‘Panday’ returns to Ilocos Norte

PANDAY RETURNS TO ILOCOS. The "Flavio" statue, based on the character of Fernando Poe, Jr. in the "Panday" movies, was unveiled by FPJ's wife Susan Roces and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, together with sculptors Ralph David and Leeroy New who made the "Flavio" and "Lizardo" statues, respectively.  (Alaric Yanos)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—In what seemed like a curse turned out as a blessing for the people of Ilocos Norte when filmmakers discovered the vast sand dunes of Paoay as ideal location for shooting.

Facing the coast of the West Philippine Sea, wind blows sand and piles up as natural barriers and dunes are formed.

For Ilocos Norte residents, the Paoay sand dunes, which forms part of the Ilocos Norte sand dunes proclaimed by the National Committee on Geological Sciences (NCGS) as national geological monuments on November 26, 1993 remain unproductive and barren until its discovery as a favorite location for film shooting as well as a playground for extreme sport activities such as off-road driving and sand boarding including an open venue for outdoor music and arts show.

Following the unveiling of the “Elsa” sculpture played by Philippine superstar Nora Aunor from the internationally-acclaimed and iconic Filipino film “Himala”, another royalty in Philippine pop culture rose in Paoay, this time, it’s the return of “Flavio” of the Panday movie series, as a tribute to national artist and action king Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, popularly known as the Fernando Poe Jr., “King of Philippine Movies” and “Panday” who died of a stroke on December 14, 2004.

The reunion of Elsa and Panday, two of the greatest box office hits in Philippine Cinema gave rise to Ilocos Norte’s film tourism industry with its unique and all-natural cinematic landscape like the Ilocos Norte sand dunes that stretches from Currimao town all the way to Laoag City and nearby town of Pasuquin.

Attended by veteran actress and Mr. Poe’s widow, Susan Roces, the unveiling of the Panday sculpture on the eve of May 1 was immortalized by visual artist, Raphael David. Originally, the Ilocos Norte government through Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos planned to invite Senator Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares to unveil the sculpture but the senator has prior commitment and was out of the country when the invitation was sent to her.

Located on top of a pile of dunes with a foot trail leading to an expanding sculpture park purely made up of discarded materials, the fiberglass Panday sculpture  depicts a scene where the iconic character is hurling his magical sword against a supernatural enemy which was created by contemporary artist, Leeroy New.

“Personally as a kid, I used to watch superhero cartoons and Panday was sort of a live action take on the superhero genre,” said Mr. David.

Mr. David said he feels lucky and honored for putting in life to the Panday piece, now in place at the same site where the iconic film was shot. Like FPJ, Mr. David also hails from Pangasinan province.

The 1980 film, “Ang Panday” [The Blacksmith], is originally a fictional Philippine comics character created by writer Carlo J. Caparas and artist Steve Gan and was serialized in the 1970s.

The tremendous positive reception of the first film spawned three others, “Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday” in 1981, “Ang Panday Ikatlong Yugto” in 1982 and “Ang Panday Ika-apat na Aklat” in 1984. Mr. Poe directed “Ang Panday” under his pseudonym Ronwaldo Reyes.

“Ang Panday” was re-mastered and digitally restored by FPJ Productions and Film Archive, Inc. Besides being a prolific and decorated actor, director and producer, Mr. Poe was a dedicated film archivist who secured the prints of most of his movies.

In the film, Flavio is an ordinary human who is known for his superb swordsmanship. After a meteorite crashes to the ground, he forges its ore into a dagger, which magically turns into a sword whenever he raises it.

“We are blessed with so much that is natural, not man-made. Ang gaganda ng mga tanawin sa paligid-ligid lalo na dito sa Ilocos Norte at salamat at binigyan halaga nila. The natives of the province preserved and saw to it that it is respected and well taken care of. Kaya kung sino man ang dadalaw dito—artist man, estudiyante, bata, matanda o in search of ano ba, paano ba ang mga ninuno namin noon, paano ba namumuhay at ano ang kanilang ikinabubuhay nila. Marami silang matutuklasan dito,” Ms. Roces said citing one of her favorite is the healthy Ilokano vegetables such as malunggay and saluyot among other home-grown vegetables, which is timely today as health practitioners highly recommend it.

As she expressed gratitude to the province of Ilocos Norte and for the artists who immortalized “Panday”, Ms. Roces said her visit to Paoay is a “sentimental journey” that brings back memories of FPJ who has always been inspired to shoot movies in the province not only because of its natural beauty but more importantly because of its people.

“Inspired na inspired siya [FPJ] na bumalik dito dahil masyadong cooperative ang mga tao dito, very sincere ang kanilang pakikitungo at para silang kaisa sa amin kapag nagsho-shooting dito,” she added.  

Ilocos Norte as film destination

Following the shooting of Panday and the discovery of Ilocos Norte as an ideal film location, Ms. Marcos said numerous local and international films came to Ilocos Norte which prompted the provincial government to create the Media Incentives Desk, under the Communication and Media Office, which assist and provide incentives to film enthusiasts and movie producers who are interested to shoot to Ilocos Norte, free of charge.

As a result, a number of movie producers are now lining up to have Ilocos Norte as their next film location as the two-year old desk works on the needed arrangements by a network such as location management assistance including food and catering services in exchange of free advertising and hiring of local talents.

To promote film tourism in the province, the Marcos administration has been organizing festivals and crowd-drawing gimmicks such as the week-long conduct of the La Virgen Milagrosa festival highlighting the Himala sa Buhangin festival, which coincided with the unveiling ceremony of the Panday sculpture that forms part of the cinematic trail of Ilocos Norte.

“For us, film is not just a hobby, it’s a livelihood needed by many Ilocanos. Ang daming nabubuhay dahil sa film at tayo a nagkaroon na ng mga crew, ang mga karpintero sa Burgos ngayon ay nagiging set designer na at siempre ang mga beki, lahat ay fully employed ang kabaklaan,” Ms. Marcos said.

Over the years, Ilocos Norte gained a steady increase in on-location shooting which expands to Ilocos Norte market for the arts and media production industry.

Among the recently filmed movies in Ilocos Norte include an international Thai actor Mario Maurer for the film ‘Suddenly It’s Magic’ and the Metro Manila Film Festival Entry of actors Vic Sotto and Bong Revilla for the movie ‘Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Si Ako’.

“Suddenly It’s Magic” was a film produced by Star Cinema, where 70 percent of the movie was shot in Ilocos Norte, particularly in the towns of Paoay, Burgos and Pagudpud.

According to Ms. Marcos, the publicity and the exposure we can get from these movies result in savings for the advertisement for purposes of tourism.

On the other hand, locals could also get an extra income since the production look for “extras” to play in the project.

Other movies that were shot in Ilocos Norte were the classic Filipino film “Himala” and segments of Hollywood films such as those of “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Mad Max” shot on location in the La Paz Sand Dunes of Laoag City.

Local TV shows such as ABS-CBN’s “Goin’ Bulilit”, “Kabuhayang Swak na Swak” and GMA Network’s “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” have also featured Ilocos Norte in one or more of their episodes.

Frequent sites for productions include the century-old Paoay Church, Paoay Sand Dunes, Bangui Windmills, Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud, the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Cape Bojeador in Burgos, and Sitio Remedios in Currimao.