Metro Manila Film Festival

ER Ejercito in “El Presidente”

(We are running this guide to help moviegoers plan their holiday cinema tour. The 38th MMFF runs from Dec. 25 to Jan. 8, 2013.)

‘El Presidente’

Directed by Mark Meily; starring ER Ejercito, Nora Aunor, Cesar Montano, Cristine Reyes, Christopher de Leon, Baron Geisler, Ronnie Lazaro, John Arcilla, John Regala, Epy Quizon, Felix Roco, Ian Veneracion, Gloria Sevilla and Maita Sevilla

The film tells the story of General Emilio Aguinaldo (Ejercito) and the first democratic republic in Asia.

Aguinaldo is depicted as the central figure in efforts to unify regional factions in the country’s struggle for independence.

It is set in the period when Aguinaldo led the resistance against two superpowers— Spain and then America— which changed the destiny of the nation.

According to its Facebook site, “It also explores the inner struggles of Aguinaldo as husband and father, as well as the agonizing moments of making life-or-death decisions in the interest of security and national unity.”