Martyr Or Murderer

''Martyr or Murderer'' is a 2023 Filipino family period drama film based on a fictionalized account of how Ferdinand Marcos was accused of being responsible for the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Produced and distributed by Viva Films, it is the second installment film by Darryl Yap about the Marcoses after ''Maid in Malacañang'' (2022). Directed and written by Yap and produced by Vincent del Rosario III and Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, the film features Cesar Montano, Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ruffa Gutierrez reprising their roles, along with Isko Moreno, Marco Gumabao, Jerome Ponce, Cindy Miranda, Sachzna Laparan, Elizabeth Oropesa and Beverly Salviejo.

During the release of ''Maid in Malacañang'', director Darryl Yap revealed in an interview that the film is the first in a trilogy revolving around the Marcos family. ''Martyr or Murderer'' is the second film in this trilogy, to be followed by an upcoming third film titled ''Mabuhay Aloha Mabuhay'', which will revolve around the exile in Hawaii of the Marcos family after the People Power Revolution in 1986. Before the release of the trailer, the film was originally planned to be released on February 2023 in time for the anniversary of People Power Revolution, but was pushed back to March 1.

Plot

The movie begins with a voice recording of Senator Imee Marcos about what really happened to her family after her father Ferdinand Marcos was removed from his post as President of the Philippines and forced to exile in Hawaii in 1986. Then it flashes back to 1954, when Ferdinand, then a congressman of Ilocos Norte, hosted a party for his fraternity Upsilon Sigma Phi. Among his fraternity brothers were Mel Mathay and ''The Manila Times'' reporter Ninoy Aquino. In a speech, Ferdinand proposed to Imelda Romualdez, who came from a prominent family in Leyte, whom he only knew for 11 days. However, Ninoy had a huge feeling towards Imelda, but Imelda rejected him. In 1989, Imee who was in Morocco was visited by her cousin Maricar, who told her about what really happened after they were exiled. Then, Imee recalled the assassination of Ninoy Aquino.

In 1983, weeks before Ninoy was assassinated, there was a festive mood in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte for the wedding of Irene Marcos to Greggy Araneta. Imee recalled that her mother would often talk to Ninoy in New York City. During their conversation, Imelda told Ninoy that he should be grateful to her and Ferdinand for allowing him to go to the United States to undergo heart bypass surgery. Ninoy would recall the day Imelda rejected him many years ago.

The last time Ninoy and Ferdinand encountered was in 1968, during the golden anniversary of Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. There, Ferdinand lambasts Ninoy for his exposés regarding the Jabidah massacre.

In August 21, 1983, Ninoy was assassinated. Imee, furiously confronted her father regarding on his statement that the New People's Army killed Ninoy. Imee suggested that her father should expose Ninoy's connection with the communists.

Imee told Maricar that she would not be able to come back to the United States and that they have lost everything because of Corazon Aquino (the Presidential Commission on Good Government sequestered all of Marcos's properties). While wandering around Morocco, she saw her father, and followed him. She remember when they were in Hawaii, she was asked by Ferdinand to leave to prevent her from any investigation from the US government.

Imee, received a piece of paper, with a letter from a hospital in Hawaii. Upon calling to the hospital, she learned that her father is dying. Imee asked Imelda to talk to her father. She asked forgiveness for all of the mistakes she had done. Ferdinand told her that he loves her before passing away.

In 2016, Imee, now Governor of Ilocos Norte received a phone call from her younger brother, Bongbong, who is running for Vice President of the Philippines. Bongbong told Imee that his opponent, Congresswoman Leni Robredo, cheated the elections. The scene cuts to the portrait of Noynoy Aquino, Ninoy and Cory Aquino's only son, who was the sitting president that time.

The final scene shows Bongbong Marcos preparing for his inauguration as the 17th President of the Philippines, the prelude for ''Mabuhay, Aloha, Mabuhay''.

Cast

* Cesar Montano as Ferdinand Marcos: The 10th President of the Philippines.
** Marco Gumabao as young Ferdinand Marcos
* Isko Moreno as Ninoy Aquino: A senator and leader of the opposition during martial law in 1972.
** Jerome Ponce as young Ninoy Aquino
* Cristine Reyes as Imee Marcos: The eldest daughter of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
** Eula Valdez as older Imee Marcos
* Diego Loyzaga: The second child and only son of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
** Aga Muhlach as older Bongbong Marcos
* Ella Cruz as Irene Marcos: The third child of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
* Ruffa Gutierrez as Imelda Marcos: The wife of Ferdinand Marcos and the First Lady of the Philippines.
** Cindy Miranda as young Imelda Marcos
* Sachzna Laparan as young Corazon Aquino
* Franki Russell as Claudia Bermudez: Bongbong Marcos' girlfriend.
* Kyle Velino as Greggy Araneta
* Elizabeth Oropesa as Lucy
* Beverly Salviejo as Biday
* Rose Van Ginkel as Maricar: Imee Marcos' confidant in Morocco, North Africa.
* Marlon Mance as Mel Mathay: The vice governor of Metro Manila from 1979 to 1986.
** Billy Jake Cortez as young Mel Mathay

Production

On October 11, 2022, Yap announced on social media that he had started writing the screenplay for ''Martyr or Murderer''. However, Yap expressed that he will step back from his directing role for the sequels and focus on writing their screenplays. On November 7, senator Imee Marcos confirmed that the sequel for ''Maid in Malacañang'' is in the works.

Casting

Isko Moreno was cast in the role of Ninoy Aquino. Additionally, Marco Gumabao, Jerome Ponce and Cindy Miranda were announced to play the younger versions of Ferdinand Marcos, Ninoy Aquino and Imelda Marcos respectively.

Marketing

The teaser of the film was released on December 22, 2022.

See also

* Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos
* ''The Kingmaker'' (film)

References

{{reflist

2023 films
Cultural depictions of Benigno Aquino Jr.
Cultural depictions of Corazon Aquino
Cultural depictions of Ferdinand Marcos
Philippine drama films
Filipino-language films
Films about dictators
Films about revolutions
Films set in Manila
Films set in the 1980s
Films set in the 2010s
Obscenity controversies in film
Tagalog-language films
Viva Films films
Films about the Ferdinand Marcos presidency