Martyr or Murderer

Details

Summaries

The film explores the assassination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983, three years before the events of Maid in Malacañang, and how the Marcoses were accused of as those responsible for killing him.

Through the eyes of Imee Marcos, Maid in Malacañang chronicles the final days of the Marcos family before they were airlifted out of Malacanang and flown to Hawaii. Following the record-smashing success of its prequel, Martyr or Murderer recounts what happened to the family before and after EDSA Revolution, a sneak peak to their life in exile and a brave discussion on the intrigues surrounding Imee's exploits in Morroco -- did she really go into hiding and forge passports? How did her siblings cope with the sudden turn of events? How did the ailing patriarch and his Imeldific wife carry on with their lives after being stripped of power and dignity? MOM carries the love story of Imelda and Ferdinand, the union of Politics and Philippine Culture, It also solves the riddles about the duplicity of Ninoy Aquino, his relationship with people around him, his ulterior motivations and how his untimely death--which is still being pinned on his rival Ferdinand--was used to catalyze the downfall of the Marcoses. How did all the strife between these two luminaries start, how far did it go? To what extent can a man lie to himself in pursuit of his dreams? Who is the real Martyr, who is the real Murderer? This movie holds the answers.

The film delves into the life in exile of the Marcos family and sheds light on Imee Marcos' exploits in Morocco. It also explores the relationship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, the intersection of politics and Philippine culture, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Ninoy Aquino.

Details

Keywords
  • mother
  • filipino drama
Genres
  • Action
  • Drama
  • History
  • Biography
Release date Feb 28, 2023
Countries of origin Philippines
Language Filipino Tagalog
Filming locations Santa Monica Parish Church, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Production companies Viva Films VinCentiments

Box office

Budget $750000000
Gross worldwide $86369

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 46m
Color Color
Aspect ratio

Synopsis

The movie begins with a voice recording of Senator Imee Marcos about what really happened to her family after her father Ferdinand Marcos was removed from his post as President of the Philippines and forced to exile in Hawaii. Then it flashes back to 1954, when Ferdinand, who was then-Congressman of Ilocos Norte hosted a party for his fraternity Upsilon Sigma Phi. Among his fraternity brothers were Mel Mathay and The Manila Times reporter Ninoy Aquino. In a speech, Ferdinand proposed to Imelda Romualdez, who came from a prominent family in Leyte, whom he only knew for 11 days. However, Ninoy had a huge feeling towards Imelda, but Imelda rejected him. In 1989, Imee who was in Morocco was visited by her cousin Maricar, who told her about what really happened after they were exiled. Then, Imee recalled the assassination of Ninoy Aquino.

In 1983, weeks before Ninoy was assassinated, there was a festive mood in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte for the wedding of Irene Marcos to Greggy Araneta. Then, Imee recalled that her mother would often talk to Ninoy in New York. During the conversation between Ninoy and Imelda, Imelda told Ninoy that he should be grateful to her and Ferdinand for having allowed him to go to the United States to undergo heart bypass surgery. Ninoy would recall the day when Imelda rejected him.

The last time Ninoy and Ferdinand encountered was in 1968, during the golden anniversary of Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. There, Ferdinand lambasts Ninoy because of his exposés regarding the Jabidah Massacre. Then, news about Ninoy's assassination broke. Many panicked because they'll be the ones to blame.

Imee, furiously confronted her father regarding on his statement that the New People's Army killed Ninoy. However, Imee told him that he should expose Ninoy's connection with the communists. Imee also told Maricar that she would not be able to come back to the United States, and that they lost everything because of Corazon Aquino (the Presidential Commission on Good Government sequestered all of Marcos's properties). While wandering around Morocco, she saw her father, and followed him. She remember when they were in Hawaii, she was asked by Ferdinand to leave in order to prevent her from any investigation from the US government.

Imee, received a piece of paper, with a letter from a hospital in Hawaii. Upon calling to the hospital, she learned that her father is dying. Imee asked Imelda to talk to her father. She asked forgiveness for all of the mistakes she had done. Ferdinand told her that he loves her before passing away.

In 2016, Imee, now Governor of Ilocos Norte received a phone call from her younger brother, Bongbong, who is running for Vice President of the Philippines. Bongbong told Imee that his opponent, Congresswoman Leni Robredo cheated on him, then it focuses on the portrait of Noynoy Aquino, Ninoy and Cory Aquino's only son, who was the sitting president that time.

The final scene shows Bongbong Marcos preparing for his inauguration as the 17th President of the Philippines, the prelude for Mabuhay, Aloha, Mabuhay.

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