''Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik'' (), or simply ''Darna! Ang Pagbabalik'', is a 1994 Filipino superhero film based on the Pilipino Komiks character
Darna
Darna () is a superhero appearing in Philippine comics, Filipino comic books created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. The character was introduced during the Golden Age of Comic Books, debuting in ''Pilipino Komiks'' #77 on May ...
. Directed by
Peque Gallaga
Maurice Gallaga (August 25, 1943 – May 7, 2020), better known as Peque Gallaga, was a multi-awarded Filipino film-maker. His most significant achievement in film was , which he directed after winning a scriptwriting contest sponsored by the ...
and Lore Reyes from a screenplay by playwright Floy Quintos, it stars
Anjanette Abayari as Narda / Darna, alongside
Edu Manzano
Eduardo "Edu" Barrios Manzano (; born September 14, 1955) is a Filipino actor, television presenter, and politician. He hosted the game shows ''The Weakest Link'', '' Pilipinas, Game KNB?'', '' 1 vs. 100'', '' Asar Talo Lahat Panalo!'', and '' ...
,
BB Gandanghari
Binibini Gandanghari (formerly Rustom Padilla;
. Robinpadilla.net. Retrieved on August 17, 2012. ; 4 Septembe ...
(credited as Rustom Padilla),
Bong Alvarez
Paul Beleno "Bong" Alvarez (born June 15, 1968) is a Filipino former professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association and politician. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball c ...
,
Pilita Corrales
Pilar Garrido Corrales (August 22, 1937 – April 12, 2025), better known as Pilita Corrales, was a Filipino singer, actress and comedian. She was known for her distinctive backbend when singing and was popularly referred to as the "Greatest s ...
,
Cherie Gil
Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann (; June 21, 1963 – August 5, 2022), known professionally as Cherie Gil (), was a Filipino actress. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, she was dubbed the "''La Primera Contravida''" ("The Prime Villain") " ( ...
and
Lester Llansang
Lester Ferrer Salansang (born July 3, 1985), known professionally as Lester Llansang, is a Filipino actor who appeared in the film ''Saranggola'' when he was 14 years old. He plays the role of a schoolboy who witnessed a crime committed by his ...
. Produced by
Viva Family Entertainment,
the film was released in June 9, 1994.
As of 2023, it is the last ''Darna'' film to be released in theaters,
with studios opting instead to produce television shows for the character of Darna in later years.
Plot
After defeating a group of criminals who cause a lahar flow in her Darna persona, Narda returns home only to be knocked unconscious by a woman who steals the white stone that transforms her into Darna. She is rescued from rising lahar by Ding and her grandmother, but loses her sanity as she and her fellow villagers flee to Manila. Arriving at a slum community, Narda’s family settles in with former villager Pol, who teaches them how to make a living and defends Narda from a group of thugs led by syndicate leader Magnum.
While accompanying Ding in selling goods, Darna is hit by a car carrying Dr. Valentine, the charismatic leader of a doomsday cult warning of an upcoming flood. Ding tries to intervene but is pinned down by Valentine’s chauffeur to the car window, where he sees the White Stone inside. Deducing that Valentine has the stone, Ding, Narda and a neighbor, Pia, sneak into Valentine’s lair during a prayer rally and discovers the stone powering Valentine’s mother, Valentina. When Ding takes the stone, Valentina awakens and deteriorates while holding Ding hostage, prompting the latter to throw the stone to Narda and tell her to transform to Darna, helping recover her sanity. Darna escapes with Ding, while Valentine agonizes as her mother deteriorates into a hideous creature.
Fully recovered, Narda thwarts Magnum during a bank heist and saves Max, a police officer who falls in love with Narda from a bomb explosion, unaware that he is Magnum’s alter-ego. Meanwhile, Narda’s grandmother falls for Valentine’s sermons and joins her cult, unaware that Valentine and Valentina is plotting to use the flood to take over the city. During a frenzied prayer rally led by Narda’s grandmother, Max deduces that Narda is Darna and abducts her.
On the scheduled day of the flood, Valentine uses her powers to generate a storm that inundates Manila. Pol and Ding infiltrate Valentine’s lair and discover Narda imprisoned, along with Valentine and Magnum worshipping Valentina, who uses the White Stone to recover her strength. After a prolonged fight, Ding shoots the White Stone into Valentina, who explodes after inadvertently swallowing it. Narda then takes the stone and transforms into Darna, throwing Magnum, who assumes the form of a python, into a fire. Valentine flees but is discovered in her true monstrous form by her followers, leading them to abandon her. At the rooftop, Darna engages Valentine in a fistfight before lifting her up into the air and throwing her into the floodwaters. Darna then uses her powers to drain the floods away, saving the city.
Cast
*
Anjanette Abayari as
Narda/Darna
*
Edu Manzano
Eduardo "Edu" Barrios Manzano (; born September 14, 1955) is a Filipino actor, television presenter, and politician. He hosted the game shows ''The Weakest Link'', '' Pilipinas, Game KNB?'', '' 1 vs. 100'', '' Asar Talo Lahat Panalo!'', and '' ...
as Max
*
Rustom Padilla
Binibini Gandanghari (formerly Rustom Padilla;
. Robinpadilla.net. Retrieved on August 17, 2012. ; 4 Septembe ...
as Pol
*
Bong Alvarez
Paul Beleno "Bong" Alvarez (born June 15, 1968) is a Filipino former professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association and politician. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball c ...
as Magnum
*
Pilita Corrales
Pilar Garrido Corrales (August 22, 1937 – April 12, 2025), better known as Pilita Corrales, was a Filipino singer, actress and comedian. She was known for her distinctive backbend when singing and was popularly referred to as the "Greatest s ...
as
Valentina
*
Cherie Gil
Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann (; June 21, 1963 – August 5, 2022), known professionally as Cherie Gil (), was a Filipino actress. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, she was dubbed the "''La Primera Contravida''" ("The Prime Villain") " ( ...
as Valentine, daughter of Valentina
*
Lester Llansang
Lester Ferrer Salansang (born July 3, 1985), known professionally as Lester Llansang, is a Filipino actor who appeared in the film ''Saranggola'' when he was 14 years old. He plays the role of a schoolboy who witnessed a crime committed by his ...
as Ding
*
Ai-Ai delas Alas
Martina Eileen Hernandez delas Alas-Sibayan (born November 11, 1964), known professionally as Ai-Ai delas Alas, is a Filipino actress and comedian. Referred to as the "Queen of Comedy" for her comedic talent, she is best known for her role as ...
as hostage
*Eva Ramos as L300 noisy mother
*
Pen Medina
Crispin "Pen" Parungao Medina Sr. (born August 27, 1950, in Arayat, Pampanga) is an actor from the Philippines who started acting in theater plays in his youth. He eventually played versatile roles on the big screen and in various television s ...
as barangay captain
*Jemanine Campanilla as Pia
*Romy Romulo as Valentine's driver
*Jun Achaval as a pilot
*Dwight Gaston as a pilot
*Jinky Laurel as bank teller
*Chiqui Xeres Burgos as governor
*Bong Regala as army lieutenant
Production
Anjanette Abayari was cast for the role of
Darna
Darna () is a superhero appearing in Philippine comics, Filipino comic books created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. The character was introduced during the Golden Age of Comic Books, debuting in ''Pilipino Komiks'' #77 on May ...
after she appeared in an automobile commercial dressed as the character alongside Alma Concepcion and
Daisy Romualdez
Daisy Romualdez (born Margarita Gómez) is a Hispanofilipino actress and producer. She is sister of Blanca Gómez. She is married to well known former basketball player Manny Paner. She has two adopted daughters, Danita Paner, now a rock d ...
. The film is director
Erik Matti
Erik Matti (born December 21, 1970) is a Filipino filmmaker. He is known for directing ''On the Job (2013 film), On the Job'' (2013), ''Honor Thy Father (film), Honor Thy Father'' (2015), ''Seklusyon'' (2016), ''BuyBust'' (2018), and ''On the Jo ...
's first production in the local film industry, serving as the continuity supervisor.
Home media
''Darna! Ang Pagbabalik'' was released on
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
by My Way Film Co. on September 27, 2002. The film is currently made available for streaming by
Viva Communications
Viva Communications Inc., also known as Viva Entertainment Inc. and simply Viva (stylized in all caps) is a Philippine multinational private conglomerate headquartered in Ortigas Center, Pasig. It was founded in 1981 by Vic del Rosario ...
on Vivamax.
References
External links
*
1994 films
1994 action films
1994 fantasy films
1990s superhero films
Darna
Filipino-language films
Films directed by Peque Gallaga
Philippine action films
Philippine fantasy films
Philippine superhero films
Viva Films films
{{1990s-Philippines-film-stub