By Louinn Lota, Contributor
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA – Sigwa, the Philippine box office hit illustrating the storm against Marcos’ Martial Law in the 1970s, more significantly portrays the revolution of the heart experienced by the characters involved in the Kilusang Mayo Uno movement.
The story swirls around Dolly (Dawn Zulueta), a US-born Filipino who returns to her parents’ homeland as a reporter in the 1970s.
Dolly not only writes and photographs the KMU movement; she eventually joins it and its more militant branch that’s based in the jungle, falling in love with one of its student leaders, Eddie (Allen Dizon).
Dolly flees back to the emotional safety of America after giving birth to a daughter. Decades later, she makes her way back to the Philippines to find her child, who’s now a grown woman with a daughter of her own.
Dolly’s story is told in worthy flashbacks that fill her backstory. Zulueta does a moving turn as a conflicted Filipina American who feels guilty about abandoning not only her baby daughter but the revolutionary cause.
Tirso Cruz III plays former radical Oliver, who becomes a so-called sell-out who now works for the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government. Cruz skillfully plays someone who walks that fine line between a past that haunts him and the practicality of the here-and-now.
Zsa Zsa Padilla turns in a brilliantly intense performance as the still-militant Ka Cita. Somehow, the graying radical is a natural packing her firearms and bullets belted or strapped across her body.
When Padilla spits out dialogue about Oliver being part of a decadent system and a defender of the status quo and Oliver answering that “armed revolution is passé,” the audience could feel the daggers going straight into their hearts.
Director Joel Lamangan set up the ultimate confrontation between Oliver and Cita, former lovers in the revolution, at a roadblock in the Southern Philippines.
Oliver, now the media relations director for the GMA establishment, is stopped and angrily confronts a band of armed guerillas. Cita steps out from among the men and the glare in her eyes makes you wonder what’s going to be stronger –love or rebellion.
Sigwa played for one day only at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Calif. It was a treat for all Fil Ams to get a glimpse of the tumult that encompassed the republic of that era.
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