Didn’t you know that the classic cult film “Virgin People,” a franchise by the maverick filmmaker Celso Ad. Castillo has already its third installment and a fourth version is already in place?
The virgin “Virgin People” was produced in 1984 by Topaz Film Productions and starred Myrna Castillo and the late actresses Pepsi Paloma and Janet Bordon.
The sequel to “Virgin People” was made in 1996 by Amado Tan, producer of the erstwhile Amazaldy Film Productions and featured Sunshine Cruz, Sharmaine Suarez and Ana Capri.
The third version of “Virgin People” was wrapped up in 2003 by Emulsion Films and headlined by Allona Amor, Monina Perez and Barbara Milano.
All of these editions were directed by the so-called enfant terrible and Messiah of Philippine Movies Celso Ad. Castillo.
And most of their scenes were shot in Siniloan, Laguna.
The fourth edition of the project, “Virgin People 4,” is now being readied, naturally, not under the helm of Celso who died more than a decade ago, but under the direction of his younger brother, John Ad. Castillo.
After Da Kid’s demise, it’s John who has continued the legacy the iconic filmmaker bequeathed to his family, friends, colleagues and members of the local film community.
Aside from inheriting his older brother’s creative repository and influence, John, by the way, is the family’s true nominal successor of their father—Atty. Dominador Ad. Castillo, Sr.
John is Dominador Ad. Castillo, Jr.
At this point, the younger Castillo has been savoring, enjoying and applying all he had learned in filmmaking from Da Kid.
“Lahat ng natutunan ko sa kuya ko sa pagdidirek at pagiging prodyuser at tagapamahala ng produksyon ay isinasagawa ko (All that I learned from my brother in directing, producing and managing a production outfit, I am applying them in my work),” said John.
John is now reviving two projects which Celso left hanging after his death and has full control of them.
One is pursuing the production of a very ambitious and controversial film “Ang Lalaking Nangarap Maging Nora Aunor,” which had been in the pipeline since the 1980s at the height of the late Superstar and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.
“Dream project ‘yan ng kapatid ko. At ngayon, itutuloy ko (…of my brother. I will jumpstart it),” John confirmed.
Another one is the fourth version of “Virgin People.”
“Sinimulan na ng photographer na si Mark Galang. Kinausap niya ako na kung puwedeng gamitin ang ‘Virgin People’ sa kanyang (He has started it. Mark has already talked to me if he could use the title in his) coffee table book,” John announced.
“Nag-shoot na sina Mark sa (Mark has already shot in Barangay Piit sa Pangil, Laguna,” he added.
But John clarified that if he would jumpstart “Virgin People 4,” he would title it “Tipitipitin.”
“Tipitipitin” is a Filipino expression which is contextual in meaning as in keeping a secret not to be revealed by anyone, especially a mute, a character played by actor Ernie Garcia in the maiden version of “Virgin People.”
The writing of the script of “Virgin People (Tipitipitin)” is already in progress and most of the scenes will again be shot in Laguna, particularly in Barangay Piit in Pangil and the whole community of Siniloan.
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