Joel Lamangan on Darryl Yap, ‘Oras de Peligro’ and his winning film in India

Rita Daniela in “Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa”

Joel Lamangan, whose film “Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa” (The Teacher) bagged the best feature film award at the 4th Samskara International Film Festival in India, said he hoped the recognition would “finally turn the spotlight on the struggles of educators teaching in remote areas.”

“Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa,” which features Rita Daniela, Albie Casiño, and Jak Roberto in the lead, tells the story of a woman who, while trying to escape from a traumatic past, campaigns for the reopening of the elementary school in Barangay Pag-asa.

She realizes that achieving this goal will not be easy because most of the residents are afraid to send their children back to school after a shootout between soldiers and communist rebels in the area resulted in the death of a teacher and a student three years earlier.

Homage

Joel Lamangan

“This is my homage to teachers, particularly those working in very remote areas in the country. Getting this recognition is a good thing because it’s now time that we focus our attention on the conditions of educators there. To be able to reach out to students is a struggle, and they get so little pay in return,” Lamangan told Inquirer Entertainment in a virtual chat on Tuesday afternoon.

The festival ran from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21. The film, shot in December 2021, continues to make rounds in film festivals abroad.

Cherry Pie Picache (left) in “Oras de Peligro”

Incidentally, Lamangan is currently promoting another film, titled “Oras de Peligro,” that also pays tribute, this time, “to those who joined the 1986 Edsa Revolution and those who worked hard to make sure this revolution happened in order to tell the world what was really happening to the country at the time.”

He continued: “This film is for today’s children—those who never got to see or experience the revolution—as well as for their parents who want to look back on their acts of bravery and heroism. We have to watch this to understand our history and why we are where we are today.”

The film, starring Cherry Pie Picache and Allen Dizon, begins on Feb. 22, 1986, or the final four days leading to the historical Edsa Revolt. It will premiere in cinemas nationwide on March 1.

Allen Dizon

Politically charged

Inquirer Entertainment then sought Lamangan’s reaction on the latest issue that’s now creating a loud buzz online, the alleged intentional faceoff between “Oras de Peligro” and another politically charged film, Darryl Yap’s “Martyr or Murderer,” which will be shown on the same date.

“I don’t mind this as long as it will help both movies attract more audience. We’re already having difficulty convincing people to make time to go to movie houses, so if this will make them curious about what Darryl and I are talking about, then it’s a good thing,” Lamangan pointed out. “My only wish: Huwag na sanang lumala ang ganitong uri ng pagtatarayan. I don’t need stress in my life right now.”

Lamangan pointed out that: “I feel no anger toward Darryl. He wasn’t born yet when the Edsa Revolution happened. This is why I’m sure that his knowledge about it is very limited and that he only learned about that chapter of our history from people who are helping finance this kind of movie. He is still young and he will surely make more films in the future. I pray that he will soon realize that his art should serve the interest of the people and not just of a small group.”

The veteran filmmaker is still recovering from a recent heart bypass operation. “I go to checkups regularly and I exercise. I also attend cardio rehab sessions. I try to avoid anything that will give me stress, like the matter concerning Darryl Yap, so I read books, watch Netflix and I sing,” said Lamangan. “I also went back to doing my first love, which is acting.”

‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’

Lamangan is a cast member of the new action-adventure series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.” “I missed everything about acting, like putting on makeup and waiting for instructions on what to do on the set from my director. As a director, I got used to being the one giving orders.”

In the series, he gets to work closely with another seasoned actress, Charo Santos-Concio. “I play the owner of the area in the Quiapo market where she sells goods. I would raise her rent and we would quarrel. Doing this is so much fun, so much better than dealing with stressful people.”