Ambassador Jose Romero, Jr., younger brother of the late National Artist for Film, Eddie Romero, director of the 1987 Philippine-China co-production film entitled Hari sa Hari, Lahi sa Lahi (King and Emperor) said the film is timely as this year marks the 600th anniversary of state visit of the Sultan of Sulu to Beijing in China.
Romero and GNN network Journeys TV show host Herman Tiu Laurel of Phil-BRICS Institute plan to show the film this year as a commemoration of Sulu Sultan Paduka Pahala’s state visit to Ming Dynasty Emperor Yong Le in China, a proof of the two countries’ ancient frienship.
Eddie Romero’s Chinese co-directors were Hsiao Lang and Chou Lili. Manolo Abaya, then starting in the industry was the cinematographer while Su Shuyang was the co-writer. The movie was shown in the Hawaii Film Festival.
Also a budding composer and song writer, Ryan Cayabyab wrote and scored the film along with Wang Liping.
The movie featured performances by Vic Vargas as the Sultan of Sulu, Chinese actor Gang Wang (Wang Hsing Gang) as the Emperor of China, and a Rosemarie Sonora as the sultan’s wife.
Laurelco-hosts a new daily radio show, The Unfinished Revolution, from 5 to 7 a.m. on DZRB AM 738. He featured Romero’s film on June 18 on GNN (channel 8 on Destiny Cable and channel 213 on Sky). Laurel was co-scriptwriter with Ricky Lee’s first film script project in 1973 for then actor Joseph Estrada’s 1973 anti-drugs movie entitled Dragnet.
Romero and Laurel are hoping they could exhibit the film widely to enlighten more Filipinos on the centuries-old relationship between China and the Philippines.
The two were guests at Wilson Lee Flores’ “Pandesal Forum” at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City recently along with Ambassador Alberto Encomienda (former head of Maritime & Ocean Affairs) and IDSI think tank founder George Siy.
