Little Boy Blue, Tiny Terrestrial (1991)

1991 - Little Boy Blue, Tiny Terrestrial (Cypress Film International Inc)

[Release date 25th January 1991; released on Viva Video in the US as “Tiny Terrestrial: The Filipino ET”]

Director Eddie Reyes Story/Screenplay Joey de Leon, Tony Y. Reyes President/Executive Producer Ding L. Nacpil Cinematography Oscar Querijero Music Mon del Rosario Editor Rene Tala Sound Supervision Albert Rima Sound Effects Ramon Reyes Assistant Director Gerry Reyes Production Manager Renato S. Nacpil Dubbing Directors Vangie Labalan, Evelyn Loreto, Baby Bracamonte, Carmen Serafin Gaffer Rey Trinidad Stills Larry Olleta Legman John “Valoney” Mascarina Makeup Artist Naty Valdez Propsman Mariano Torrente Setman Raymundo Torrente Effectsman Freddie Fajardo Video Cameraman Bayani Francisco Script Writer Tony Pascua Layout Artist Nonong de Andres T.T. Creation Artist Arthur Nicdao

BUKANG LIWAYWAY UNIT 1 Priscila M. Talavera Assistant Cameraman Antonio Trinidad Soundman Rolly Donozo Electrician Arnel Donozo Generatorman Eddie Ilocso Boom Man Romy Bello Crew DJ Manalaysay, Bernan Mendiola, Danny Tendilla, Criseldo Ilocso Unit Driver Boots de la Cruz Space Capsule Creation Kenkoy Torrente Space Capsule Caretakers Danny Torrente, Leonilo Villamayor Wardrobe Caretaker Adel S. Nacpil Caretaker Agrifina de Jesus, Alice de Jesus, Nene Blantucas Utility Men Arnel Nacpil, Jun Gatpayat, Alex Ordonez, Ricky Ordonez Service Drivers Ruben de Jesus, Eddie Razote, Bondat Esguerra

Cast Atong Redillas (Ato), Jay-Are Reyes (Empoy), Jen-Jen Otico (Neneng), Luz Fernandez (Lola Panchang), Lou Veloso (Professor Galileo), Cutie del Mar (Professor Delgado), Joaquin Fajardo (Crocodile Danding), Boy Matias (Little Boy Blue), Nonong de Andres (Nonong), Rene Tupaz (Rene), Jun de Guia (Goon 1), Nemie Gutierez (Goon 2), Botchok Agustin (Goon 3), Danny Labra (Bogart), Torling (Torling), Joey Galvez (Professor Zarate), Mildred Reyes (Mildred), Arlene Raymundo (Miss Raymundo), Esmerelda Testo (Miss Testa), Gin-Gin (Mahal), Tony Pascua (Mang Tonyo), Mayor Conrad Lamano (Teacher), Arnold Sayson (Attendant 1), Ronald Sayson (Attendant 2), Rolly Miranda (Security Guard), Enciong Reyes (Neighbourhood), Joey de Leon (Professor Presto), Rene Requiestas (Stallone), Richie D’Horsie (Kuya Freddie), Noel Ayala (Ungga), Rene Johnson (Gay)

Review by Andrew Leavold

We here at Bamboo Gods like to dig deep. Deeeeeep. So when Little Boy Blue suddenly appeared on the radar out of nowhere, believe me it’s an obscure one: a childish Catholic-laced E.T. ripoff from the Philippines, featuring a large blueberry that’s been molested by a Teletubby. Painful, infuriating, and at times like trying to stop a runaway bus with your teeth, it is nevertheless lovably dumb and, as far as lovably dumb Pinoy parodies go, one of the dumbest.

A squat stopper-shaped spaceship is spotted over Batangas, practically over the heads of three pre-teen cousins living in a simple nearby barrio. After their extended prayers – this is a devout Catholic family, you’ll need to remember - the kids beg their grandmother Panchang to tell stories of aliens – unbeknownst to them, at the same time the strange craft lands in the jungle. Aliens, says Panchang, descend from the heavens to punish the wicked. Just like Jesus, or, come to think of it, like Santa Claus. Back in the jungle the spaceship opens and out bounces a round rubber blue thing covered in squid suckers, and it takes refuge in the kids’ barn. The two young boys, Ato and the twitchy Empoy, are woken by strange sounds and uncover the creature scoffing the family corn. And what a creature it is: a head somewhere between a Gremlin and bloated Yoda atop a furry scrotum and Big Bird feet. And blue: all fluro blue, and emitting sounds like a mid-butchered veal (“Nyip! Nyip! Nyip!”). They argue over what to call it. “Do you remember the film ‘Extra Terrestrial?’” asks Ato. Tiny Terrestrial, they agree, or TT for short. “You’re just jealous,” they yell at their female cousin Neneng, the Drew Barrymore of this bizarre parallel universe, “that we have a TT [“titi” being Tagalog slang for penis] and you don’t.” They also settle on Little Boy Blue, and Neneng bonds with the gentle creature by pressing her finger lightly against TT’s rubber prong. It’s a touching scene in more ways than one, aiming for the emotion of Spielberg’s original but marred somewhat by TT’s high pitched bleating.

Of course you can’t have an ET clone without the meddling adult scientists, and at alien research group PAGNANASA’s headquarters, pretty young scientist Dr Delgado (and by young, I mean seventeen or eighteen) runs TT’s craft through a battery of tests. She believes the ship has emerged from inner space, not outer, and may be a relic from the lost city of Atlantis, thus proving the ranting renegade Dr Galileo’s theories correct. In Little Boy Blue there’s much discussion about Plato, and how the destruction of Atlantis is comparable to the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. Huh? Don’t worry, it makes more sense soon… Dr Delgado’s limp-wristed boss Zarate orders her to head a team to capture the alien and perform further experiments. Her final analysis: TT is “gentle and very easy to love”. In another section of the scientific community the insane Galileo pays a goon squad headed by “Crocodile” Danding to kidnap Little Boy Blue and show the world just how sane he really is. Try to find the creature, however – TT spends much of his Earth time running around the village draped in a sheet or at the nearsighted Grandma Panchang’s house learning how Jesus is “God to all peoples”. Before you can say “Hail Mary” he’s kissing rosary beads and crossing himself, and in the film’s most uncomfortable moment, has a religious epiphany whilst comparing his own suffering to a wooden Jesus on a crucifix. You can imagine when he returns triumphantly to his home planet, like a round blue Conquistador, there are going to be conversions a-plenty.

A lame-duck Sunday School pantomime, or a Spielberg spoof that landed eight years too late? I’m having money each way. For all its inherent absurdity and ecumenical leanings, Little Boy Blue is a feeble-minded effort, a throwaway project clearly written on the hoof by the team who brought you the (ahem) superior Alyas Batman En Robin. I’d say it’s an easy bet that Joey de Leon and Tony Reyes don’t even remember flipping this cheap quickie off; at the time, writer/director Reyes and comedian Joey were the busiest creative unit in Filipino comedy, clocking in at around ten features each per year, and considered the top box office draw of 1989. Not everything they touch turned to gold, however, but they certainly give it the old Quezon City try, and for marquee value Joey phones in a cameo as PAGNANASA’s Professor Presto (he’s been peering at Venus – not the planet but his new secretary, fnyar fnyar). The usual suspects are rounded up and given their regulation two minutes of screen time: toothless and heartbroken Rene Requiestas is a barrio bum named Stallone who sees little blue monsters even before his first sip of Tanduay, and TVJ’s regular sidekick Richie D’Horsie strums a tasteful song about dying of cancer.

The film’s major flaws are its leaden pacing courtesy of director Eddie Reyes (son? Brother? Of Tony), its sledgehammer morality, and discomforting attempts at toilet humour aimed at an older demographic than its intended audience of under-tens. None of this is meant as harsh criticism, of course, and the gaping wounds are an essential part of its charm. When I use words like “unbearable”, I mean it with a father’s love for his hopelessly naïve and sugar-addicted infant. For me, I don’t know who’s more unbearable, and I love them equally and unconditionally – the child actor playing Empoy (another of the ubiquitous Reyes, this time Jay-Are), who delivers every line like he’s sleepwalking and trying to create static electricity by brushing both ears, or TT himself, the nyipping testicle betraying not a single emotion from under its rubber mat. His one discernable word – “Bye!” – comes not a moment too soon, and I for one wish Little Boy Blue so long, bon voyage, and thanks for the screaming.

Ungga!!!!!!!!

Alyas Batman En Robin (1991)

1991 – Alyas Batman En Robin/"Alias Batman And Robin" (Regal Films)

[Release date 6th April 1991, original title “Batman En Robin”]

Director Tony Y. Reyes Story/Screenplay Joey de Leon, Tony Y. Reyes Executive Producer Lily Monteverde Line Producer Tony Fajardo Production Co-ordinator Douglas Quijano Music Mon del Rosario Cinematography Oscar Querijero Editor Eduardo Jarlego Production Manager Eddie Castillo Production Controller Josie Bracamonte Production Designer Melchor Defensor Assistant Director Eddie Reyes Studio Manager/Post-Production In Charge Warlito M. Teodoro Post-Production Cooordinators Ligata Tan, Enrique Santos, Romalo Co Dubbing Coordinator Edna M. Pacardo Sound Effects Roel Capule Sound Supervision Joe Climaco Publicity & Promo Alfie Lorenzo, June T. Rufino Video Editor (Magnatech) Rolando Ortega Dubbing Supervisors Vangie Labalan, Lucy Quinto Publicity/Promo Assistant J.P. Pelgone Art Director Nancy Arcega Continuity Director Gerry Reyes Propsman Tikboy Estrada Setman Lito Torres Makeup Artist Baby Saro Schedule Master Wendell Dacillo Gaffer Rey Trinidad Special Effects Linda Torrente Assistant Editors Rico Salas, Tony Acurin Production Accountant Luz Veras Production Secretaries Theody Vidal, Aurora Elambayo, Angel Torres, Cirillo Santillo, Gina Elba Murro, Lina Mendoza, Emma Vitalicio, Helen Maglinao, Nilda Bibat, Kyna Jimenea, Jocelyn Matibag, Eva Castillo, Mariz Ortega, Margie Villalon Promotion Coordinators Armichel San Pascuaz, Marilou Billones, Sally Ojalo, Raquel Gacho Dubbing Looper Rene Lamis Assistant Sound Editor Ernesto Sagoisag Layout Artist Vic Delotano Sound Technicians Carlito Alagon, Louisito Maziza, Jay Baltera, C-Ger Ramirez, Marvin Flores, Alex Napiza, Anaclito Teope, Jun Galeon, Mido Lontag, Danny Gamba, Victor Elbo, Louie Galang, Marcelino Liwag, Romeri Castanares, Rudy Carnates, Lauro Frany, Raffy Casimsiman, Jebs Endozo, Rod Lontoc, Nestor Loyosa, Henry Bitana Lights Caretakers Boy Anao, Benjie Binavides, Cris Holgado, Vicente Bocino, Beben Casimsiman Catering Nene Fajardo

Cast Joey de Leon (Batman/Bruce), Keempee de Leon (Kevin/Robin), Rene Requiestas (Jocson/Joker), Dawn Zulueta, Vina Morales (Vina), Panchito [Alba] (Tiyo Paenguin), Almira Muhlach, Chinkee Tan, Cathy Mora, Ruben Rustia, Mon Alvir, Bomber Moran, Joaquin Fajardo, Yoyong Martinez, Rommel Valdez, Ernie Forte, Rene Hawkins, Danny Rojo, Bert Cayanan, Rey Solo, Jun de Guia, Ariel Villasanta, Nemy Gutierez, Enciong Reyes

Review by Andrew Leavold

Philippines cinema has had a long and fruitful relationship with its komic industry dating back to the Forties, as well as a tenuous grasp on the concept of international copyright law. Much of Western culture was adopted and adapted, and put through the process of “Pinoyization”: out of the other end of the cultural sausage machine came a product that was faintly recognizable, but very much Filipino in flavour.

At times producers didn't even bother slapping a new label on a familiar product. The Sixties, it seemed, was open season on Americana: not only Batman, but James Bond, the Phantom, Tarzan – the list is endless. Copyright holders required a court case to be mounted in the offenders' country of origin – a costly and often pointless process, particularly if the offending territory is as far away as the Philippines. And so the relentless plundering of Batman iconography continued, including the intriguing titles Batman Fights Dracula (1967) and Batwoman And Robin Meet The Queen Of The Vampires (1972). But enough was enough, and when Batman En Robin premiered in Manila cinemas in 1991, DC Comics sent a cease-and-desist letter (or so the story goes). The film was withdrawn from theatres, only to reappear on VHS months later with “Alyas” before the film's title, but with all of the infringing material – the name Batman, for starters, along with the symbol, the Batmobile, the Bat Cave ad nauseum – thankfully intact. There's parody, and the degree of license bestowed upon its comedic form, and then there's outright theft. I think you'll quickly note which side of the legal fence this unrepentant sack of arse is proud to sit.

Kevin (Keempee de Leon) is a teenage dreamer obsessed with comics and especially Batman and Robin, lives with his older brother (Joey de Leon) in their parents' old house, is a champion swimmer at his local high school, and object of every young girl's affections. His jealous rival is schoolmate Jocson (Rene Requiestas), a would-be Casanova with full moustache and no front teeth and possibly the oldest schoolboy in the Philippines. He hates both Kevin AND Robin with a passion, and favours the darker charms of Batman's rival The Joker instead. As fate would have it, Jocson's Tiyo (“Uncle”) Paeng (Panchito) invites him to join his new criminal organization, a fearsome bunch based on Batman's rivals: Uncle Paeng crowns himself the Paenguin, complete with top hat and umbrella, while Jocson dons the pancake makeup and spikes his hair into antennae to create the most ludicrous, almost Dali-esque caricature of the Joker in Comicdom.

With assistance from a slinky Cat Woman and her gang of masked she-kittens, Tiyo Paenguin and the Joker embark on a crime spree the likes of which “Gotham City” (or is it “Anila”, as a newspaper headline suggests?) has never seen. At the Smith and Wesson Dollar Exchange, the super-baddies point their guns at the cashiers – and then break into song and dance routine, whilst the girls behind the counter wave their upstretched arms in unison. And the musical numbers don't stop there. Kevin talks his older brother (Joey de Leon) into donning the superhero costumes and teaming up as the Caped Crusader and Wonder Boy in order to banish Paenguin and Joker, and by association, Evil from the world of the Right and Just. Over the top of a montage showing the two brothers getting into superhero shape and building their own Batmobile, musical copyright is once again flushed down the toilet to the tune of the Beach Boys' “Surfin' Safari”:

Do you still remember from your comic book?

All the series of the Dynamic Two

The Caped Crusader and the Wonder Boy

Kalaban nila ang mga goons (They fight all the goons)

Holy smoke, Batman and Robin

Oh my God! Batman and Robin

Praise the Lord Batman and Robin

Shoot na shoot Batman and Robin

Let’s do Bruce Wayne now and Dick Grayson now

They are all a part of me…

For all its surface weirdness and eccentricities to a Western audience, it must be remembered that Alyas Batman En Robin was considered a major release in the Philippines: produced by the largest studio at the time, Regal Films, and starring three of the most popular comedians ever. Joey de Leon's Batman is just one of hundreds of his comedic creations from a career dating back to the Seventies as popular TV comic, game show host, DJ, singer, and member of the phenomenally popular team of Tito, Vic and Joey (affectionally known as “TVJ”). Along with brothers Tito and Vic Sotto, TVJ graduated from TV sensations in Seventies sitcom Iskul Bukol to prolific films stars throughout the Eighties. Aside from the odd reunion the trio went their separate ways in '88, and it was Joey who had the earliest hits with goofy parodies like Starzan (1989) and The Long Ranger And Tonton (1989), often with Batman's Tony Reyes in the director's chair. Alyas Batman is even cheeky enough to reference Joey's most beloved screen character:

Batman: No, no, I don't really like Batman.

Kevin: What do you like?

Batman: I'd like to be Starzan!

Kevin: What? Starzan? And turn it into shit?

Joey is still one of the most prolific presences on Philippines TV in four separate shows for GMA-7 – testament to any popular comedian's staying power, and their public's loyalty and adoration. The same can be said for Panchito Alba (“Uncle” Paenguin), the gruff, exasperated sidekick of Dolphy, the Philippines' King of Comedy, in movies and on stage together since the early Fifties, and a top-shelf comic in his own right. Rene Requiestas (Jocson/The Joker) found fame much later in his life as Joey de Leon's comic foil in many of solo outings, with his trademark missing front teeth and malleable moustache. Sadly, both comedians passed away soon after Batman – the 36 year-old Rene of tuberculosis in 1993, the much older Panchito following complications from a stroke in 1995, aged 70.

As with much of the Philippines' populist fare, Batman's faults are many and glaring. It adopts a regulation Bollywood-style “masala” approach: throw in some comedy, some romance, some by-the-book goon action (and let's not forget the musical numbers!), and pad out the film's unnecessarily long running time with protracted and pointless exposition, in the belief the audience's ceaseless fascination with their favourite film personalities will carry the movie just nicely. Even the goon punch-ups – a chance to emulate the “Biff! Bang! Pow!” moments of the Sixties TV show – are flat and uncooked, with not even the hint of a camera tilt on the horizon. It's lazy, perfunctory filmmaking at best, which trades on accumulated goodwill and over-familiarity which in the West would merely breed contempt. Luckily for Alyas Batman En Robin the film is, at times, as funny as it is bizarre, and the humour – never an easy thing to translate between cultures - is in turns silly, self-aware, puerile, grotesquely unfunny, ribald and downright scatological. Take for example Paenguin and Joker's escape from their prison cell, under a toilet and into the sewer below...

Paenguin: In a toilet bowl? That's why you're a shit, smell like shit, because you're always close to shit!

Joker: I thought you wanted to escape?

Paenguin: How? Are you going to put me in and flush me?

Then there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it studio in-joke – Batman points to the Regal Films emblem on Kevin's Robin costume and says, “Wait, what's this? This is a Viva film [Regal's main rival]. Why is it on Regal? “I bought it already,” replies Kevin.

On the romance front there's young Kevin and his puppy-lovestruck classmate Vina (pop star/actress Vina Morales), who halt the film long enough for a duet in English which sounds like Celine Dion dropping her breakfast. Batman himself goes weak in the tights for ace reporter Angelique Legarda (Dawn Zulueta) and at one point even addresses the camera in a Wayne's World moment (come to think of it, Joey does look like an older, doughier Mike Myers) and asks the audience, “What if I do a dream sequence?” Cut to a fantasy poolside sequence in which Batman saves Angelic from a gang of goons but loses his mask, and tries to maintain his secret identity by wearing her bikini on his face. What can I tell you? I'm a sucker for lowbrow silliness. In a word: Comedy...Gold...

Despite the best efforts of Uncle and nephew, the true family values of goodness and justice prevail, and the storyline stresses that Batman is nothing without Robin, and vice versa. The film ends with the Batman clan, a reformed Paenguin and Joker, and a cast reunion on the front lawn outside the Batcave. There's even a few surprise additions: Angelique in a Wonder Woman costume (hubba hubba!), Superman, and even a go-go dancing dwarf Spiderman! Cue a second stolen tune, this time “At The Hop”, while the Joker points out his new-found humility in Taglish (a mangle of Tagalog and key English phrases):

Kung kayo ay isang salbahe (If you’re bad) and you are very naughty

You dirty rat. You’re very dirty rat!

Pwede pa kayo mag bago at hindi pa nahuhuli ang lahat (You can still change while it’s not too late)

Let us sing kumpare (friend) that the world means love and not the rot

Let us good na brod (Let's be a good brother),

Let us not be bad

That’s better

Let’s be good na part (Let’s be part of good), let’s be afraid of God

Ahh... Let's believe in love!

It's equal parts comedy heaven and hell, and I sure know which part Rene Requiestas is in right now, tittering away in whiteface, after witnessing the DC Comics car crash courtesy of Manila traffic, Alyas Batman En Robin.

Todd Stadtman’s review from his Die, Danger, Die, Die, Kill! blog:

As a follow-up to my review of Bedmen Yarasa Adam, I thought I'd delve a little further into the abuses that the Batman copyright has suffered at the hands of filmmakers from non-English speaking lands. Today's stop: the Philippines. The caped crusader has been a fairly steady fixture of that country's Tagalog language cinema over the years, being the subject of everything from the raucous pop culture parodies that Filipino audiences apparently never tire of to more sober, but no less unauthorized, treatments starting with the mid-sixties heyday of the American Batman TV series. Sadly many examples of such films -- including the original, 1965 version of Alyas Batman & Robin, 1967's Batman Fights Dracula, and 1973's Fight Batman Fight! -- appear to be among that large percentage of pre-EDSA Tagalog pop cinema that has since been lost to the combined forces of time and neglect. (One happy exception is Dolphy's irreverent 1966 spoof James Batman, which I reviewed for Teleport City last year.)

Thanks to its more recent vintage, the 1993 musical comedy Alyas Batman en Robin is probably the easiest to track down of all the Pinoy Bat-sploitation films -- not to mention the most widely reviewed. This is so much the case that I've never really made much of an effort to get my hands on it, secure in the knowledge that it would eventually fall into my lap one way or another. Well, that inevitable day has finally rolled around. And having now viewed Alyas Batman en Robin -- armed with the very low expectations that everything I'd heard about it seemed to justify -- I have to admit to being a bit surprised. Not that Alyas Batman en Robin is all that good, mind you. It's not. It's just that it ended up being fairly different from what I'd been lead to anticipate. This is largely due to the fact that, unlike its predecessors, Alyas is not an attempt to bring Batman and Robin's comic book world to the screen, but rather a tale of two doofy inhabitants of the everyday world -- the one in which Batman and Robin only exist in the comics -- who decide to take on the role of those fictional crime fighters in real life.

Alyas stars popular Filipino comedian and television presenter Joey de Leon, here continuing a string of successful pop culture spoofs that included Sheman: Mistress of the Universe and the Starzan films, both of which were helmed by Alyas director Tony Y. Reyes. This time around, De Leon costars with his own son, actor and singer Keempee de Leon, playing -- I think -- the role of De Leon Junior's elder sibling. (Keempee's character refers to De Leon Senior as "Kuya", a Tagalog term that, while literally translating as "big brother", can also refer to an elder male relative from the extended family.) Kempee portrays Kevin, a bookish college student and closet comic enthusiast, who -- when a gang of run-of-the-mill crooks assume the guises of The Joker, The Penguin and Catwoman to commit a series of bank robberies -- convinces his Kuya Joey to join him in becoming a real world dynamic duo. The two commit to this task the best efforts that they're resources will allow, constructing a makeshift Batcave in Joey's garage and customizing a less-than-supercharged approximation of the Batmobile using one of their own cars. This aspect of Alyas' story represents a rare instance of a Filipino film's low production values being a source of intentional humor, as Joey-cum-Batman and Kevin-cum-Robin's low-rent creations are meant to look every bit as cheesy as they appear.

While Joey and Kevin's fumblings in their attempts to personify Batman and Robin provide for a lot of Alyas Batman en Robin's comedy -- the exaggerated stiffness that Joey De Leon affects whenever he's in his Batsuit, for instance, is actually quite funny -- it's important to note that, for the most part, they're heroic exploits are successful, and result in their masked alter-egos being celebrated by the grateful populace of their city. In this sense, Alyas is far less the cut-rate knock-off of the original Batman that you might expect, and is instead a full-fledged appropriation and culturally-informed repurposing of the character; In other words, not the whitebread Batman of the comics, but a Batman born specifically of the Philippines, with a distinct Pinoy identity. This kind of cheeky hijacking of Western pop totems is one of the things I love most about Tagalog pop cinema. While Turkish films, for example, were equally profligate in their blatant borrowing of characters from Western films and comics -- and did end up doing some culturally-motivated retooling of those characters -- they seemed to be doing so for mainly mercenary purposes, while Filipino film's borrowing of such characters often seemed to have a far more transformative -- and even subversive -- intent. One can't really find a better example of this than Filipino film and comic book heroine Darna, a rural reinterpretation of Wonder Woman who acts as a savior to the poor residents of her small village.

While providing us with a fair amount of the biff-bang-pow action that one would expect from a Batman movie, Alyas Batman en Robin also goes about the business of being a romantic comedy. Young Kevin finds, much to his delight, that the object of his heretofore unrequited love, Vina (Vina Morales), has become besotted with Robin, but is foiled in his attempts to reveal his identity to her by the arrival on the scene of a flock of would-be suitors in Robin costumes. Meanwhile, Joey falls for Angelique (Dawn Zulueta), the genre-requisite "plucky girl reporter" hell-bent on getting the scoop on Batman's true identity. Eventually his romantic frustrations lead to him having a "dark night" of the soul of his own, with the result that Robin is left to fend for himself against the gang of costumed criminals. Eventually the pair rallies in time for a triumphant third act confrontation with the forces of evil, clearing the way for a chirpy, all singing, all dancing finale.

A staple of Joey de Leon's comedy act was his song parodies, which involved him singing his own putatively comical words to the tunes of popular oldies. With the exception of one, very eighties-sounding power ballad sung by Keempee de Leon and Vina Morales, these are the type of songs that comprise Alyas' several musical numbers. A training montage early in the film that features Kevin and Joey getting fit for their superheroic duties is accompanied by a tune lifted from the Beach Boys' "Surfin' Safari", to which off-screen vocalists sing:

"Holy smokes, Batman and Robin

Oh my God, Batman and Robin

Praise the Lord, Batman and Robin

Shoot, man, shoot, Batman and Robin

Let's do Bruce Wayne now

And Dick Grayson now

They are a part of me!"

The Joker (Filipino comedian and frequent De Leon sidekick Rene Requiestas in his final film role) and the Penguin (beloved comic actor Panchito) are incapable of pulling off a robbery without a bit of song and dance, and their spirit is so infectious that the besieged bank tellers and customers can't help but join in and act as their chorus line. Finally, everything comes to a silly karaoke-esque head with a closing number in which the principles -- heroes and villains alike -- are joined by dancers costumed as various superheroes (midget Spider-man!) to caper about and sing to the tune of "At The Hop":

"Let's be good, not bad

Let us not be bad

Let's be afraid of God

Let's believe in love!"

In contrast to the more anarchic, seemingly Mad Magazine-inspired style of the earlier James Batman, Alyas Batman en Robin is a gentler breed of Bat-comedy altogether, redolent of goofy sweetness and bearing an earnest up-with-people message at its core. We've seen this kind of aspirational comic fantasy before, with its riffing on everyday folks' use of popular fantasy heroes as repositories for their better selves. (Takashi Miike's Zebraman comes immediately to mind.) However, Alyas' intellectual-property-law-flaunting use of an actual, very recognizable piece of "real world" pop iconography disarmingly strips away a layer of artifice that those other films have to employ out of legal necessity, making possible an identification with the schleppy protagonists that is that much more poignant and immediate. It also doesn't hurt that the lead performers -- by which I refer to the DeLeons, both junior and senior, and Dawn Zulueta -- are all thoroughly likeable (and in Zuleuta's case, knee-tremblingly gorgeous in the bargain).

Again, this is not to say that Alyas Batman en Robin is a particularly good film. To be honest, it's startlingly amateurish on many levels and as hokey as all get out. Still, I think that, if you're willing to give it a chance, you'll find that it has quite a bit more to offer than what you might have read about it elsewhere on the internets would lead you to believe.

Phil Hall’s review from the Film Threat website:

The Turkish film industry is celebrated for its unique habit of taking Hollywood classics and remaking them into surreal, no-budget ripoffs ("The Turkish Wizard of Oz," "The Turkish Star Wars"). While these films inspired audiences around the world to laugh themselves silly, they seem to have also inspired a group of filmmakers in the Philippines to display a happy disregard for copyright laws and good sense in making their own no-budget ripoff. While the 1993 "Alias Batman and Robin" may not match the Turkish output in terms of sheer lunacy, it nonetheless hypnotizes the unsuspecting audience by mercilessly stomping over Bob Kane's beloved creations in an outlandish so-bad-it's-good production.

This time around, the Caped Crusaders are actually brothers who live in Manila (which is occasionally and confusingly referred to as Gotham City). The older brother has no immediate source of income, although he lives in a mansion decorated with some of the clumsiest artwork this side of a kindergarten finger-painting class. The younger brother is the star of the local high school swim team, and his shirtless presence creates such a riot among the young girls that they break into a swimming meet and chase him around the pool in a screaming frenzy. Much to their chagrin, their beloved Manila/Gotham is being vandalized by three extraordinary villains: the Joker (who sports a heavy handlebar mustache in the midst of his whiteface make-up), the Penguin (who wears the top hat and morning suit while sporting a baby umbrella and a four-foot-long cigarette holder) and Catwoman (who wears a sequined red mask, a red cape and a blue bodysuit). These criminals travel with a fairly large number of associate miscreants: men in pinstriped suits who carry Uzis and women in evening gowns who provide support in the musical numbers.

Yes, musical numbers. It seems Joker, Penguin and Catwoman can't resist breaking into song and dance while stealing bags of cash from the local banks. Indeed, they are so inspiring that the bank tellers find themselves waving their arms and wiggling their bodies in time to the criminal music. But all good songs have to come to an end, and eventually Batman and Robin swing into action with their fists ready. Unfortunately, no one in the Philippines seems to know how to throw a decent punch and the Caped Crusaders and their male foes actually fight like a bunch of girls. The real girls don't even bother fighting: at the first sign of trouble, Catwoman's distaff gang runs away while the feline foe tries to kick Batman in the teeth but winds up subdued when Batman bites her on the neck.

"Alias Batman and Robin" also gives Batman a love interest in the shapely body of Angelique, a reporter who bears more than a passing resemblance to Margot Kidder's incarnation as Lois Lane in the Superman films. Batman actually brings her back to his Batcave and serves her his own special brand of Batcoffee. Later in the film, Batman dreams of saving Angelique from a gang of thugs who invade her swimming pool, but Batman loses his mask in the commotion and winds up wearing Angelique's bikini top across his face to keep himself disguised.

While this is going on, Joker and Penguin keep finding their way back into the crime scene. This is curious, since during the course of the film they are actually arrested three times. At one point, they escape from jail by dismantling the toilet in their prison cell and sliding down the pipes into the sewers! This dastardly pair even tries to pull a heist dressed as Batman and Robin, but the real Dynamic Duo show up and soon everyone is slapping each other silly. Eventually the film concludes with the entire cast standing in a park lot singing and dancing "Let's Be Good, Not Bad" to the melody of the old doo-wop song "At the Hop." Angelique the reporter dresses herself as Wonder Woman for this number, for no very clear reason. In the midst of this madness, a dwarf in a Spiderman costume, a sumo wrestler, and a man dressed like Peter Pan (none of whom had anything to do with the film) abruptly appear and shimmy back and forth.

In many ways, "Alias Batman and Robin" is a must-see campfest. Everything about the film is hopelessly wrong, from the shabby Halloween costumes worn by the eponymous heroes to the painfully embarrassing fight sequences where jabs fly a good 10 inches in front of faces while the soundtrack is clogged with clunky sound effects simulating connecting punches. Most of the film was clearly shot in private residences, schools and offices, giving the film an on-the-cheap home movie look while unintentionally forcing a lethal dose of reality into the world of the costumed crimefighters and their comic-mad enemies. Unlike the 1960s TV series or the Tim Burton films, which had specialized art decoration and set design to play up the comic book effect, "Alias Batman and Robin" puts its characters in the real world and thus exposes the inanity of the concept in having two men in capes and masks doing the job that departments packed with professional law enforcement officers are incapable of handling.

But truth be told, "Alias Batman and Robin" is hardly a non-stop joy. The film takes a particularly long time to get moving and often it lurches to strange stops for the most idiotic reasons (Robin and his high school sweetie sing a pop song love duet, Batman inexplicably vanishes and Robin has to fight a carload of villains on his own). Nor does it help that the entire cast is challenged in the charisma department; it is hard to recall another film where so many uninteresting people find themselves together in a single production.

Yet despite these problems, "Alias Batman and Robin" should be sought out by fans of the Caped Crusaders and those who take a perverse joy in experiencing the very best of the very worst of global cinema. Holy masochistic pleasure, Batman!

Review from the Webomatica website:

Best described as “Filipino Bat Man and Robin” this terrible-on-the-verge-of-hilarious flick is an unauthorized Batman spoof with the familiar caped comic-book crusaders played by local Filipino comedians – none that I recognized, naturally, since I know nothing about Filipino cinema. Batman and Robin fight the Joker and the Penguin, and the antics and costumes are all lifted from the sixties television show.

I enjoyed watching the first half hour, trying make heads or tails of the mostly Filipino dialog (this DVD had no subtitles) that occasionally lapses to English for key movie phrases like “my hero!” or “I love you!”. The film also occasionally lapses into a musical – one feel-good number features the Joker and the Penguin robbing a bank joined by fifty armed heavies. Most of the songs are covers of American rock tunes translated into Philipino except for a few English words, so the Beach Boy’s Surfin’ Safari is changed into Batman and Robin.

The actor who played the Joker (Rene Requiestas) was pretty freaking hilarious, cackling like a cockatoo, sporting an appropriately cockamamie hairstyle.

In watching Alyas Batman en Robin, I realized the leotard is an extremely unforgiving outfit – the average joe looks decidedly non-super. But what’s funny is how behavior transforms once the super-suit is donned. This Batman acts quite heroic, employing a unique double-fisted alternating punch-to-the-stomach technique that serves to eliminate 90% of the heavies that attack him. No wonder he never employed his utility belt.

Anyhow, there really isn’t much else to say about this film (not even the midget Spider-Man or the modified black Chevy Batmobile). Here’s a picture gallery if you have even a passing interest in this flick. It’s truly one of those toxic entertainments, that could be really awesome in certain situations and in particular company, but if you’re feeling slightly off, I feel you’d not get five minutes in before saying “this sucks.”

Tito, Vic and Joey filmography 1979-1988

Images courtesy of Simon Santos at Video 48

1979 – Swing It… Baby! (Lea Productions)

[release date 8th March 1979]

Director Al Quinn Story/Screenplay Oscar Miranda Cinematography Jose Batac Jr

Cast Romeo Vasquez, Vilma Santos, Amy Austria, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Mike Monserrat, Walter Navarro, Nena Perez Rubio, Sandy Garcia, Coleen Eugenio, Leon Davao, Lory Yulo

1979 – Rock, Baby! Rock! (Lea Productions)

[release date 30th August 1979]

Director/Screenplay Oscar Miranda Cinematography Jose Batac Jr

Cast Vilma Santos, Junior, Leah Navarro, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Rolly Quizon, Lorli Villanueva, Geleen Eugenio, Val Sotto, Myrna Velasco, Joey Gutierrez, Rosanna de Guzman, Richie Reyes, Maripaz Salvador, Frederick, VST & Company, Licita Soriano, J. Antonio Carrion, The Pacifica Dancers

1979 – Mang Kepweng (GP Films)

[release date 14th September 1979]

Director F.H. Constantino Based on the komik by Al Magat

Cast Chiquito, Liza Lorena, Al Tantay, Lilibeth Ranillo, Myrna Velasco (The Bulilit Fairy), Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon (The Tres D’Wendes), Tintoy, Moody Diaz, Palito, Yony Carrion, Robert Talby, Jarro Joaguin, Robert Miller, Danny Riel

1980 – Mr One-Two-Three (GP Films)

[release date 26th September 1980]

Directors F.H. Constantino, Mike Relon Makiling Based on the Pinoy Komiks serial by L.P. Calixto

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Chanda Romero, Bambi Arambulo, Chiqui Hollmann, Lorli Villanueva, Soxy Topacio, Moody Diaz, Sabatini Fernandez

1980 – Iskul Bukol (Freshmen) (GP Films)

[release date 25th December 1980]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Ruby Anna, Carmi Martin, Maluh de la Fuente, Richie, Bing Angeles, Mely Tagasa, Mary Massab, Redford White, Dely Atay-Atayan, Rod Navarro, Bert de Leon, VST & Company, Louella Albanez?, Lito Anzures, Marissa Delgado

1981 – Tartan (Emperor Films)

[release date 20th January 1981]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Based on the komik strip by Bert Sarile Cinematography D. Bustos Sound Rolly Ruta Editor S. Ramos

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Deborah Sun, Ann Villegas, Louella, Max Alvarado, Joonee Gamboa, Dencio Padilla, Lucita Soriano, Rudy Malapaz, Balot, Richie D’Horsie, Redford White, Jimmy Santos, Mike Hanopol

1981 – Age Doesn’t Matter (Regal Films)

[release date 6th March 1981]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Ben Lobo Sound Rolly Ruta Editor Ruben Natividad

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, Dina Bonnevie, Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano, Val Sotto, William Martinez, Gabby Concepcion

1981- Palpak Connection (Emperor Films)

[release date 3rd April 1981]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling

Cast Tito Sotto (Ali Mol Mol), Vic Sotto (Jaworsky), Joey de Leon (Katch), Baby Delgado, Lito Anzures, Arturo “Bomber” Moran, Debraliz, Richie D’Horsie, Vincent Daffalong, Dencio Padilla

1981 - Bilibid Gays (Good Harvest Productions)

[release date 31st July 1981]

Director Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao Story/Screenplay Roger Fuentabella Producer Lita Santos Cinematography Ben Lobo Production Manager Tony Fajardo Sound Engineer Ramon Reyes Music Tito Sotto Editor Ruben Natividad

Cast Tito Sotto (Helen), Vic Sotto (Dina), Joey de Leon (Eileen), Al Tantay, Mark Gil, Alfie Anido, Gabby Concepcion, “Jimi”/Jimmy Melendez, William Martinez, Choy Acuna, Jojo Borbon, Angel Confiado, Mel Del Leon, Joaquin Fajardo, Tessie Mendoza, Palito, Rolly Papasin, Jun Santos, SOS Daredevils, Choy Sotto, Zeny Zabala, Ernie Zarate

1981 – Mr One-Two-Three Part 2 (GP Films)

[release date 31st July 1981]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Based on the Pinoy Komiks serial by L.P. Calixto Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Ben Lobo Sound Demet Velasquez Editor Ruben Natividad

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Yehlen Catral, Liz Alindogan, Anna Marie Gutierrez

1981 – D’Gradweyts (The Rising Sun Inc)

[release date 9th October 1981]

Director Jose “Pepe” Wenceslao

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Carmi Martin, Marilou Bendigo, Eileen Macapagal, Subas Herrero, Val Sotto, Ernie Zarate, Mely Tagasa, Lourdes Nuque, Peter Corpuz, Danny Ortega, Roger Miranda

1981 – Mag-Toning Muna Tayo (Good Harvest Productions)

[release date 11th November 1981]

Director Mike Relon Makiling

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Margie Braza, Jennie Ramirez, Opalyn Forster, Debraliz, Freddie Yance, Soxy Topacio, Lito Anzures, Joaquin Fajardo, Lily Miraflor, Nanding Fernandez, Norma Anzures

1981 – Iskul Bukol (GP Films)

[sequel to 1980’s “Iskul Bukol”, release date 11th December 1981]

Director Jose “Pepe” Wenceslao Screenplay R. Fuentebella Music Tito Sotto Editor Ruben Natividad Cinematography Luis Chiong Sr

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Julie Ann Fortich, Maria Teresa Carlson

1982 – Si Ako At Ang Tres Moskiteros (HPS Productions/VPS Films International)

[release date 14th February 1982]

Director Bobby Santiago Story/Screenplay Poch Bautista, Butch Bautista Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Amado de Guzman Editor R. Tala

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Maria Teresa Carlson, Nova Villa, Romy Diaz, Rodolfo “Boy” Garcia, Don Pepot, Balot, Robert Rivera, Amay Bisaya, Richie D’Horsie, Freddie Poe

1982 – Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko (D’Wonder Films)

[release date 25th December 1982]

Director J. Erastheo Navoa Story L.P. Calixto Screenplay Tony Procua? Music Tito Sotto Editor Eduardo Jarlego Cinematography Hermo U. Santos

Cast Nino Muhlach, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Susan Bautista, Panchito, Manny Luna, Dely Atay-Atayan, Ike Lozada, German Moreno, Rodolfo “Boy” Garcia, Bayani Casimiro, Ben David, Don Pepot, Mely Tagasa, Palito, Rose Andrada, Chuchi, Ben Johnson, Lily Miraflor, Ngo-Ngo, Georgie Quizon, Florence Carvajal, Ulysses Tzan, Fortunato Co, Philip Cesar, Giovanni Calvo, Tonette Macho, Richie d’Horsie, Wea Twins

1984 – Goodah!!! (Seiko Films)

[release date 18th March 1984]

Director/Screenplay Mike Relon Makiling Music Snafu Rigor Cinematography Edmund Cupcupin

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, P.J. Abellana, Leni Santos, Panchito, Palito, Richie D’Horsie

1984 – Give Me Five! (Seiko Films)

[release date 8th June 1984]

Director/Screenplay Mike Relon Makiling Cinematography Luis Chiong

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Pops Fernandez (Pinay), Jaypee de Guzman, Ike Lozada (Facundo), Frieda Fonda, Palito, Louella, Richie D’Horsie, Albert Eugenio, Lani Mercado, German Moreno, Spanky Rigor

1984 – Naku… Ha! (Cineventures Inc/Seiko Films)

[release date 20th August 1984]

Director “Junn”/Danilo Cabreira Screenplay Enrique de Jesus Executive Producer Angie Pineda Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Rudy Dino

Cast Tito Sotto (Aristotle Plato), Vic Sotto (Toribio), Joey de Leon (Billy Jean), Joey Albert (Edith), Debraliz (Champaca), Trina Laurel (Lisa), Tatlong Itlog, Dencio Padilla, Palito

1985 - Ride On Baby (Regal Films)

[release date 11th January 1985]

Director/Screenplay Luciano B. Carlos Story Medy Tarnate Executive Producer Lily Y. Monteverde Cinematography Totoy Jacinto [IMDB lists Gener Buenaseda] Music Boy Alcaide Editor Efren Jarlego Sound R. Baldovino Art Direction Edel Templonuevo

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon (John), Maricel Soriano, Dina Bonnevie, Dely Atay-Atayan, Snooky Serna, Babalu, Spanky Rigor, Palito, Manilyn Reynes, Harlene Bautista, Bella Flores (Punkista)

1985 – Working Boys (Viva Films)

[release date 6th February 1985]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Producer Ramon Salvador Supervising Producer Tony Gloria Executive Producer Vic del Rosario Jr Cinematography Ben Lobo Editor Ike Jarlego Jr Music Tito Sotto Sound Ramon Reyes Production Design Polly Garcia

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Herbert Bautista, Chichay, Eula Valdes, Yayo Aguila, Cheska Inigo, Gina Pareno, Rio Locsin, Carmi Martin

1985 - Mama Said Papa Said I Love You (Regal Films)

[release date 1st May 1985]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Helen Gamboa, Dina Bonnevie, Eileen Macapagal (Ligaya), Romina [Sotto], Diorella [Sotto], Giancarlo [Sotto], Ciara [Sotto], Danica [Sotto], Keempee [de Leon], "Chinnee"/Chenee de Leon, Caridad Sanchez, Dely Atay-Atayan, Lucita Soriano, Palito, Balut, Larry Silva, Ritchie D’Horsey, Flora Gasser

1985 - Ma'am May We Go Out? (Viva Films)

[release date 13th June 1985]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Producer Ramon Salvador Supervising Producer Tony Gloria Executive Producer Vic del Rosario Jr Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Ben Lobo Editor Ike Jarlego Jr Production Design Arthur Sta. Maria

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Nino Muhlach, “J.C.”/Juan Carlos Bonnin, Herbert Bautista, Ramon Christopher, Carmi Martin, Jobelle Salvador, Roy Alvarez, Joonee Gamboa, Esther Chavez, Rodolfo “Boy” Garcia, Dabiana, Tony Fajardo (Chauffeur in White), Cheska Iñigo

1985 – I Have Three Hands (Regal Films)

[release date 11th September 1985]

Director/Story Luciano B. Carlos Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes Music Homer Flores Editor Efren Jarlego Cinematography Gener Buenaseda Sound Rudy Baldovino Art Director Dennnis Cid

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Maricel Soriano, Sherryl Cruz, Manilyn Reynes, Chuckie Dreyfuss, Kristina Paner, Dely Atay-Atayan, Subas Herrero, Debraliz, Amado Pineda

1985 – Doctor, Doctor, We Are Sick (Viva Films)

[release date 14th November 1985]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Executive Producer Vic del Rosario Jr Supervising Producer Tony Gloria Producer Ramon Salvador Cinematography Ben Lobo Editor Ike Jarlego Jr Music Tito Sotto Production Design Arthur Santamaria

Cast Vilma Santos, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Rowell Santiago, Jobelle Salvador, Francis Magalona, Paquito Diaz, Maribeth Bichara

1986 – Super Wan-Tu-Tri (Regal Films)

[release date 4th January 1986]

Director Luciano B. Carlos Story/Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes, Luciano B. Carlos Music Homer Flores Cinematography Gener Buenaseda Editor Efren Jarlego Sound Rudy Baldovino Art Director Dennis Cid

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Janice de Belen, Aga Muhlach, Ian Kristoffer de Leon, Lani Mercado

1986 - Send In The Clowns (Cinema City Pictures/Viva Films)

[release date 3rd March 1986]

Director/Writer Mike Relon Makiling Producer/Story Idea Tony Gloria Executive Producer Vic del Rosario Jr Associate Producer Elma Medua Music Tito Sotto Cinematography Ben Lobo Editor Ike Jarlego Jr Production Design Manny Morfe Costume Design Steve de Leon, Robert Navarro Production Manager Tony Fajardo Assistant Director Johnny Ramirez Sound Supervisor Vic Macamay

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Rose Ann Gonzales, Marianne de la Riva, Subas Herrero, “Jimmy”/Jaime Fabregas, Val Sotto, Richard Merck, Jimmy Santos, Bing Angeles, Evelyn Vargas, Eddie Mediavillo, Zorayda Sanchez, Romy Romulo, Ben Morro, Anduk Baldo, Rita Fathi, Mary Walter

1986 - Horsey-Horsey Tigidig-Tigidig (Regal Films)

[release date 1st May 1986]

Director Luciano B. Carlos Story/Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes Executive Producer Lily Monteverde Line Producer Charo Santos-Concio Associate Producer Malou N. Santos Music Homer Flores, Tito Sotto Cinematography Gener Buenaseda Editor Efren Jarlego Production Design Dennis Cid Production Manager Tony Fajardo Associate Director Socrates B. Jose Sound Supervisor Rudy Baldovino Post Production in Charge Warlito M. Teodoro Choreographer Geleen Eugenio Studio Manager: Regal Films Warlito M. Teodoro

Cast Tito Sotto (Johnny), Vic Sotto (Eddie), Joey de Leon (Gringo), Maricel Soriano (Belinda), Gary Valenciano (Tintoy), Manilyn Reynes, Chuckie Dreyfus, Amado Cortez, Lucita Soriano, Deborah Sun, Romy Diaz (Damian), Bomber Moran (Bruno), Bayani Casimiro, Ramil Rodriguez, Tony Gosalvez, Palito, “Señora”/Nena Perez Rubio, Florence Carvajal, Lulu Arrieta, Manjo del Mundo, Perry de Guzman, Tessa Malaya, Edna Singian

1987 – Forward March (Regal Films)

[release date 29th January 1987]

Director Luciano B. Carlos Story Luciano B. Carlos, Jose Javier Reyes Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes Executive Producer Lily Y. Monteverde Line Producer Charo Santos Music Tito Sotto, Homer Flores Cinematography Gener Buenaseda Editor Efren Jarlego

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Rey “P.J.” Abellana, Leni Santos, Fred Montilla, Subas Herrero, Tessie Tomas, Jaime Fabregas, Michael Gonzales, Nikki Martel, Jaime Castillo, Snooky Serna, Richard Gomez

1987 - Shoot That Ball (Regal Films)

[release date 10th June 1987]

Director J. Erastheo Navoa Story/Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes Line Producer Charo Santos-Concio Executive Producer Lily Monteverde Cinematography Pedro Manding Jr Music Jaime Fabregas Editor Efren Jarlego Jr

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Rez Cortez, Val Sotto, Jimmy Fabregas, Beverly Salviejo, Evelyn Vargas, Zorayda Sanchez, Michael Hackett, Metring David, Lou Veloso, Bing Angeles, Vicky Suba, Dedes Whitaker, Elsie Oliva, Boy ALano, Rudy Meyer, Robert Talabis, Jimmy Reyes, Rene Hawkins

1987 – Ready!.. Aim!.. Fire!.. (Cineventures Inc)

[release date 3rd September 1987]

Director Mike Relon Makiling Screenplay Roger Fuentebella Music Tito Sotto Cinematography P. Manding

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon (Huggler), Joey Albert (J.A.), Panchito Alba, Ike Lozada, Val Sotto, Mon Alvir, Zorayda Sanchez, German Moreno, Charlie Davao, Bella Flores, Balut, Bomber Moran, Vangie Labalan, Joaquin Fajardo, Larry Silva, Mary Ann Santos, Big Boy Gomez

1987 – The Best Of Iskul Bukol: The Movie (GP Films)

[compilation of the “Iskul Bukol” films from 1980/81, release date unknown]

Directors/Writers Mike Relon Makiling, Jose “Pepe” Wenceslao

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon

1988 – Fly Me To The Moon (Regal Films)

[release date 4th January 1988]

Director Mike Relon Makiling Story Tony Fajardo, Mike Relon Makiling Screenplay Roger Fuentabella Producer Antonio T. Fajardo Executive Producer Lily Y. Monteverde Cinematography Ding Austria, Rody A. Lacap Editor Efren Jarlego Production Design Manny Morfe Art Direction Randy Gamier Production Manager Eddie Castillo Post-Production Supervisor Enrique Santos Associate Director Gregg de Guzman Sound Supervisor Joe Climaco Special Effects Danny Rojo Musical Director Boy Alcaide

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Richard Gomez, Lotlot de Leon, Jaypee de Guzman, Rose Ann Gonzales, Cynthia Patag, Val Sotto, Joseph de Cordova, Tia Pusit, Flora Gasser, Val Castelo Jr, Nanding Fernandez, Manjo del Mundo (Lapu-Lapu), Naty Mallari, George Soeth, Wilson Go, Joaquin Fajardo (The Big Boss), Francis Delmeguez, Evelyn Vargas

1988 – Wake Up Little Susie (Regal Films)

[release date 21st April 1988]

Director Luciano B. Carlos Story/Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes Executive Producer Lily Y. Monteverde Line Producer Malou N. Santos Music Vehnee Saturno Cinematography Gener Buenaseda Editor Efren Jarlego Production Design Robert Lee Art Direction Jun Sancha Production Manager Tiny Romero Regal Studio Manager Warlito Teodoro Assistant Director Judy Teodoro Sound Supervisor Joe Climaco Post-Production In Charge Warlito Teodoro Publicity Devi Jimenea, Alfie Lorenzo Project Co-Ordinator Douglas Quijano

Cast Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, LotLot de Leon, Kristina Paner, Manilyn Reynes, Ramon Christopher, Cris Villanueva, Janno Gibbs, Cynthia Patag, Janice Jurado, Mely Tagasa, Lou Veloso, Fred Montilla, Rez Cortez, Jordan Castillo, Vangie Labalan, Aiza Seguerra, Cristina Paner, Minnie Aguilar, Khryss Adalia, Bert Mansueto, Jimmy Tongco, Cesar Esteban, Perry de Guzman, Ryan Redillas, Lucy Quinto, Josie Galvez, Eva Ramos, Ike Lozada, Big Boy Gomez, Chito Alcid, Rusty Santos, Joaquin Fajardo