AFTER WATCHING the sports comedy “80 For Brady” starring aging Hollywood actresses, we are now curious to see how a local film that assembles some of our own veteran stars will fare.
This one is drama-comedy starring Perla Bautista who is 83 years old, Liza Lorena who is 73, Gloria Diaz who is 72 and Pia Moran (known then as Ms. Body Language) who is 61.
Written by Dennis Evangelista and directed by Joel Lamangan, it is about the friendship of some aging prostitutes who live together in an old house.
Despite their advanced age, they still practice the world’s oldest profession and their customers are oftentimes tagged as outcasts for being so poor, like carpenters, garbage collectors, midgets, and the elderly among others.
They usually bring their target customers to a sleazy lodging house owned by a dismissed police office named Rigor.
The film is told from the point of view of Gloria as Dalena, who works by day as an albularyo or traditional healer outside a church, but at night, she moonlights as a hooker.
They say she is possessed by Mary Magdalene. She dreams of the forgiveness of her daughter, Mayette, who has disowned her as a mother. She tries her best to correct her mistakes through her grandchild, Angel.
It’s also the story of Bella (Liza Lorena) who, apart from being a prostitute at night, is also a pimp.
She owns and lets out for rent her old house, which was given to her by lover, Donato.
With that house contested by Donato’s child, Mauro, will they be soon kicked out from the property that was left behind for her?
It also revolves around the old Corazon (Perla Bautista) who has poor memory and dreams of being reunited with her old flame, Ernesto (Joonee Gamboa).
When they finally get to meet again, he will be taken away by his wife, Melissa.
We also have the jolly Luningning (Pia Moran), who makes a living out of lust and love all her life.
She is obsessed with Daks (Carlo San Juan), who is a frequent contestant of bikini opens.
In the end, she will come to her senses and learn the values of self respect and dignity.
Rounding off their circle of friends is Miriam (Sunshine Cruz), the youngest among the Magdalenes.
She is the breadwinner of her family who depends on her. Three decades into prostitution, she is diagnosed with Stage 4 cervical cancer.
In the midst of their struggles, we get to see how they comfort one another.
Life has never been easy for them… but they live on and show the world that they are true survivors of life’s adversities.
Also in the cast are Harlene Bautista, Angel Guardian, Marcus Madrigal, Myrna Castillo, Angela Cortez and Jim Pebanco.
Gloria Diaz says she’s so happy to still get good challenging roles like Dalena, the aging prostie.
“You know, when I started in the movies, I was not sure where to go but somehow, God planned it all for me and up to now, I’m still here, lumalaban pa,” she says.
“I find my role as Dalena very challenging. I’ve played pokpok roles before but si Dalena, she’s something else, lolang pokpok na palamura.
"When I read the script, nagulat ako, kasi my character, laging nagmumura. Okay lang kung in English, kaso in Tagalog, I’m not used to it.”
Direk Joel Lamangan told her she cannot talk in Taglish.
“Kasi cheap na pokpok si Dalena, hindi sosyal. So sabi ko, kaya ko ba ito?
"But tinulungan nila ako, they made me memorize so many Tagalog cuss words. Yung iba, first time ko narinig.
"When I accepted the role, I have to go for it wholeheartedly, kasi kundi ko gagawin nang tama, baka ako pa ang mamura ni Direk Joel. I’m quite scared but I will just give it my best.”
