The passage of time is undeniable, and it’s been 26 years since Cesar Montano captivated audiences with his portrayal of the national hero in the critically acclaimed film ‘Jose Rizal.’
The movie, which premiered during the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1998, remains a milestone in Philippine cinema.
This past Wednesday, Montano had the opportunity to relive his portrayal of Rizal during a special screening of the film at the Metropolitan Theatre Manila, a highlight of Cinemalaya 2024. Joining him for the event was National Artist Ricky Lee, who wrote the screenplay for the iconic film.
Produced by GMA Films and directed by the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya, ‘Jose Rizal’ is hailed as one of the most significant films in the country’s cinematic history. The screening showcased the digitally restored and remastered version of the film, offering a fresh viewing experience to both new audiences and long-time fans.
“Masaya ako, dahil heto may kasama na akong National Artist,” Montano said, referring to Lee.
Montano, who has watched the film several times over the years, admitted this was his first time seeing the restored version. Reflecting on the film’s success, he shared, “Nakarating kami sa Berlin dahil sa movie. At humakot ito ng awards sa MMFF, na 17 awards nga yata, o halos lahat ng awards ay nakuha.”
At the time of its release, ‘Jose Rizal’ was the most ambitious and expensive project in Philippine cinema, with a production budget of over P80 million. Montano explained the necessity of such a budget, stating, “Historical naman kasi, kaya hindi puwedeng tipirin. Pag tinipid mo, mahahalata. Sa costume pa lang, sa location, nakaabang ang CGI mo, na ang mahal-mahal din. Magbubura ka ng mga bagay na hindi dapat kasali.”
However, Montano didn’t shy away from admitting the challenges he faced during the production. “Gusto ko na ngang kalimutan yon, eh. ‘Yung pag-aaral ng Kastila. Imagine, 7 months akong nag-aral ng Spanish. Eh, noong tini-take natin ang Spanish sa college, hindi ko naman masyadong pinapasukan yon,” he confessed. “Biglang-bigla, nag-take ako ng Spanish. Ang hirap talaga.”
@lionheartv At dahil nga muling napapanood na ang digitally restored version ng 1998 MMFF movie na #JoseRizal , muling binalikan ni #CesarMontano ang naging paghahanda niya sa movie na ito! #Cinemalaya2024 #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH #BestOfTiktokPH #LionhearTV #RAWRNation
At the time, Montano’s career was gaining momentum as an action star, but he knew that portraying Jose Rizal would be a defining moment. “At noong time na yon, ang pagiging action star ang pinupuntahan ng career ko. Pero sabi ko, parang ito ang pelikulang maalala ako, kahit wala na ako, kaya bakit hindi ko tatanggapin? At tinanggap ko nga, dahil baka madaling gawin. Pero, hindi ko alam na napaka-perfectionist ni Direk Marilou. Pinag-aral talaga niya ako ng Spanish, na sa school nga ay halos hindi ko pasukan. Palakol nga ako sa subject na yan. Pero, napilitan akong mag-aral.”
To fully immerse himself in the role, Montano covered his home with images of Jose Rizal. “At ginawa ko, lahat ng pictures ni Jose Rizal na nakita ko, dinikit ko sa dingding ng bahay ko. Buti na lang, binata pa ako noon at wala pang nakikialam sa akin. At ang TV sa bahay ay naka-on sa Spanish channel, na kahit natutulog ako, naka-on lang. Pinapatay lang ako pag aalis ng bahay. Ganun katindi ang pinagdaanan ko,” he recalled.
Despite the challenges, Montano’s dedication paid off. His portrayal of ‘Jose Rizal’ remains a significant achievement in his career and a lasting contribution to the portrayal of the national hero on screen.
