ALLEN DIZON is glad to be reunited with Director Joel Lamangan in the fearless film about the final days of the Marcos regime, “Oras de Peligro”.
“I always enjoy working with Direk Joel kasi our movies are mostly socially relevant and I’ve won awards in some of them,” he says.
“I did ‘Dukot’ in 2009 with him about desaparecidos, ‘Patikul’ in 2011 where I played a coffee farmer, ‘Deadline’ in 2011 about oppressed journalist, ‘Migrante’ in 2012 about migrant workers,
‘Burgos’ in 2013 about the missing son of journalist Joe Burgos who was abducted by the military, and ‘Walkers’ in 2021 about a family of prostitutes in Angeles.
"Now, we’ve done ‘Oras de Peligro’ that aims to tell the truth about what really happened in the last days of the Marcos Regime. Makikita nyo matapang ang pelikula namin.”
How does he feel that it’s being shown on March 1 opposite the new Marcos movie?
“I don’t really mind. Gusto ko nga, mapag-usapan sila nang husto para magka-interest ang mga tao na panoorin sila.
"We all known naman na matamlay pa rin ang local films na pinalalabas sa mga sinehan, right?
"So sana, this time, bigyang pansin naman ng moviegoers ang mga pelikulang Pilipino at panoorin nila ito sa sinehan and they be the judge kung aling pelikula ba talaga ang nagsasabi ng totoo tungkol sa ating history.”
He wants to make it clear that “Oras de Peligro” didn’t intentionally set its playdate against the Marcos movie.
“Hindi naman ginawa ang ‘Oras de Peligro’ para makipagtapatan.
"Ang totoo, kami ang unang nakakuha ng March 1 playdate, kasi sila, originally, February 22, then binago nila at sila ang tumapat sa amin.
"So hindi namin talaga planado o sinadyang makipagsabayan sa kanila. Sana panoorin ng lang pareho ng mga tao. Parehong political movie but different interpretations and treatment.”
“Oras de Peligro” intends to be an eye-opener specially for millennials and Gen Z viewers who allowed themselves to be deluded and believed in distortions made in our recent history because of Tiktok and social media.
“Ang mga kabataan kasi natin ngayon, hindi nila talaga alam kung ano ang tunay na nangyari noon and I am sure marami sa kanila ang curious to find out what really happened.
"So ito na ang pagkakataon nila para matunghayan kung ano ang totoo sa history natin.”
In the movie, Allen plays Dario, the husband of Cherry Pie Picache as Beatriz. They have two kids played by Dave Bornea and Therese Malvar.
“Jeepney driver ako rito,” he adds. “Naniniwala ako na dapat nang magkaroon ng mga pagbabago sa ating pamahalaan kaya sang-ayon ako sa political rallies involving drivers.
"Pero si Cherry Pie as my wife, tutol siya roon. Mas gusto niyang manahimik na lang at huwag ma-involved.
"Then, habang nagpapasada ako ng jeepney, may mga manghoholdap sa pasahero ng sasakyan ko at masasangkot ako sa kaguluhan. Hindi ko na puedeng i-share pa kung ano ang mga susunod na mangyayari dahil spoiler na yun.”
So how is it working with Cherry Pie playing his wife?
“Masarap katrabaho si Cherry Pie kasi napakagaling talaga niyang artista.
"Actually, nagkasama na kami noon sa ‘Twilight Dancers’ in 2007, pero wala kaming eksena na we're together.
"Unlike dito, opening scene pa lang, magkasama na kami with our kids at pinagsasabihan niya akong huwag makisali sa mga pagwewelga ng jeepney driver.”
Aside from Allen, Cherry Pie, Dave and Therese, the big cast of ‘Oras de Peligro’ also stars Nanding Josef as the farmer dad of Allen, Elora Espano as the only witness to an evil crime,
Timothy Castillo as Dave’s best friend, Gerald Santos as a student activist, Felixia Dizon as Therese’s best friend,
Allan Paule as a dirty old man preying on young girls, Edru Abraham as Allen’s jeepney operator, Mae Paner as a rich woman who sympathizes with the poor,
Cherry Malvar as an activist nun, Alvi Siongco as a good cop, and Rico Barrera and Marcus Madrigal as corrupt cops.
The lyrics of the movie’s timely theme song is by Boni Ilagan, music by Ed Pagayon, and sang by Becky Abraham.
