Magtanggol: Who will defend the heroes?

Magtanggol, the political thriller with Tom Rodriguez in the title role as Sen. Juancho Magtanggol Jr., dares asks the weighty question: “Sino ang bayani ng mga Bagong Bayani, the Overseas Filipino Workers?”
Magtanggol, the first venture into story writing and film production of investment banker Jojo Dispo through Felix and Bert Film Productions, opens in theaters nationwide on May 18. Its earnings are earmarked for projects to promote OFW welfare.
A media interview of cast and crew followed by a film premiere at Cinema 7 of Megamall last Friday proudly launched Magtanggol. For an indie film, the well-attended preem was comparable in scope and organization to a similar activity by a major film production company.
The Magtanggols are not-your-ordinary family. Their glaring difference is starting their day with the raising of the Philippine tri-color complete with the singing of the National Anthem at their ancestral compound even before all members can break their fast.
The clan is composed of a fiercely patriotic lot of extraordinary individuals headed by patriarch ex-Sen. Juan Magtanggol Sr. (as played by Joonee Gamboa) and his second wife Grace (Dina Bonnevie). They have three sons, Sen. Magtanggol Jr., former activist handicap Anton (Ejay Falcon) and the angst-ridden young blood Jonathan (Albie Casino).
There is sibling rivalry between Sen. Magtanggol and Anton. When they were younger, they competed for the affections of Susan del Rosario (Denise Laurel). Anton won her love, but he blames her for abandoning him during a demonstration that left him a scarred invalid. She has since turned into pro-migrant worker activist lawyer Atty. Del Rosario.
Sen. Magtanggol is not characterized as a one-dimensional politician. He is a married man who still carries a flame for the one who got away. While he portrays himself as a champion of the masses, the one likely to run next for President, he is having a hard time trying to cope.
Other family members are Sen. Magtanggol’s wife Kiara (Kim Domingo), their grade school hero wannabe son (Basti Santos), Mang Gusting (William Martinez) and the battered OFW Nengneng (Yam Concepcion), who shacks with the Magtanggol family once she was rescued by Sen. Magtanggol.
Completing the cast are the protector of human traffickers Sen. David Zaballero (Ricky Davao), with scheming wife Laila (Giselle Sanchez and his accomplice Thomas (Epy Quizon).
Like all whodunits, the full-length feature starts with a murder perpetrated by a mysterious assailant.
For decades now, the Magtanggol family has been a name to reckon with in Philippine politics. Since Spanish times, the surname has been synonymous to the words “revolutionary,” “heroes,” “nationalistic” and “fighter of Filipino rights.”
They keep this reputation intact through history, leaving it unblemished and free from any controversy. The nationalism of daily flag-raising drilled it into the mindset of members, thus producing two senators (Matangggol Sr. and Jr.), an activist (Anton) and a boy (the son of Magtanggol Jr. and Kiara) whose one dream at his young age is to be a hero.
As a rescuer of distressed OFWs, Sen. Magtanggol turns suspect for the spate of killings of international employers of OFWs victimized by abuse. The Magtanggol family reputation is on the line and must be rescued.
Shaken, Magtanggol Sr. is the most devastated. The media tries to scrutinize all angles of the controversy, exposing details of long-kept family secrets.
Atty. Del Rosario heads the inquiry on the abject issue. Will she protect the family’s guilt or will love go on the way of seeking justice? Where there is no sure protection for OFWs, will justice be forever be blinded, deafened and crippled?  
Award-winning director Sigfreid Barrios Sanchez handles his line-up of credible actors and their stories with effective unease. He slowly builds the unraveling of the mystery, offering clues and taking them back as fast. Motivations are hinted to a point that every involved character is a potential suspect with an every attempt to mislead.
The film’s biggest triumph is the exceptional depiction of the undertones of a political family. It is never perfect, not clean and honest all the way, hiding secrets big and small, its members dealing with personal demons as they try desperately to project a winner image to a public they must always court.  
Rodriguez and Casino are the film’s big acting accomplishments from their previous TV screen roles in My Husband’s Lover and On the Wings of Love in that order. They prove their acting ability but do so convincingly well, especially Rodriguez, who removes all traces of being a heartthrob to perform as a lawmaker with a cause.
No spoilers here. Watch the film to find out the cliffhanger of the identity of the killer. And the narrative twist will not fail to convince you as probable. You do not have to wrack your gray matter to figure this out.
There have been many depictions of the OFW predicament in films, but Magtanggol is the pioneer in putting a mystery angle into it.
Filmed by Topel Lee in icy, frequently murky perfection, the highly textured treatment gives the scenes a multi-dimensional approach not possible in clear and straightforward color cinematography. The feel is getting caught in a puzzle that one must solve to get relief.  
Structured as a political thriller, it turns out to be an able dissertation on the issue of heroes and villains. Although interconnected, it clarifies that heroism is more than intention, but is determined by the good it brings.
Heroes are not made, but are assigned by destiny. That is why ordinary people such as OFWs can be duly considered as such by the deeds of sacrifice they offer to the country.
The screenplay by Sigfreid Barros Sanchez, Henrie Famorcan Enaje and Henrie dela Cruz greatly enhance the synergy of narrative and narration. Here lies Magtanggol’s strength that largely goes to the creative genius of Dispo last seen by this writer in Tonette Gadang’s Edna. For coming up with an engaging story and the courage to produce it with encouraging results, Dispo deserves praise.
As it premieres on election season, you sort of question its intention as a full-length feature until you remember Magtanggol is a pro-migrant worker film. A major election issue no less delivered flawlessly.
This whodunit is a must-watch!