Ded Na Si Lolo (2009, Philippine Movie) [Grandpa is Dead]

 DED NA SI LOLO (2009)

Cast: Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa, Manilyn Reynes, Dick Israel, Perla Bautista, BJ Forbes, Roderick Paulate

Director/Screenwriter: Soxy Topacio

Distributed by: APT Entertainment

Summary

BJ Forbes plays Bobet whose Lolo Juanito just died. The story is told in his point of view and how the death of his Lolo will be an educational experience for him, on Filipino culture and tradition.

The movie features the Filipino tradition of a wake or burol and how Filipinos deal with death of a loved one. Several burol superstitions were mentioned in the movie like placing a rosary in the hand of the dead and cutting it to prevent so no death will soon follow, placing money in the hand of the dead throughout the burol and keeping the money to serve as lucky charm, wearing red in a burol is a no-no because it scares the ghost of the dead, putting red blankets over children while sleeping so they won’t be haunted by the ghost of the dead, cleaning the house is prohibited too while there is a burol, and tears should not fall down on the glass window in the coffin.

The also centers on the dysfunctional family of Lolo Juanito. Lolo Juanito’s children are played by Dick Israel as Isidro, the oldest who has kept a secret from his siblings which was he knew they were only the second family of Lolo Juanito; Elizabeth Oropesa as Dolores, the richest but considered by her siblings has the worst attitude and who holds a grudge on her father because he was always absent during her birthday; Gina Alajar as Mameng, the most loved daughter (according to Dolores) who, together with her own family, lives in her father’s house (and the reason why Dolores also holds a grudge against her); Manilyn Reynes as Charing, the mother of Bobet, the neutral party and the source of many superstitions; and Roderick Paulate as Junee, the gay son and the most modern among them and equally dramatic. All of them are “palengkera/o”, loudmouthed individuals reflected from their jobs – Isidoro is a meat vendor, Dolores is a fruit vendor, Mameng is viand vendor, Charing is a vegetable vendor, and Junee “sells” happiness as a female impersonator (Ded na si Lolo Graded A by CEB, Monica Palad, www.pep.ph, 2009). They share the same trait of being an “eksenadora/o” or loves being the center of attention because all of them fainted (real and fake) during the burol. Even their stepsister, who is the first daughter of Lolo Isidoro, fainted (which made the sisters conclude that she is really their blood). In one scene, Junee told Bobet to prepare lots of cottons and ammonia because it will be a fight who will be the best actress during the burial.