Ako'y Tao, may Dugo at Laman! (Tagalog: I Am Human, with Blood and Flesh!) is a 1970 drama film directed by Armando Garces. Based on a story by Mars Ravelo and a screenplay by Romy Galang, the film was produced by F.G.O. Film Productions. The film chronicles the struggles of women who have been away from their husbands for a long time.
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| Photo Credit: FGO Film Productions / Philippine Cinema Vault |
PLOT
Luisa (Helen Gamboa), Lorna (Rita Gomez), Nati (Leila Morena) and Agueda (Perla Bautista) are married to the sailors Edgar (Ramil Rodriguez), Jesse (Eddie Garcia), Dencio (Leopoldo Salcedo) and Bianong (Carlos Padilla Jr.), respectively. The men have been away from their wives for five years, except for Dencio who has not visited Nati and their children for 20 years.
In the village where the movie is set, it seems like that majority of the married women have sailor husbands. The four women protagonists appear to represent the emotional struggles that have to do with having an absent partner.
Luisa and Lorna are the best of friends, but they have contrasting personalities. Luisa is steadfast in her faithfulness to Edgar, while Lorna persistently longs for male companionship. In an effort to avoid the act of committing infidelity, Lorna keeps on drowning herself in alcohol.
In moments of despondency, Lorna always goes to Luisa's place for solace. Despite her manifestation of emotional strength, Luisa is doggedly troubled by the overbearing mother-in-law Etang (Etang Discher).
Etang keeps on reminding that Luisa's house is the product of Edgar's hard work. She constantly pressures Luisa to stop seeing Lorna, dismissing the latter as a bad influence. Beteng (Eddie Infante), Etang's henpecked husband, has a trusting attitude toward Luisa.
Nati seems to cope with her situation by volunteering for church work. Nati's husband, Dencio, has been absent for a long time that their son Luis (Roldan Aquino) grew up resenting him.
Luis, her wife Ester and their two children live with Nati. He is friendly with Marciano (Marciano Noble), a neighbor that he considers as a father figure. With Luis' encouragement, Marciano regularly visits Nati's house to help in chores.
Luis makes efforts such that Nati and Marciano develops romantic feelings towards each other. He frequently invites Marciano to help in household chores. These actions are appreciated by Nati. The resolute Luis even asked Marciano to malinger, so there would be a pretext for Nati to visit him.
Nati's visit provided an opportunity for her and Marciano to remember their past romance at the Hinulugang Taktak falls in Antipolo. They did not end up in the altar, but they still love one another. Marciano suggested for her and Nati to go away, but Nati honors her marital bond with Dencio.
Agueda (Perla Bautista), a sari-sari store owner, is vocal about her revulsion towards Bianong. She is outspoken about a disturbing wish - for Bianong's ship to get involved in an accident and capsize.
Berta (Gina Laforteza), a lesbian neighbor, is attracted to Agueda. Mokong (Vic Vargas), the village skirt-chaser, is hitting on the wives of the sailors with varying degrees of success. He tried to rape Agueda, but he failed.
In the aftermath of the incident, Berta offered herself to Agueda as a protector-friend. Agueda then revealed that Bianong raped her during their honeymoon. Instantly transformed into Agueda's confidant and shoulder to cry on, Berta was invited by Agueda to live in the latter's house. After a certain period, Berta was evicted because she tried forced herself on Agueda.
Mokong's futile attempt to sexually assault Agueda opened a chance to satisfy his libido. As he tried to escape the ire of Agueda's neighbors, Mokong chanced upon Lorna who stands in the doorway to her house.
Mokong and Lorna gazed lustfully at one another, and they went on to spend the night together in her bedroom. The morning after Lorna found out that Mokong wants money for his "service," so she promptly tells him to get out of her house.
A worried Luisa went to Lorna's house and discovered Mokong, who immediately departed the bedroom. Etang and Beteng saw Mokong in the doorway. Intrigued by the uproar, Luisa's parents-in-law made an unwelcome entrance.
Lorna told Luisa that she intended to write a letter to Jesse, informing her of the infidelity. Etang then barged into Lorna's bedroom and hurled insults at its owner. In retaliation, Lorna revealed a secret previously unknown to Luisa: Etang was already pregnant with Edgar when she married Beteng. Lorna's disclosure silenced Etang. After admitting that he was well aware of this reality, Beteng requested Luisa not to tell Edgar anything about this secret to his parentage.
One day, Luisa and a female companion were waiting for a bus bound to Manila. A car stopped in front of them. It was driven by Mario (Eddie Gutierrez), Luisa's former boyfriend. Mario offered Luisa and her companion a ride.
Luisa and her companion agreed to accompany Mario to a restaurant and have a snack with. Luisa's companion took leave to go to a restroom, so Mario grabbed the chance to admit to Luisa that he still loves her. When her companion returned to their table, Luisa told her that they have to leave. That night, a confused Luisa played Edgar's recording of the poem "How Do I Love Thee."
Mokong continues to loiter in front of Lorna's house, hoping for a repeat of their dalliance. Luisa then requested Mokong not to disturb Lorna anymore. Mokong interpreted the Luisa's entreaty as a display of attraction, so he harassed her.
Mario happened to be driving his nearby, and a fistfight with Mokong ensued. Impressed with the way Mario defended Luisa, Mokong begged for the scuffle to stop. Luisa welcomed Mario to her house, so she can treat the wound on his face. Mario seized the opportunity to ask Luisa for a meeting at nine o'clock the next day. Etang and Beteng arrived as Mario's car departed, allowing Etang to accuse Luisa of infidelity.
Luisa agreed to meet Mario, but nothing happened between them inside the motel room. As the radio in the room played a recording of "How Do I Love Thee," a feeling of deep guilt hounded Luisa. Mario emphasized that Edgar is a fortunate man because he married a faithful woman. This episode prompted Luisa to seek counsel with the parish priest (Ben Rubio).
One by one, the sailor husbands returned home. Jerry (Jerry Pons), Dencio's friend, told Nati that Dencio will go home after visiting a sibling in Manila. Meanwhile, Edgar's homecoming moment with Luisa was spoiled by Etang's resentful nagging. Articulating a sense of entitlement, Etang was expecting that Edgar would go to the house she shares with Beteng.
After performing the pagmamano (honoring gesture) to his parents, Edgar told them to leave his house. Referring to the letters sent to him, Edgar had reached the conclusion that his mother constantly harasses Luisa so their marriage breaks apart. A separation means that the money Edgar sends to Luisa would be shifted go to Etang. Edgar also disclosed that he has resigned from the Navy, intending to give all his savings and house to Etang. He and Luisa would then leave the house.
A furious Etang then debased Luisa, claiming that Luisa and Lorna cover up each other's transgressions. The now-defiant Beteng then stood up in defense of Luisa. He made it known that he could not stand Etang anymore. Beteng reconsidered the decision to leave Etang on the condition that she will refrain from bothering Edgar and Luisa.
Mokong is outside Agueda's store, hoping to apologize before leaving for Sangley Point. Resigning that Agueda will not forgive him, Mokong hailed a taxicab. Incidentally, Bianong is the passenger. After a few greetings, Mokong took the taxicab and shouldered Bianong's fare.
Agueda initially met Bianong with a cold shoulder, but she forgave him after he acknowledged that his stay with the Navy made him realize that he was wrong about treating women.
As for Dencio, he preferred having a drinking spree with friends over a dinner with family. Nati's efforts to prepare a sumptuous feast went to naught, so Luis went furious.
The morning after, a confrontation between an intoxicated Dencio and an infuriated Luis led to the heartbreaking confession that Dencio has another family in the U.S. Father and son eventually forgave one another. Dencio entrusted Nati to Marciano.
As Jesse got out of a taxicab, Etang approached him and told him that she has something important to say. The scene cuts to an enraged Jesse who stands in the doorway, angry that another person informed him of Lorna's cheating. Jesse claimed she did not receive the revelatory letter from Lorna. Lorna showed him a proof that she sent the letter via registered mail.
Although Lorna expressed the preparedness to leave the house, she shifted the blame to Jesse. After leaving the house and boarding a bus, a despondent Jesse ran after the departing vehicle. The bus stopped and Lorna got out of it. Jesse and Lorna hugged and kissed each other, then walked home (leaving the handbag and suitcase on the road).
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Helen Gamboa ... Luisa
Eddie Gutierrez ... Mario
Perla Bautista ... Agueda
Ramil Rodriguez ... Edgar
Eddie Garcia ... Jess
Leila Morena ... Nati
Leopoldo Salcedo ... Dencio
Carlos Padilla Jr. ... Bianong
Vic Vargas ... Mokong
Rita Gomez ... Lorna
Gina Laforteza ... Delta
Eddie Infante ... Beteng
Manolo Noble ... Marciano
Etang Discher ... Etang
Doming Viray ... Domeng
Maya Fuentes ... Ester
Johnny Baylon ... Jun
Jimmy De La Fuente ... Jimmy
Roldan Aquino ... Luis
Ben Rubio ... Priest
Jerry Pons ... Jerry (uncredited)
Matimtiman Cruz ... Maring (uncredited)
Full Movie: Cinema One / YouTube
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