ML (film)

2018 Filipino film

Directed by| Benedict Mique Jr.[1]
Written by| Benedict Mique Jr.
Produced by|

* Roselle Lorenzo
* Benedict Mique Jr.

Starring|

* Eddie Garcia[2]
* Tony Labrusca[3]

Cinematography| Anne Monzon
Edited by| Mikael Pestano
Music by| Pearlsha Abubakar-Quebral
Distributed by| Solar Pictures

Release date

* August 3, 2018 (2018-08-03) (Cinemalaya)

Running time

| 90 minutes[4]
Country| Philippines
Language| Filipino

ML is a 2018 Philippine independent psychological horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Benedict Mique Jr., starring Eddie Garcia as a retired METROCOM Colonel suffering from Alzheimer's disease, leading him to believe that he is still living in the days of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship.[1][2] He mistakes a visiting student, played by Tony Labrusca, as a dissident resisting Martial Law, and captures and tortures him, just as he did back in the 1970s.[3][2] The film was released on August 3, 2018, at the 14th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.[1]

Along with Kip Oebanda's Liway, it is one of two Cinemalaya 2018 films featuring social commentary about the martial law, continuing the tradition of 2017's Respeto in light of the 2016 burial of Ferdinand Marcos and the rise of his children Bongbong and Imee Marcos in Philippine politics.[1][5]

## Plot

[edit]

Carlo, a Marcos loyalist, interviews retired METROCOM Colonel Jose Z. Dela Cruz at his home about his experience and service under the Marcos regime during the martial law days for a school assignment. Unbeknownst to Carlo, the Colonel is delusional and psychopathic, believing that he is still an active-duty soldier in the dictatorship.

As Carlo starts interviewing the Colonel, he strikes Carlo unconscious. When Carlo wakes up, he finds himself strapped on a chair in the basement. Confused of what was happening, he demands to be cut loose by the Colonel but is only answered with physical battery. He is later tortured in numerous ways by the Colonel while asking him questions about his supposed links with a dissident movement. His best friend Jace and girlfriend Pat are later lured into the same basement through deceiving text messages. All three of them are tortured in front of each other. Both Carlo and Jace are beaten-up and electrocuted. Jace is water-boarded and later murdered by Russian roulette. Pat is stripped naked, tied up, burned with cigarettes on her private parts and sexually violated with a bottle.

Jace's corpse is dumped on a pavement and framed as a drug dealer in President Duterte's drug war. Carlo and Pat manage to escape the basement but are met at the doorstep by the Colonel, who is about to kill them before being distracted by a call, upon which the couple escape. They report their case to the police but the Colonel cleans his house of evidence, ensuring his acquittal. Hungry for justice, Carlo goes back to the Colonel's home one night to kill him, only to find that he has already died in his sleep. The Colonel is buried with honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of Heroes) as Carlo is asked regarding his assignment.

## Cast

[edit]

* Eddie Garcia as Colonel dela Cruz
* Tony Labrusca as Carlo
* Lianne Valentin as Pat
* Henz Villaraiz as Jace
* Jojit Lorenzo
* Rafa Siguion-Reyna
* Chanel Latorre
* Chrome Cosio
* Jindric Macapagal

## See also

[edit]

* List of films about martial law in the Philippines
* Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command
* 14th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival
* Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival
* Liway
* Respeto

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Alejo, Aubrey (July 6, 2018). "5 Most Exciting Reasons To Watch Cinemalaya 2018". Meg.
2. ^ a b c Abanilla, Clarizel (July 25, 2018). "Eddie Garcia on 'ML,' his 3rd Cinemalaya starring film". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
3. ^ a b "WATCH: Tony Labrusca is tortured in new film about martial law". ABS-CBN News. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
4. ^ "ML: Cinemalaya". Cinemalaya. 2018.
5. ^ Babiera, Lester G. (July 9, 2018). "2018 Cinemalaya tackles travails of aging and horrors of martial law". Retrieved July 31, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* ML at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos and People Power Revolution

Batas Militar sa Pilipinas

Background|

* Martial law in the Philippines
* 1965 elections
* Conjugal dictatorship
* Philippines–United States relations
* American imperialism
* Cold War
* Vietnam War
* Communist insurgency
* Moro conflict
* Sabah claim
* Jabidah massacre
* Manili massacre
* 1969 elections
* 1969 balance of payments crisis
* First Quarter Storm
* Agrarian reform
* Diliman Commune
* Plaza Miranda bombing
* Filipino nationalism
* Human rights in the Philippines

Events|

* 1972 Enrile ambush
* Proclamation No. 1081
* 1973 Constitution
* 1974 Sacred Heart Novitiate raid
* Construction of "edifice complex" projects
* 1978 elections
* Interim Batasang Pambansa
* Beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz
* 1981 elections
* Assassination of Ninoy Aquino
* Negros famine
* Philippine economic history during the Marcos dictatorship
* Philippine military history during the Marcos dictatorship
* Snap elections
* Timeline of the People Power Revolution

Human rights
abuses|

* Human rights abuses
* Torture methods
* Political detainees
* Palimbang massacre
* Tictapul massacre
* Murder of Archimedes Trajano
* Murder of Macli-ing Dulag
* Daet massacre
* Bacong Bridge massacre
* Murder of Juan "Johnny" Escandor
* Murder of Alex Orcullo
* Escalante massacre
* Beew massacre

Kleptocracy|

* Unexplained wealth of the Marcos family
* Marcos mansions
* Marcos jewels
* Overseas landholdings of the Marcos family
* Japanese Official Development Assistance scandal
* Coco Levy Fund scam
* Golden Buddha theft
* Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

People|

| Regime|

* Ferdinand Marcos
* Imelda Marcos

|

Cronies and Relatives|

* Rolex 12 (Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr.
* Juan Ponce Enrile
* Romeo Espino
* Fidel Ramos
* Fabian Ver)
* Macario Asistio Jr.
* Roberto Benedicto
* José Yao Campos
* Manuel Elizalde Jr.
* Antonio Floirendo Sr.
* Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
* María Imelda "Imee" Marcos
* Roberto Ongpin
* Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez
* Ignacio Santiago Sr.
* Ricardo Silverio
* Florentino Sanico Solon
* Lucio Tan
* Arturo Tolentino
* Nicanor Yñiguez

Cabinet Technocrats|

* Cesar Virata
* Onofre Corpuz
* Armand Fabella
* Jaime C. Laya
* Placido Mapa Jr.
* Carlos P. Romulo

Mainstream opposition|

Leaders

* Agapito "Butz" Aquino
* Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
* Corazon C. "Cory" Aquino
* José W. "Ka Pepe" Diokno
* Salvador H. "Doy" Laurel
* Gerardo M. "Gerry" Roxas
* Jovito R. "Ka Jovy" Salonga
* Cardinal Jaime Sin
* Lorenzo M. "Ka Tanny" Tañada Sr.

Business sector opposition

* Jose S. Concepcion Jr.
* Domingo M. Guevara, Sr.
* Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr.
* Jaime Ongpin
* Alfonso Yuchengco
* Quintin Yuyitung
* Rizal Yuyitung

Political sector opposition

* Jacobo Amatong
* Ceferino "Joker" Arroyo
* Jejomar Binay
* Cesar Climaco
* Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr.
* Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco
* Roberto Concepcion
* Hilario Davide Jr.
* Marcelo Fernan
* Neptali Gonzales
* Raul M. Gonzalez
* Teofisto Guingona Jr.
* Ribomapil "Dodong" Holganza Sr.
* Evelio Javier
* Vicente Jayme
* Eva Estrada Kalaw
* José B. Lingad
* Diosdado Macapagal
* Ernesto Maceda
* Raul Manglapus
* Primitivo Mijares
* Ramon Mitra Jr.
* Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III
* Ambrosio Padilla
* Cecilia Muñoz-Palma
* Vicente Paterno
* Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr.
* Eduardo Quintero
* Soledad Roa Duterte
* Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo
* Jose Benedicto Luis "J.B.L." Reyes
* Rene Saguisag
* Abraham Sarmiento Sr.
* Wigberto Tañada
* Claudio Teehankee
* Haydee Yorac
* Calixto Zaldivar

Religious sector opposition

* Zacarias Agatep
* Teodoro Bacani Jr.
* Mariani Dimaranan
* Joe Dizon
* Tullio Favali
* Inocencio Ipong
* Isabelo Magalit
* Mary John Mananzan
* Violeta Marcos
* Pacifico Ortiz
* Magnifico Osorio
* Miguel Purugganan
* James Reuter
* Rudy Romano
* Mary Christine Tan
* Carlos Tayag
* Ricardo Vidal
* The Magnificent Seven (Francisco Claver
* Federico Escaler
* Antonio Fortich
* Julio Xavier Labayen
* Orlando Quevedo
* Felix Perez
* Jesus Varela)

Academic and cultural
sector opposition|

Academics and cultural workers

* Freddie Aguilar
* APO Hiking Society (Danny Javier
* Boboy Garrovillo
* Jim Paredes)
* Lualhati Bautista
* Lino Brocka
* Ishmael Bernal
* Noel Cabangon
* Benedicto Cabrera
* Behn Cervantes
* Renato Constantino
* Gilda Cordero Fernando
* Butch Dalisay
* The Jerks
* Nick Joaquin
* Emmanuel "Eman" Lacaba
* Inang Laya
* Ricky Lee
* Celeste Legaspi
* Salvador P. Lopez
* Bienvenido Lumbera
* Leah Navarro
* Francisco Nemenzo Jr.
* Willie Nepomuceno
* Bibeth Orteza
* Gaston Z. "Gasty" Ortigas
* Nemesio Prudente
* Kidlat Tahimik

Student activists

* Lean Alejandro
* Edgar Ang Sinco
* Manuel Bautista
* Neri Colmenares
* Liliosa Hilao
* Antonio Hilario
* Bonifacio Ilagan
* Edgar Jopson
* Joel Lamangan
* Carol Pagaduan
* Armando Palabay
* Tish Pascual-Ladlad
* Nestor Principe
* Susan Quimpo
* Abraham Sarmiento Jr.
* Antonio Tagamolila
* Archimedes Trajano
* Southern Tagalog 10 (Cristina Catalla
* Gerardo Faustino
* Rizalina Ilagan
* Jessica Sales)

Left-wing opposition|

* Fidel Agcaoili
* Lean Alejandro
* Conrado Balweg
* Lorena Barros
* Walden Bello
* Crispin Beltran
* Bernabe Buscayno
* Victor Corpus
* Maita Gomez
* Luis Jalandoni
* Emmanuel "Eman" Lacaba
* Filemon Lagman
* Satur Ocampo
* Felixberto Olalia Sr.
* Rolando Olalia
* Jose Maria Sison
* Nilo Tayag
* Crispin Tagamolila
* Benito Tiamzon
* Wilma Tiamzon
* Antonio Zumel

Opposition in the
Armed Forces|

Resistance during the Marcos administration years

* Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz
* Col. Bonifacio Gillego
* Capt. Rogelio Morales, PN
* Capt. Danilo Vizmanos, PN
* Brig. Gen. Marcos G. Soliman

Reform the Armed Forces Movement

* Juan Ponce Enrile
* Col. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan
* Col. Eduardo "Red" Kapunan Jr.
* BGen. Jose T. Almonte
* Col. Victor Batac
* Col. Hector Tarrazona
* Col. Billy Bibit

Others who withdrew support during the People Power revolution

* Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos
* Commodore Tagumpay Jardiniano
* Col. Charles Hotchkiss
* Col. Antonio Sotelo
* Col. Rodolfo Biazon
* Lt. Benjamin Magalong

Journalists|

Pro-Marcos

* Adrian Cristobal
* Jose "Joe" Guevara
* Ronnie Nathanielsz

Opposition

* Eugenia Apostol
* David Bueno
* Joe Burgos
* Amando Doronila
* Ma Ceres Doyo
* Inday Espina-Varona
* Chit Estella
* Betty Go-Belmonte
* Letty Jimenez Magsanoc
* Jose "Pete" Lacaba
* Teodoro Locsin Sr.
* Armando Malay
* Antonio "Tony" Nieva
* Alex Orcullo
* Napoleon G. Rama
* Joaquin "Chino" Roces
* Maximo Soliven
* Jose Mari Velez

American
interested parties|

* Stephen W. Bosworth
* Henry A. Byroade
* Philip Habib
* George Hamilton
* Paul Laxalt
* Richard Lugar
* Paul Manafort
* Ronald Reagan

Political
pressure groups|

Political coalitions

* Alliance of Makati Associations
* Anti-Bases Coalition
* August Twenty One Movement
* Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
* Concerned Women of the Philippines
* Free Legal Assistance Group
* Gabriela Women's Party
* Justice for Aquino, Justice for All
* Kilusan sa Kapangyarihan at Karapatan ng Bayan
* Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism, Inc.
* Movement for a Free Philippines
* Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties
* National Movement for Free Elections
* Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

Political parties

* Liberal Party
* Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan
* United Nationalist Democratic Organization

Locations|

* Camp Aguinaldo
* Camp Crame
* Clark Air Base
* Club Filipino
* Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA)
* Fort Bonifacio
* Fort Magsaysay
* Hawaii
* Malacañang Palace
* Ortigas Center
* Villamor Air Base

Aftermath|

| Events|

* Nepotism
* Operation Big Bird
* Mendiola massacre
* 1987 elections
* Anti-Aquino coup attempts
* UP-DND accord
* Second Great Rectification Movement
* Burial of Ferdinand Marcos

|

Institutions|

* Aquino Presidency
* 1987 Constitution
* Commission on Human Rights
* Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
* Philippine National Police
* Presidential Commission on Good Government

Media|

| Songs|

* "Bagong Pagsilang"
* "Bayan Ko"
* "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo"
* "Magkaisa"
* "Saranggola ni Pepe"
* "Tatsulok"
* "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"

|

Political Films
during the dictatorship|

* Iginuhit ng Tadhana
* Sakada

Literature|

* The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos
* Dekada '70
* Some Are Smarter Than Others
* Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years
* Waltzing with a Dictator

Slogans|

* Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa
* Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan
* Tama na! Sobra na! Palitan na!
* Never again

Gestures|

* V sign
* Laban sign
* Raised fist

Legacy and
historiography|

| Monuments and memorials|

* People Power Monument
* EDSA Shrine
* Bantayog ng mga Bayani
* individuals

|

Films|

* Ako si Ninoy
* Barber's Tales
* Batas Militar
* Citizen Jake
* A Dangerous Life
* Dekada '70
* Eskapo
* Evolution of a Filipino Family
* Forbidden Memory
* From What Is Before
* Imelda
* Katips
* The Kingmaker
* The Last Journey of Ninoy
* Liway
* Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin
* Maid in Malacañang
* Martyr or Murderer
* ML
* Oras de Peligro
* Pisay
* A Rustling of Leaves: Inside the Philippine Revolution
* Sa Dulo ng Baril
* Season of the Devil
* Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?

Other media|

* Here Lies Love
* musical
* Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Story ("Kalapati"
* "Makinilya")
* Voltes V

Disinformation and
distortionism|

* Ferdinand Marcos's cult of personality
* Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos

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