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Bea Alonzo, Maricel Laxa cast in US film '1521: The Battle of Mactan'

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Shiela Reyes, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Bea Alonzo, Maricel Laxa and the cast of " The="" Battle="" of="" Handout="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/entertainment/08/05/20220805-1521-the-battle-of-mactan.jpg"/><figcaption>Bea Alonzo, Maricel Laxa and the cast of &#x27;1521: The Battle of Mactan.&#x27; <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Fil-American filmmakers are mounting a feature that seeks to showcase a love story against the backdrop of the epic clash between pre-colonial Filipinos and the Spanish forces of Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan, Cebu more than 500 years ago.</p><p>The movie &quot;1521: The Battle of Mactan&quot; is a collaboration between US-based Filipino producer Francis B. Lara Ho and Fil-American actor-director Michael Copon.</p><p>It will feature Copon himself as Lapu-Lapu, American actor Danny Trejo as Magellan, and Filipino actresses Bea Alonzo and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan as sisters Diwata and Ahmani, respectively. Puerto Rican actor Hector David Jr. portrays Diwata’s love interest Enrique.</p><p>The film opens with Diwata, who dreams of being transported to pre-colonial Philippines while exploring the ruins of an ancient Spanish fort. In her dream, she becomes a native princess who falls in love with Magellan&#x27;s handsome translator Enrique — but their romance get caught up in the conflict.</p><p>The events become more complicated after Diwata awakens, and soon finds the line between her dream and reality blurring.</p><p>The film will also be told largely from the perspective of Lapu-Lapu, regarded as the first Filipino hero for leading the forces that defeated the Spaniards.</p><p>In a virtual press conference held Thursday, Copon, whose Hollywood credits include &quot;One Tree Hill&quot; and :&quot;Power Rangers Time Force,&quot; shared how they chose Alonzo and Laxa-Pangilinan to be part of the movie.</p><p>As for Laxa-Pangilinan, he said: “You know, they say you marry a reflection of yourself too. Meeting Anthony, I was so amazed by his presence. When I found out his wife is an actress, whoa, who is she? I want to meet her. Because his presence was kind of like the idea of what I was thinking for the older sister of Diwata.”</p><p>“So I had seen her tapes, I YouTubed it, it was just spot on. I didn’t need another thought of it. She’s got this elegant beauty about her, this elegant poise about her that is Ahmani,” he added.</p><p>On the other hand, Copon said Alonzo was an easy choice because of her credits and talent.</p><p>“When I found out who she is and what she’s accomplished thus far, my thing that I am excited about is that I did direct Bea’s first international, global Hollywood movie… I knew for a fact that Bea, with her success and her talent, she’s the right one for Diwata,” he said.</p><p>While the movie highlights Filipino history and culture, Lara Ho emphasized that this is not a historical movie.</p><p>“The good thing though is our production designers, our writers and our director read a lot, did a lot of research. We did consult a lot of historical experts. However, we want to make this very clear, we are not making a historical movie. We are not talking &#x27;Bonifacio&#x27; here, we are not talking &#x27;Goyo.&#x27; This is really a love story, kinda like Pocahontas and Romeo and Juliet,” he said.</p><p>Copon echoed this and said that &quot;1521&quot; would not focus entirely on the Battle of Mactan, citing the romance between Diwata and Enrique, which he described as the &quot;heart and soul&quot; of the story.</p><p>According to its producers, the film would be shot entirely in Palawan, picked for its scenic beaches and mountains.</p><p>“We chose Palawan because there are so many parts of Palawan that still look like it’s in the 1500s. It’s untapped” Copon said.</p><p>&quot;1521&quot; is scheduled for release on June 12, 2023, coinciding with the 125th celebration of Philippine Independence Day.</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nhUJbS03Hys?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

'1521: The Battle of Mactan' is a collaboration between US-based Filipino producer Francis B. Lara Ho and Fil-American actor-director Michael Copon.

Bea Alonzo, Maricel Laxa cast in US film '1521: The Battle of Mactan'

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Bea Alonzo, Maricel Laxa cast in US film '1521: The Battle of Mactan'

Shiela Reyes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 05, 2022 12:19 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 05, 2022 04:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Bea Alonzo

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan

Michael Copon

Francis B. Lara Ho

Danny Trejo

Hector David Jr

Battle of Mactan

1521

Lapu-Lapu

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