Sakay (film)
Sakay is a 1993 Filipino historical drama film directed by Raymond Red. The film stars Julio Diaz, Tetchie Agbayani, and Leopoldo Salcedo. The film covers the life of Filipino patriot and hero Macario Sakay, who was declared an outlaw and a criminal for continuing hostilities against the United States after the "official" end of the Philippine–American War.
Plot
Sakay was a barber from Tondo, Manila who joined Andres Bonifacio's revolutionary secret society Katipunan. He fought during the Philippine Revolution against Spain and later in the Philippine–American War. Sakay remained in the field even after the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo and the fall of the First Philippine Republic. He was captured, but was released during an amnesty.
Sakay then took to the mountains to revive the Katipunan, together with Francisco Carreon, Julian Montalan, Cornelio Felizardo and other rebel leaders. He proclaims himself as General and President of the "Tagalog Republic" (Republika ng Katagalugan), and engaged the United States Army and the Philippine Constabulary in guerrilla warfare. On occasion he was aided by talisman-wearing cultist warriors.
After years of fighting, Sakay was convinced to surrender by Filipino labor leader Dr. Dominador Gomez, who argued that the establishment of a Philippine National Assembly, instead of armed resistance, presented the soundest option towards attaining Filipino independence.
On the understanding that the America government offered amnesty, Sakay and his officers came down from the mountains. However, as a ruse, they were invited to a reception in Cavite and arrested by the Americans. Tried and convicted for brigandage, Sakay and Colonel Lucio de Vega were hanged while Montalan and others received life imprisonment.
Principal cast
- Julio Diaz as Gen. Macario Sakay
- Tetchie Agbayani as Elena
- Leopoldo Salcedo as Sakay's father
- Nanding Josef as Dr. Dominador Gomez
- Karlo Altomonte as Francisco Carreon
- Pen Medina as Col. Lucio de Vega
- Ray Ventura as Gen. Cornelio Felizardo
- Raymond Keannu as Gen. Julian Montalan
- Bon Vibar as Captain Bandholtz
- Arvin Pestaño as Antonio Montenegro
Reception
The film was praised and received several awards for its director, Raymond Red and for actor, Julio Diaz, including; the Palme d’Or for best short film at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. It opened with favorable reviews. The film was produced in 1993 by Alpha Omega Productions, Executive Producer Ana Marie Datuin. It was selected as one of the 5 entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival garnering the coveted Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award.