Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story is an official entry of the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Produced by Scenema Concept International (released through Viva Films) and under the direction of Tikoy Aguiluz, the film stars Jeorge "E.R." Estregan in the title role, with Carla Abellana and Phillip Salvador. "Manila Kingpin" is based on the story of the notorious gang leader in Tondo named Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga, whose true-to-life accounts had been portrayed in several movie versions since 1961 (starring Joseph Estrada). It is also the the first Filipino major film produced in black-and-white in the 21st century as well as the returning action genre movie. "Manila Kingpin" is the replacing entry to the original projects "Mr. Wong" (starring Robin Padilla) and "Hototay" (Regal Films, starring Nora Aunor), after the latter two had backed out from the event.

   

eorge "E.R." Estregan as Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga Phillip Salvador as Domeng Salonga (Asiong's brother) Carla Abellana as Fidela Salonga (Asiong's wife) John Regala as Totoy Golem

 Baron Geisler as Erning "Toothpick" Reyes Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story seeks to retell the tale of the legendary Tondo gunman that rose to challenge the most powerful criminals in Manila. In a certain light, it succeeds, depicting a series of big events in Salongas tale with beautiful imagery. But in a more conventional light, the film doesnt have enough connective tissue to make them anything more than a series of random vignettes. But it is an interesting failure, one that might still be worth watching in spite of the flaws. If nothing else, the ambition is keenly felt, producing singular sequences that rise far above the typical MMFF movie.
Small time gangster Asiong Salonga (George Estregan Jr.) has just taken over the territory of Tondo, throwing out the various outside gangs that run their protection rackets in the slum. This attracts the attention of Manilas crime lords, who then set out to find a way to deal with the upstart criminal. Salongas Robin Hood ways make him a hero among the people of Tondo, but he has to contend with both criminals and lawmen, all while dealing with dissention in his ranks and the growing concern of his wife Fidela (Carla Abellana) over his lifestyle. Movies historically have trouble dealing with real life. Movies require structure, and reality rarely conforms to three acts. Manila Kingpin tries to compress around five years of its subject's life into a two hour movie, and it doesnt quite work. Theres very little flow to the storytelling, the film obscuring the passage of time and messing up all sense of continuity. The film jumps from event to event, moving forward with no sense of the bigger picture. Its just missing the connective tissue that keeps stories comprehensible. Fidela, for example, is sometimes pregnant in the picture. But we do not see any births, leaving a logical gap in her appearances. Theres also an early scene where Salonga is shot in the leg, but the effects of the injury are completely forgotten in the next sequence. Given that, what the film does show audiences can be pretty compelling. Though it doesnt all hold together, the sequences in isolation can be impressive. Theres a kalesa chase thats ridiculously enjoyable. Theres a prison death match thats pretty well choreographed. And theres a climactic gunfight set to Tears for Fears Mad World thats far more entertaining than it has any right to be. In these sequences, the film embraces a sense of absurdity and subversion that hints at something deeper going on behind the scenes. The stunning black and white cinematography gives these sequences their spark. The images alone might be worth the price of admission. The performances are fitting so long as the film operates within its self-serious macho confines. George Estregan Jr. is quite good at acting tough, his onscreen kanto-boy swagger providing strange

levels to the character, whether intended or not. He doesnt do as well when hes called on to emote, the governor offering up only a facsimile of tragedy. His supporting cast is pretty strong, with the villains particularly standing out. John Regala and Ronnie Lazaro bring truckloads of presence to their scenes. A lot of great young talent makes up Salongas gang, but theyre generally underused. Manila Kingpin is heavily flawed, but its at least flawed in an interesting way. The film had a lot of story to tell, and it ends up breezing through many of the details of its subjects life. It only has the bullet points, and in the end, the film does little to expand on the legend of Asiong Salonga. It still has him at a distance: a strange, mostly invincible anti-hero that could not be governed by any sort of rules, whether societal or narrative. In the end, while the story doesnt quite work out, the myth of Asiong Salonga still looms large. That might be a success in itself

Watching the Manila Kingpin: Asiong Salonga story is the one thing that I enjoyed while on holiday. The film is really different. As a student of communications, however, let me give my reactions to the film. The life of an ordinary King starts with his birth, and his claim to the royal bloodline. Then it goes on his training for the Kingship. And it proceeds to his struggle against pretenders to the throne, annihilating any opposition to claim ultimate monarch-ship. Then,his coronation. Asiong Salonga was considered as the "King of Tondo". All of the stages of being a King was portrayed in the film. His claim to the royal bloodline was his leadership skills in managing a young yet closely knit gangster group that takes care of the community rather than suck them dry. He tried to annihilate some of his enemies, but failed to really conquer the entire Tondo because several survived him and even went on the extent of betraying him and killing him eventually. The first half failed to tell us when did the people vested him his kingship. Was it during his jail fight with Ventura when he was proclaimed king? Or was it in the early aspects of the film when he shot and nearly killed Waway? Yes, his own people proclaimed him as King, but,honestly, he was still a pretender to the throne because most of Tondo were still being ruled by Totoy Golem s group who was larger and more lethal than his. If the first half lacks context, the second half redeemed our frustrations. It is quite evident that two strands of thought was applied to the film, and the producer tried his darn best to give us a tightly spunned story. In my estimation, he failed. He should have allowed just one strand of thought to prevail in the movie. Likewise, let me say to all Filipino filmmakers the essence of a good film is in the storytelling. All others are just supports used by the filmmaker in trying to make his story understood by his viewers.
Jorge Estregan, Jr. (E.R Ejercito) played the role of Asiong for the second time (his first role as Asiong was in 1990 remake of Asiong, Asiong Salonga: Hari ng Tondo). Though the Laguna governor doesn't look like a 27-year-old gangster leader, he sure looks like a tough-ass leader of a notorious gang in his cool composure even at a gunpoint, his fierce look when planning a revenge,

and his charisma to women. Cast includes Carla Abellana as Fidela, Asiong's wife, Philip Salvador, Baron Geisler, Dennis Padilla, Yul Servo, Amay Bisaya, Ketchup Eusebio, Ping Medina, Gerard Ejercito, and E.R Ejercito's son Jerico Ejercito as youngAsiong. Though Abellana possesses the beauty perfect for a wife of Manila Kingpin, she is not more than a beautiful actress in the film. The gang members, despite the age gap, look like authentic Tondo boys. Geisler's acting leveled with the other veteran actors like John Regala and Ronnie Lazaro. The film was shot in black and white, giving the audience a feeling of nostalgia and making the violent scenes where there is so much blood less gory. The soundtrack Hari ng Tondo sung by Gloc 9 featuring Denise is catchy. Gloc 9's rap summarizes the whole story of the film while the catchy chorus sung by his proteg (in the reality singing contest Proteg of GMA 7) captured the struggles ofAsiong Salonga as the Robin Hood of Tondo. Pupil's vocalist Ely Buendia sungLa Paloma. Buendia also appeared in the scene where Asiong and his wife is dancing sweetly in a party. Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story is the perfect movie to watch if you need to take a break from fantasy or horror themed movie entries that are always present in MMFF. It's been a long time since action movies are shown in theaters. You might want to give this movie a chance to see that finally, there is a decent action film in MMFF 2011.
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Rachelle Margaret Ramirez V-5R

Sa isat kalahating oras kong panonood at pagsulyap sa ilang babasahing naglalarawan sa pakikipagsapalara ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal, lubos kong naunawaan kung bakit siya hinirang na pambansang bayani. Tunay ngang kahanga-kahanga si Rizal. Una na dito ang hindi mapagkakailang katalinuhang taglay niya. Ngunit higit pa sa mga parangal na natanggap niya bilang estudyante, kung papaano niya nakamit ang mga ito ang lubos kong hinangaaan. Si Rizal ay isang matatag at masipag na estudyante. Sa kabila ng lahat ng pang-iinsultong tinaggap niya sa mga kaklaseng espanyol at hindi patas na pagtrato ng mga Dominicans, nagpatuloy pa rin siya sa kanyang pagaaral. Bunga na rin ng mga papuring naririnig ko tungkol sa kanya mula pagkabata inakala kong malapit siya sa pagiging santo, halos perpektong tao , mahinhin, payapa, at walang bisyo kaya ikinagulat ko nag pakikipag-inuman niya sa mga kaibigan at pakikipagsuntukan sa mga kaklase. Ngunit sabi nga sa aking nabasa, hindi naman siya basagulero, hindi lang umaatras sa hamon. Ikalawa, ang lakas ng loob at paninindigan. Hindi madaling mamuhay ng mag-isa at magpalipatlipat ng tirahan sa ibat- ibang bansa. Lalo na ang kalabanin ang mga taong nagpapaikot ng iyong bayang sinilangan ng walang ibang sandata kundi panulat. Napakalalim niyang mag-isip, ginagamit niya talaga ang bawat cells ng kanyang utak, napaka mapag masid,at sinusuri ang bawat pangyayari. May pagkakataong mamuhay tulad ng pangkaraniwang tao ngunit pinili pa ring bumalik ng Pilipinas kahit alam na maaring huling sulyap na sa inang bayan .Ikatlo, ang hindi matatawarang pagmamahal sa bayan. Handang isakripisyo ang lahat; ang pamilya, kaligayahan, at higit sa lahat buhay. Tiniis niyang mawalay sa pamilya at pinakamamahal niyang nobya. Nang malaman ko ang kanyang buhay pag-ibig ay napahanga talaga ako. Kadalasan ang mga taoy nawawala sa kanilang sarili, lahat hahamakin para sa kanilang sinisinta ngunit si Rizal, masakit man sa kanyay nagawang niyang iwan ang kanyang nobya. Nangangahulugan lamang ito na higit sa anu pa man, bayan ang una sa kanya. Ang buhay ni Rizal ay tulad ng isang pelikulang pinipilihan, pasok sa masa .at sa huli iniiyakan. Kumpleto sa rekado at kapupulutan ng aral at higit sa lahat nakakainspire. Itoy tulad ng ibang pelikula na hihilingin mo na sanay hindi ganun ang naging katapusan, sanay lumaya na lang ang mga Pilipino at namuhay din ng masaya ang bida. Ganun pa man, ang mga peikulang gaya nito ay tumatatak talaga sa ating isipan