EdJop, the man, the hero
Far Eastern University’s Academic Affairs Office, through its General Education Department, recently hosted “EdJop: Campus Conversations—a youth-led forum with the filmmakers” ahead of the film’s release. EdJop would have been a day older than 78.
“This is the biggest crowd yet,” commented actor Elijah Canlas, who appears as EdJop in the film. By then the cast had had conversations with students in four other universities in Cebu, Zamboanga, Quezon City, and Manila. They were scheduled to speak with young people in two more.
Joining Elijah was Kakie Pangilinan, who plays the young Gloria “Joy” Maria Asuncion. EdJop and Joy married in 1974. They have three children: Liberato “Noy” Labrador Celnan; Scarlet “Joyette” Victoria; and Teresa “Risa“ Lorena. The siblings have a half-brother, Gabriel “Gabby,” from their mother’s marriage to Romulo “Rolly” Kintanar.
“He was not my hero,” said Joyette, who also sat on the panel with director Katski Flores. EdJop was killed when Joyette was only three. He was not around to be her father.
Filmmaking
Joyette and Katski were grade school classmates. Their being seatmates evolved into a deep friendship through the years. They decided to produce the biographical drama about EdJop—though not soon enough—with Katski also co-writing the screenplay with Jade Castro (director of Endo, Zombadings 1: Patayin sa shokot si Remington, and LSS). Katski’s filmography includes Ang Pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz, Still Life, and Runaway.
EdJop is rated R-16 by the Movie and Television Review and Classified Board (MTRCB). “The film’s portrayal of the Martial Law period and its historical figures is presented within the context of biographical dramatization of events of significant public and historical interest,” said the MTRCB.
“We are so happy with the rating,” said Kakie. Indeed, the cast and crew were relieved that, while R-16 means a lesser number of audience, it is fit for public screening in cinemas nationwide.
In 2024 “the documentary film Alipato at Muog received an initial ‘X’ rating [not for public exhibition from the MTRCB] due to its political and sensitive content. Said entertainment.inquirer.net, “Following an appeal and a second review [the MTRCB] lifted the X rating and reclassified the film as R-16, allowing it to be screened publicly.”
Message
“I read about his lifework more than once and practically forced myself on [the director and crew] to act the part of ‘Old EdJop’,” said Elijah. He was only considered to play ‘Young EdJop.’ But after more screen tests the director said: “The role is yours!”
Kakie recalled that, during her 16th birthday, her father Sen.
Francis “Kiko” Pancratius Pangilinan gifted her with a copy of U.G.: An Underground Tale by Benjamin Pimentel. She also admitted to a “nerdy attachment to the source material.”
For Joyette, filmmaking was part of the process to know her father.
Students of Readings in Philippine History, during the “Conversations,” spoke about pervasive corruption in government. They expressed their concerns about the society.
“Neutrality is not a flex,” said Katski, expounding on why EdJop’s activism is relevant to this day. “[It has] never been easier to speak up, to do good” despite the threat of red tagging at present.
Homecoming
Cedrick Juan, an FEU alumnus, plays EdJop’s eldest son, Noy. Kenn Mandrilla, another Tamaraw, is the film’s 1st AD. Jel Tarun, a former member of the FEU Theater Guild, portrays Teddy, EdJop’s bodyguard.
“I am in awe of EdJop as he went face-to-face with [Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.],” said Jel, who was obviously delighted by sitting with the producers and cast in front of his fellow Tamaraws. Like Elijah and Kakie, he read the book.
Jodi Sta. Maria, in preparation for the film, learned to swim in open water—staying true to the character of Joyette who, said lifestyle.inquirer.net, “conquered the grueling 42-kilometer FWD ‘78° North’ Marathon held near the North Pole [last Apr. 16, 2019. She completed the race in 4:10:59 to claim a first-place finish in the women’s category and third overall].”
EdJop was born Edgar Gil Jopson on Sept. 1, 1948. He was honored by the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani (Monument to Heroes) in 1992.
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