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| Mga Batang Yagit |
The trouble is that the very genre itself, melodrama, is incapable of providing new insights into the Philippine situation. We expect these films to give us new ways of looking at our society. It is not enough to give the excuse that this is merely a commercial film. Even the commercial films of other directors tend to add to their cannon, a director's style normally permeates even their worst films. The film fails primarily because Salvador forgets that his main tool is the camera. In his previous films, Salvador showed himself adept at using camera angles and compositions to convey meaning. But in Mga Batang Yagit, the camera shoots and moves without apparent reason. For example, Salvador moves from long shot to medium shot without changing the angle and without any motivation from dialogue. If the camera is a director's brush, then Mga Batang Yagit is a child's drawing, not an artist's painting. Aside from the logical screenplay, there are some elements in the film worth noting. One is a sequence involving Austria and Ilagan at the beginning of the film. Here, Austria and Ilagan engage in a free-wheeling conversation. The sequence succeeds because it is the only one in the entire film that is not melodramatic. The other is Beth Bautista's acting in one of her best short roles as Flor. By refusing to take anything seriously, Bautista infuses the screen with lightheadedness, clearly welcome in the midst of all that crying. Jay Ilagan is excellent as expected although Bembol Roco is better in his role. Santos is adequate, although not of the same caliber as Austria. Fernando, sad to say has done better films.
Directed By: Leroy Salvador
Screenplay: Orlando Nadres
Inspired By Jose Miranda Cruz T.V. Series
Director Of Photography: Rody Lacap
Musical Director: Pablo Vergara
Film Editor: Ike Jarlego, Jr.
Production Designer: Benjie de Guzman
Produced By: Viva Films
Release Date: September 11, 1984
Yagit theme song from Mga Batang Yagit performed by Magnolia Sabas
In Memory of Ike Jarlego, Jr. May 3, 1944 - August 24, 2012
7:58 AM
Hi Jojo!
What a nice tribute to the late Ike Jarlego, Jr.
I saw Mga Batang Yagit in theaters and then also on tv. Very soap opera-ish ang film since galing sa drama series. Hindi ko maiwasan mai-compare ito sa isa pang tearjerker na Mga Basang Sisiw although magkaiba naman sila.
I honestly like the casting. Jay Ilagan being the bad guy and Bembol being the good one. Oh my, Carmen Enriquez, definitely one of the most memorable Philippine t.v. villains. And of course, the late great Dindo Fernando in the cast.
6:32 PM
Hello Dennis!
Thanks so much... It's sad that one of Philippine cinema's finest Film Editors was taken away from us. He's not just one of the best editors, Mr. Jarlego was also a very good director. Film critics praised Nena for cogently nurturing the tragedy of a nightclub hostess prosecuted for dancing topless in a bar.
I'm glad that you saw this movie in theaters. I would say na pinakinis ng Viva ang pelikula compared to the TV series. They even cast top caliber performers to play key roles in the film. Mas gritty para sa akin ang TV series. The movie still had that Viva quality na trademark nila. Three years apart ang Mga Basang Sisiw at Mga Batang Yagit. Siguro yung friendship sa pagitan ng apat na mga batang bida sa dalawang pelikula ang naalala mo...
I thought Jay was effective and so was Bembol. Sayang si Dindo although it's not entirely his fault and what can I say about Carmen Enriquez? She was the best kontrabida ever!
1:06 PM
Carmen Enriquez was Dona Aguida in Flordeluna right? She's one of the meanest ever. But she was also effective in a non-villain role in Bulaklak Sa City Jail (the one who helped Angela's case).
1:52 PM
As a matter of fact she is Carlo... She was diabolical in this movie. You're right, Carmen Enriquez also played the compassionate lawyer in Bulaklak Sa City Jail...
2:15 AM
Ike Jarlego, Jr. was very much identified 'no with Viva Films. Yes, I rememeber watching Andres Manambit in theaters and it was a huge hit. Thanks for mentioning Nena.
Glossy nga ang dating ng movie version. Yes, friendships among kids with nothing but themselves.
The mark of a great actress that was Carmen Enriquez, she can be utterly mean that raises hell or the most 'compassionate' lady of justice as you mentioned!
5:07 AM
Ike Jarlego, Jr. made his feature film debut, a sort of remake ng Wanted: Perfect Mother ni Brocka for Viva and his succeeding films were produced under the same company with the exception of Nena which was his best work.
Di ba glossy pa rin ang pelikula kahit mga yagit ang bida?
I remember watching Flor de Luna and I really hated Carmen Enriquez so much. The mark of an excellent performer is when you feel hatred for the character she is playing. Masyado akong naapektuhan sa ginagawa niyang pang-aapi kina Janice at Herbert...
11:53 AM
@ Jojo - I also felt the same way when we watched Flordeluna; that's one of the reasons why we switched to AnnaLiza (that and also to support our cosin Julie's first foray into a drama series).
Kaya lang, sa AnnaLiza naman, Daria's "Stella" was also hateful.
12:13 PM
I think you mentioned before na tulad ko, naapektuhan ka rin ng pang-aapi ni Carmen Enriquez sa Flor de Luna pero hindi mo nabanggit na kamag-anak ninyo si Julie Vega. Sa Anna Liza kasi si Daria at ang dalawa niyang anak na sina Leni Santos at Digna Kiocho ang kontrabida sa buhay ni Julie. Sa Flor kasi napaka-subtle ng kawalanghiyaan ni Laurice at ng pagkamaldita ni Marites Ardieta which was opposite to the way Carmen attacks her kontrabida role. Yung mag-iina kasi sa Anna Liza laging nagpapatalbugan..
4:27 AM
Nice recall Jojo. Walk down memory lane 'to a!
I saw din Wanted: Perfect Mother sa sine.
Napangiti ako sa commentary mo na glossy pa rin ang leads kahit may yagit na hehe... True.
Tama ka, kulang na lang ipagtanggol mo ng pisikal ang mga inaaping bida.
Iba rin ang pinoy drama series no'n. Viewers would really care for the main character's predicaments at talagang nag-iinvest ng real emotions kahit pa mala-pagong sa bagal ang pacing ng kuwento. How I missed those t.v. days.
5:21 AM
Well, I thought it would be interesting to mention those important little details about the late Ike Jarlego, Jr.'s career.
Honestly, I didn't like the remake of Wanted: Perfect Mother. Regine looked so awkward in the part at kulang na lang lagyan ng sungay si Bing Loyzaga in her portrayal of the kontrabida in the film.
Even Brocka's Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig was glossy. Unlike his other films like Insiang or Maynila Sa Mga Kuko Ng LIwanag, maaamoy mo talaga ang estero habang pinapanood ang pelikula. I guess the films still have to pass Viva's quality standards. Kahit Mga Batang Yagit ang pelikula kailangan malinis at makinis pa rin ang pelikula.
I used to stay glued sa TV everytime Flor de Luna was on. The one thing I liked was hindi overacting ang performances dati, unlike ngayon na nakakarinding panoorin, hindi ko talaga kinakaya...
2:00 AM
Wala namang bagong in-offer ang Wanted: Perfect Mother other than pakiligin uli ang viewers lalo na ang maka-Regine. Hahaha, natawa ako dun a- kulang na lang lagyan ng sungay si Bing Loyzaga as kontrabida. Kasi naman, napaka-one dimensional ang character niya. Hindi pa komportable si Regine sa role niya sa totoo lang.
Totoo 'yan, even Pasan Ko. Sobrang glossy ang mga Viva-produced movies noon.
Kaya mas nakakarelate at attached talaga ang viewers dati e dahil natural lang ang akting noon, kaya very convincing ang akting. Wala rin akong pinapanood na mga teleserye natin ngayon. Waste of time lang para sa akin.
4:45 AM
Totoo yan... Even the child actors were less endearing compared to the original. Napaka-one dimensional talaga ng character ni Bing Loyzaga, hindi rin nakatulong ang performance niya lalo na yung pandidilat ng kanyang mga mata. I never considered Regine to be an effective actress. Parang hindi na siya natutong umarte. Malaking factor din siguro yung limited choices sa roles na ino-offer sa kanya.
Lahat ng Viva movies in the 80's were glossy even Tinik Sa Dibdib. I remember admiring the film's cinematography. Obvious talaga ang pagkakaiba ng mga pelikula ng Regal at Viva.
Hindi rin ako nanonood ng mga teleserye. Maniniwala ka bang the last show na pinanood ko religiously was Bituin?
9:04 AM
Naging awkward na rin in a way ang mga facial reaction ni Bing sa movie para mai-point out ang pagiging atribida hehe. Tapos, relegated na sa ganu'ng klase ng role si Regine pati sa latest movie niya.
Yes, masasabi mo talaga kung gawang Viva o gawang Regal dati. I wonder kung Regal ang gumawa ng Tinik, I'm sure hindi na glossy.
I believe you Jojo!
7:41 PM
Madi-differentiate mo talaga ang mga pelikulang gawa ng Regal at Viva kahit parehong staff, crew at direktor ang kinuha sa kanilang respective film projects. Malinis at makinis ang mga Viva produced movies which cannot be said sa mga pelikula ng Regal even when they started producing komiks-based melodramas. Hindi pa rin kasing glossy ng mga pelikulang tatak-Viva.
8:06 AM
Gritty ang style ng Regal kahit pa may mga sosyal na tauhan sa dramas nila, kahit base nga sa komiks!
8:44 PM
Totoo yan! Although the Regal produced dramas were polished enough, they're not as glossy as the ones churned by Viva...
5:41 AM
batang-bata pa ako nung ipinalabas ito pero isa ito sa paborito naming pelikula noon. parang tingin namin magkakapatid sa aming mga sarili pag gusgusin at waa kaming pambili ng gusto namin. kami ay mga batang yagit.
4:39 PM
Nakakatuwa naman pala at paborito mo ang pelikulang ito. Hindi naman siguro kayo Mga Batang Yagit....