''One Two Bato, Three Four Bapor'' () is a 1988 Filipino
comedy-drama
Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...
film co-written and directed by
Ben Feleo
Benjamin Nabong Feleo Sr. (January 16, 1926 – September 21, 2011) was a Philippines, Filipino film director and screenwriter who directed more than forty films.
Early life and career
Feleo's film career began with ''Dalawang Bandila'' in 1950. ...
and starring
Sheryl Cruz
Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (; born April 5, 1974) is a Filipino actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Divina Ferrer in 2007's television drama series ''Sinasamba Kita'', Miss Minchin in '' Princess Sarah'', and as Valeria i ...
,
Romnick Sarmenta
Romeo Nicolas Sarmenta Tejedor (born April 28, 1972), known professionally as Romnick Sarmenta, is a Filipino actor, film producer and professor. Noted for his performances in a range of genres across film and television, he began his career a ...
,
Eddie Garcia
Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...
,
Sylvia La Torre
Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.
Early life
La Torre was born on June 4, 1933, to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes.
Career Singing
La Tor ...
,
Romy Diaz
Jose Romeo Bustillos Diaz (November 28, 1940 – May 10, 2005) was a Filipino actor.
He performed in films such as ''Ang Maestro'' (1981), ''The Impossible Kid'' (1982), ''Gising Na... Ang Higanteng Natutulog'' (1995) and ''Si Samson at Si Del ...
,
Ian Veneracion
Stephen Ian Lopez Veneracion (; born February 7, 1975) is a Filipino actor and singer.
Career
His career started in 1982 as first appeared in RPN 9's show, ''Joey and Son''. in 1986, Veneracion joined GMA Network's '' That's Entertainment'', h ...
,
Harlene Bautista
Harlene Maclang Bautista (born October 27, 1973) is a Filipina former child star, film and television actress, film producer and businesswoman in the Philippines.
In 1989, Bautista won the FAP Award for Best Supporting Actress for '' Gawa Na ...
, Michael Locsin, and child actors
Richard Gutierrez
Richard Kristian Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984) is a Filipino actor. He is regarded as the original "''Fantaserye King''" for top billing multiple hit television series.
Gutierrez is a recipient of a FAMAS Award and three PMPC Star Awards fo ...
, and
Raymond Gutierrez
Raymond Kristoffer Rama Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984), known professionally as Raymond Gutierrez, is a Filipino actor. He is best known for hosting '' Pinoy Idol'' in 2008. He was also one of the hosts of '' Showbiz Police''.
Early life
Ray ...
. Produced by
Seiko Films
Seiko Films was a Philippine film production company owned and run by Robbie Tan. It is known for its pornographic films, erotic films (colloquially known as "bold movies") of the late 1990s. Seiko Films was known for its tagline "If it's from ...
, it was released on December 14, 1988. Critic
Lav Diaz
Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. He is frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, and has made several of the longest narrative films on reco ...
gave the film a mixed review, commending its honest focus on
street children in the Philippines
The phenomenon of street children in the Philippines was first attested in the 1980s. As of 2021 the number of street children in the Philippines is estimated at around 250,000.
Defining Filipino street children
According to the "Stairway" fo ...
, while criticizing its
commercial
Commercial may refer to:
* (adjective for) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and services
** (adjective for) trade, the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money
* a dose of advertising ...
tendencies and implausible situations.
Cast
Main cast
*
Sheryl Cruz
Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (; born April 5, 1974) is a Filipino actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Divina Ferrer in 2007's television drama series ''Sinasamba Kita'', Miss Minchin in '' Princess Sarah'', and as Valeria i ...
*
Romnick Sarmenta
Romeo Nicolas Sarmenta Tejedor (born April 28, 1972), known professionally as Romnick Sarmenta, is a Filipino actor, film producer and professor. Noted for his performances in a range of genres across film and television, he began his career a ...
*
Eddie Garcia
Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...
*
Sylvia La Torre
Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.
Early life
La Torre was born on June 4, 1933, to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes.
Career Singing
La Tor ...
*
Romy Diaz
Jose Romeo Bustillos Diaz (November 28, 1940 – May 10, 2005) was a Filipino actor.
He performed in films such as ''Ang Maestro'' (1981), ''The Impossible Kid'' (1982), ''Gising Na... Ang Higanteng Natutulog'' (1995) and ''Si Samson at Si Del ...
*
Ian Veneracion
Stephen Ian Lopez Veneracion (; born February 7, 1975) is a Filipino actor and singer.
Career
His career started in 1982 as first appeared in RPN 9's show, ''Joey and Son''. in 1986, Veneracion joined GMA Network's '' That's Entertainment'', h ...
*
Harlene Bautista
Harlene Maclang Bautista (born October 27, 1973) is a Filipina former child star, film and television actress, film producer and businesswoman in the Philippines.
In 1989, Bautista won the FAP Award for Best Supporting Actress for '' Gawa Na ...
*
Michael Locsin
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* he He ..., a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name
* Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...
*
Richard Gutierrez
Richard Kristian Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984) is a Filipino actor. He is regarded as the original "''Fantaserye King''" for top billing multiple hit television series.
Gutierrez is a recipient of a FAMAS Award and three PMPC Star Awards fo ...
as Richie
*
Raymond Gutierrez
Raymond Kristoffer Rama Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984), known professionally as Raymond Gutierrez, is a Filipino actor. He is best known for hosting '' Pinoy Idol'' in 2008. He was also one of the hosts of '' Showbiz Police''.
Early life
Ray ...
as Amboy
*Mon Alvir
Supporting cast
*
Bomber Moran
*
Metring David
*Matutina
*Fred Moro
*
Whitney Tyson
Whitney Tyson (born Bunny Fowler) is an American actress, singer and comedian, best known for her role as Elizabeth in ''FPJ's Ang Probinsyano''.
Personal life
Tyson was born Bunny Fowler in Angeles, Pampanga, the only child of an African-Americ ...
*Dinky Doo Jr.
*Ros Olgado
*
Ike Lozada
Enrique Tagle Lozada (July 5, 1943 – March 8, 1995), also known as Kuya Ike or Iking, was a Filipino actor, comedian, and television host.
Early life
Lozada was born on July 7, 1943, in Iloilo City. He was 2nd of brood of 4, he is the son of ...
*
Don Pepot
*Fatima Alvir
*Caselyn Francisco
*Patrick Cruz
*Reggie Javier
*Apple de Guzman
*Guio Alvarez
*Guila Alvarez
*Maricar Itable
*Emil Martin
*Abba Revilla
*Arjay Larvan
*Cante Castro
Release
''One Two Bato'' was rated "B" by the
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB; ; is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines that is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion p ...
(MTRCB), indicating a "Good" quality. The film was released by
Seiko Films
Seiko Films was a Philippine film production company owned and run by Robbie Tan. It is known for its pornographic films, erotic films (colloquially known as "bold movies") of the late 1990s. Seiko Films was known for its tagline "If it's from ...
on December 14, 1988, with free
Seiko Wallets handed out to early first-day viewers.
Critical response
Lav Diaz
Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. He is frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, and has made several of the longest narrative films on reco ...
, writing for the ''
Manila Standard
The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines which, as of 2017, is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner ...
'', gave the film a mixed review; though he commended the film's truthful focus on
street children in the Philippines
The phenomenon of street children in the Philippines was first attested in the 1980s. As of 2021 the number of street children in the Philippines is estimated at around 250,000.
Defining Filipino street children
According to the "Stairway" fo ...
, he criticized it as leaning excessively into commercialism and fantastical situations. Giving examples, Diaz was displeased with a scene involving the child actors doing a
Hawaiian dance, which he noted was well liked by audiences ("you understood why there are so many crazy people in our midst"), and he questioned how the separated twin brothers in the film were able to convincingly switch places and fool their families when they were only five years old.
See also
*''
The Prince and the Pauper
''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...
''
References
External links
*
1988 films
1988 comedy-drama films
Filipino-language films
Films about adoption
Films about Filipino families
Films about twin brothers
Philippine comedy films
Seiko Films films
Films directed by Ben Feleo
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