Baler - 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival Entry

Baler is the upcoming official entry of Viva Films in the upcoming 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. The movie features the first team-up of Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis.

Synopsis: Baler is a tale of an overwhelming love of a young Filipina named Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales), a Spanish-Filipino soldier, set in the backdrop of 1898 wartime action between a 57-man Rifle Batallion of the Spanish military and the Filipino forces, more popularly known as the Seige of Baler.

Feliza is the beautiful daughter of Nanding (Phillip Salvador), who’s a member of therebel movement. This is the very reason why she and Celso have to keep their love a secret.

Nanding, whose primary goal is to completely wipe out the Spanish soldiers stationed in the town of Baler, can never accept Celso, a half- Indio, half Spanish soldier who chooses to serve the enemies more than the Filipino insurgents who are struggling and fighting for their independence, their freedom.

Feliza is in love with the man her father despises but who and what could stop the two young people who are madly in love with each other?

While we are drawn to the endearing story of a classic love that knows no time, place and race, we are also glided into the historic past to take a peek on what transpired inside the walls of the church of Baler where the last Spanish contingent (who are not aware that the war had actually ended), heroically defended Baler against the Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days.

While Baler is a story of conflict, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, selfishness,obstinacy, and self-interest, it is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism,endurance, chivalry, humanity and above all, it also tells about a noble story of love in time of war--- the story of Feliza and Celso.

The movie also stars Phillip Salvador, Baron Geisler, Bernard Palanca, Carlo Aquino, Niki Bacolod, DJ Durano, Joel Torre, Mark Bautista, Michael de Mesa, and Ryan Eigenmann.

Baler is showing on Christmas day.