''Rosa Mistica'' is a 1988 Filipino

romantic fantasy Romantic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction, describing a fantasy story using many of the elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre. One of the key features of romantic fantasy involves the focus on relationships, social, ...

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza and written by Orlando B. Nadres. Based on the Pilipino Klasiks

comic a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...

by Pablo S. Gomez, the film is composed of three segments, with

Snooky Serna Maria Milagros "Snooky" Sumayao Serna (born April 4, 1966) is a Filipina film and television actress. Regarded as the “''Eternal Star''” by local media, she is best known for her portrayals in Anak ni Waray, Anak ni Biday (1984); Blusang It ...

starring in the lead role in each segment. Produced by

Regal Films Regal Entertainment, Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film production company based in Pasig. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. It has produced movies of all genres; and is the oldest s ...

, it was released on March 3, 1988, and was a commercial success. Critic Luciano E. Soriano of the ''

Manila Standard The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines. , it is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner of tabloid pap ...

'' gave the film a positive review, and considered the final segment to be the film's highlight.

Plot

Mga Puting Rosas ni Rosalie

Rosalie Leynes, a young woman from a rich family, is engaged to Mike, but on their wedding day, Rosalie dies and goes to heaven. She implores a woman who looks similar to the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...

to return her to Earth in order to settle some unfinished business, which the woman grants. Three years after her death, Rosalie returns to find Mike about to poison her sickly mother Donya Natalia in order to inherit her wealth and support his parents.

Mga Pulang Rosas ni Rosanna

Rosanna Cabuyao is the poor daughter of the caretaker of the Villafuerte family's mausoleum. One day, the body of Ramil, the last remaining member of the Villafuertes, is brought to a cemetery. Rosanna had a crush on Ramil before his apparent death, and is compelled to open his coffin, only to find Ramil alive and well. Ramil reveals to her that he is a

vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...

, and was once the love of Rosanna in a past life during the

Spanish colonial period Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

, only to be cursed by Lucila. Eventually, Ramil convinces Rosanna's family to come live in his mansion.

Mga Dilaw Na Rosas ni Rosario

Rosario Karakol is an unattractive but loyal maid at the house of Nyora Diday. While cleaning the attic, Rosario stumbles upon a magic mirror that has the power to make her beautiful. Upon the death of Nyora Diday, Rosario is named as her heiress, but both Donya Loleng and her daughter Trixia are unwilling to accept this fact and refuse to leave the house. Trixia also plans to keep Dio, Rosario's crush, away from her.

Cast

Release

A pictorial (photoshoot) for ''Rosa Mistica'' was held in mid-February 1988. The film was released on March 3, 1988, and was a box office success.

Critical response

Luciano E. Soriano, writing for the ''

'', gave ''Rosa Mistica'' a positive review, and considered its final segment "Mga Dilaw Na Rosas" to be the "most entertaining" of the three. He praised Serna's against-type comedic performance as Rosario in the said segment, stating that "she makes Rosario funny, pitiful and lovable." Soriano questioned, however, a few decisions the filmmakers took in telling the stories, such as the first segment's three-year gap between Rosalie's death and return and the casting of

Aga Muhlach Ariel Aquino Muhlach"Aga Muchlach biography"
''IMDB''. Retrieved June 13, 2014. (; born August ...

as the opportunistic Mike, as well as the second segment's use of vampires, which is "alien" to Filipino folklore.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0466111 1988 films 1980s romantic fantasy films Filipino-language films Films about reincarnation Films about the afterlife Films about wish fulfillment Maids in films Philippine anthology films Vampires in film