hero movies have you watched? Let us know in the comments below. – with reports from Felise Calza/Rappler.com
Felise Calza is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler. A caffeinated writing major, she is a Communication Arts student at the University of the Philippines – Los Baños. She also enjoys getting involved in collective zines, thrifting, and assembling melodramatic song playlists.