Lawyer Jose Malvar Villegas, Jr., head of JMV Film Production (JMV) and grandson of National Hero Gen. Miguel Malvar, has recently announced that some of the direct descendants of the National Heroes of the 1896 Philippine Revolution will appear to portray the roles of their National Hero ascendants in the movie Malvar.
The upcoming film, which is based on the life story of Gen. Malvar, is produced by JMV, with Sen. Manny Pacquiao playing the title role.
According to Villegas, co-founder of the Kaanak ng mag Bayani ng Himagsikan Filipino, 1896 (KAANAK, 1896), the official organization of descendants of National Heroes recognized by National Historical Commission (NHC) headed by Roy Daza as president, a joint committee of JMV and KAANAK 1896 shall be formed to take up with award winning singer and song writer Imelda Papin, president of Actors Guild and lead producer of the film, and director Jose “Kaka” Balagtas, as to who of the National Hero descendants would be part of the big screen project.
Meanwhile, Daza, who is the grandson of Revolutionary Hero, Col. Eugenio Daza, who commanded the Filipino forces against the Americans in the World famous Balangiga Samar Battle said, that the return of the three Balangiga Bells recently by the American Government through the intercession of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was a great victory.
“It’s a victory not only for the members of the Kaanak 1896, but also for the Filipino people, who see in the return of the Bells a manifestation of the greatness of our National Heroes of the 1896 Revolution which will be witnessed in the movie Malvar,” he said adding that the film will highlight the killing of 50 thousand men of Balangiga, who were massacred by the American forces to retaliate their defeat in the Balangiga Battle.
Villegas, on the other hand, said that the entire cast of Malvar will be presented to the public on Bonifacio Day, on Nov. 30, at Aberdeen Court Quezon City with the presence of an all-star cast.