1521

Retelling the Battle of Mactan in a new light

By Demi Braque

A lot of stories have been told about the Battle of Mactan, both from an historical and artistic perspective. It had also found its way to the cinemas through numerous films, may it be in documentary form or as film feature.

With the Battle of Mactan celebrating its quincentenary last year, great interest has fueled the nascence of artistic works on the subject - from the written word to musical theater, as well as the film medium.

Working on the title "1521," this new film project from Inspire Studios will tell about the great Mactan war from the perspective of the first Filipino hero, Lapu-Lapu. Former cinematic works have essayed the story from the point of view of Ferdinand Magellan or his cohorts. This time around, the narrative will take the voice of Lapu-Lapu. 

1521 is a Hollywood film project and will be played by American actors and be helmed by an American director.

"This project, I believe is gonna be revolutionary because of key facts: It is so historic that people don't know what happened to Magellan. Some people in America think he just died. And a lot of times, the history of the Philippines gets pushed under the rug unnoticed, which led to the passion that we wanted to embrace those stories, and embrace the culture, and say hey! Let me get this out there. So that is a historic thing in itself, the whole situation of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu.

"This is the first time a Hollywood movie director and producer are shooting a movie about a Filipino story with Hollywood stars and Filipino stars in one movie. While this is about the Battle of Mactan, the film's story does not revolve around it. It is part of the plot in the sense that there's a love story that takes place within. Just like Magellan and Lapu-Lapu are the exterior of the body, the characters of Diwata/Didi and Enrique/Ricky are it's heart and soul," shared actor Michael Copon, who will be playing the role of Lapu-Lapu. Copon is known best as Lucas Kendall aka Power Ranger Blue from the Power Rangers Time Force movie.

The early pages of the story shows a vacationer, Didi, on a day tour, wandering the ruins of an ancient Spanish fort. The tropical breeze lulls her to sleep - then takes her to a different place and time.

Her dreamscape is set against the backdrop of pre-colonial times in the island of Mactan, around the time Spaniards set foot therein. In her dream, Didi is a young native princess that falls love with a foreigner, Enrique, the handsome translator of the great explorer, Ferdinand Magellan.

Didi is torn between her loyalty to her own people and her love for Enrique. She struggles to bring the two factions together. With the opposing sides threatening to end their budding romance, they make the choice to separate - but not before they pledge to have their souls eternally entwined.

The splash of the ebbing tides rouses her from sleep. She finds herself confused by her dream. She leaves the ancient Spanish fort and returns to her resort. Once there, she hears a voice calling her name. A figure emerges from the sea. It is the man from her dreams. The real world and her dreams now collide.

1521 will be shot mostly around the paradisiacal island of Palawan, in places like Puerto Princesa and Taytay where the Spanish fort is located. It will, however, shoot some scenes in California.

Produced by Hollywood-based Palaweño, Francis B. Lara Ho, the film stars Fil-Am actor Michael Copon playing Lapu-Lapu; Latino-American character actor Danny Trejo (who will be playing Ferdinand Magellan), Filipina superstar Bea Alonso (Diwata) as well as multi-awarded Filipina character actress Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, former Power Ranger cast member Hector David Jr. (Enrique), and Portuguese actor Costas Mandylor (Lorenzo).

In the movie, Copon will be wielding a custom-made 'kampilan' (sword) that he will be using as prop when playing Lapu-Lapu in the film.

Producer Lara Ho said that while much of the film will be shot in Palawan, they cannot give exact locations where they will shoot so as not to compromise the security of both cast and crew.

Principal photography is now taking place around Palawan. The movie is scheduled for an international release on June 12, 2023 in time for the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence.