Bagong Buwan
Encyclopedia
Bagong Buwan, also known as New Moon, is a 2001 Filipino
film directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya starring Filipino
actors Cesar Montano
, Amy Austria, Jericho Rosales
, Caridad Sanchez, Carlo Aquino
, Noni Buencamino, Jiro Manio
, Ronnie Lazaro, Jhong Hilario
, and Jodi Santamaria
.
This movie is about the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao
, Philippines
and its effect on civilians. It is a look at the war in Mindanao between the Philippine government (during President Joseph Estrada
's short stint) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), primarily through the eyes of the Bangsamoro (or Moros as they are more popularly known).
people. While many of his kind are bent on fighting, thinking that Mindanao is only for the Muslims, Ahmad prefers to live a simple and peaceful life. He works as a doctor in Manila while his wife, Fatima (Amy Austria), and his only son, Ibrahim, stay in Mindanao with his mother, Farida (Caridad Sanchez). Ahmad is shocked and devastated when Fatima breaks the confounding news. Ibrahim was killed by a stray bullet when vigilantes indiscriminately fire at their village. Ahmad goes back to where he came from --- Mindanao.
Ibrahim’s death did not cause Ahmad to stop striving to live a peaceful life, much to the consternation of his brother, Musa (Noni Buencamino). His brother takes an exactly opposite stand. Musa believes in waging a war against all the Kaafir (unbelievers) who may impede the Moro’s goal of independence. He even trains his young son, Rashid (Carlo Aquino) to a Muslim warrior’s
life.
Ahmad wishes to bring his family to Manila in order to escape the conflict in Mindanao but convinces no one, even his mother. Farida is apparently used to a life of constantly running away from crossfire. His wife, Fatima, wishes to stay where the memory of his son remains. Ahmad is now challenged to continue his life’s vocation as a healer in his war-torn homeland.
One day, the MILF
headed by Musa, together with Rashid, bombed a police station near a public marketplace. Francis (Jiro Manio), a young Catholic boy, is separated from his parents during the confusion and follows Rashid. Rashid grudgingly takes Francis with him and introduces him to his co-villagers. Francis goes wherever Ahmad and his people go. Francis and Rashid, at their very young age, are the personification of the rival Christian and Muslim who find themselves prejudiced against each other because of ignorance.
Ahmad’s group flees the war by evacuating their village and looking from one place or another for a safe haven in the hope of avoiding crossfire and finding a safe place to live in. Ahmad, in his new role as the leader, discovers the pain and suffering that innocent people have gone, and still, go through just because they find themselves in the middle of a war… a war which they did not instigate.
Ahmad learns more about his own people. He learns about how the government takes them for granted. He learns about how the Moro, as a people, strive to fight for their rights and liberty. Ahmad also learns that in his veins still runs the blood of a Muslim and offers the ultimate sacrifice.
In the end, one realizes that nobody really wins in a war. A just peace is better than a just war.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
film directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya starring Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
actors Cesar Montano
César Montano
Cesar Manhilot, known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies...
, Amy Austria, Jericho Rosales
Jericho Rosales
Jericho Vibar Rosales, is a Filipino cinema and television actor, singer, and songwriter....
, Caridad Sanchez, Carlo Aquino
Carlo Aquino
Carlo Aquino is a Filipino actor and a lead singer with the band Kollide. Formerly an exclusive contract star of ABS-CBN Star Magic, he now appears in some shows on the GMA Network. He played the role of Oscar in the remake series Sinasamba Kita which aired on GMA...
, Noni Buencamino, Jiro Manio
Jiro Manio
Jeriko Alumbres Manio is a Filipino actor at ABS-CBN. He started acting at a very young age and became the youngest multi-awarded actor of his generation....
, Ronnie Lazaro, Jhong Hilario
Jhong Hilario
Virgilio Hilario, Jr. , better known by his stage name Jhong Hilario, is a Filipino actor and dancer. He is part of the dance group Streetboys in the Philippines....
, and Jodi Santamaria
Jodi Santamaria
Jodi Chrissie Garcia Santamaria-Lacson, sometimes credited as Jodi Sta. Maria, Jodie Santamaria or Jodi Santa Maria , is a Filipina actress. She is a member of ABS-CBN's circle of homegrown talents named Star Magic. She is a Star Magic Batch 7 alumna.-Personal life:Sta. Maria-Lacson is the eldest...
.
This movie is about the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and its effect on civilians. It is a look at the war in Mindanao between the Philippine government (during President Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
's short stint) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
(MILF), primarily through the eyes of the Bangsamoro (or Moros as they are more popularly known).
Plot
Ahmad (Cesar Montano) belongs to the BangsamoroBangsamoro
The term Bangsamoro refers to a people who are natives or original inhabitants of the island of Mindanao and its adjacent islands in the Philippines, including Palawan and the Sulu archipelago at the time of conquest or colonization...
people. While many of his kind are bent on fighting, thinking that Mindanao is only for the Muslims, Ahmad prefers to live a simple and peaceful life. He works as a doctor in Manila while his wife, Fatima (Amy Austria), and his only son, Ibrahim, stay in Mindanao with his mother, Farida (Caridad Sanchez). Ahmad is shocked and devastated when Fatima breaks the confounding news. Ibrahim was killed by a stray bullet when vigilantes indiscriminately fire at their village. Ahmad goes back to where he came from --- Mindanao.
Ibrahim’s death did not cause Ahmad to stop striving to live a peaceful life, much to the consternation of his brother, Musa (Noni Buencamino). His brother takes an exactly opposite stand. Musa believes in waging a war against all the Kaafir (unbelievers) who may impede the Moro’s goal of independence. He even trains his young son, Rashid (Carlo Aquino) to a Muslim warrior’s
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
life.
Ahmad wishes to bring his family to Manila in order to escape the conflict in Mindanao but convinces no one, even his mother. Farida is apparently used to a life of constantly running away from crossfire. His wife, Fatima, wishes to stay where the memory of his son remains. Ahmad is now challenged to continue his life’s vocation as a healer in his war-torn homeland.
One day, the MILF
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
headed by Musa, together with Rashid, bombed a police station near a public marketplace. Francis (Jiro Manio), a young Catholic boy, is separated from his parents during the confusion and follows Rashid. Rashid grudgingly takes Francis with him and introduces him to his co-villagers. Francis goes wherever Ahmad and his people go. Francis and Rashid, at their very young age, are the personification of the rival Christian and Muslim who find themselves prejudiced against each other because of ignorance.
Ahmad’s group flees the war by evacuating their village and looking from one place or another for a safe haven in the hope of avoiding crossfire and finding a safe place to live in. Ahmad, in his new role as the leader, discovers the pain and suffering that innocent people have gone, and still, go through just because they find themselves in the middle of a war… a war which they did not instigate.
Ahmad learns more about his own people. He learns about how the government takes them for granted. He learns about how the Moro, as a people, strive to fight for their rights and liberty. Ahmad also learns that in his veins still runs the blood of a Muslim and offers the ultimate sacrifice.
In the end, one realizes that nobody really wins in a war. A just peace is better than a just war.
Cast
- Cesar MontanoCésar MontanoCesar Manhilot, known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies...
- Ahmad Ibn Ismael - Amy Austria - Fatima
- Jericho RosalesJericho RosalesJericho Vibar Rosales, is a Filipino cinema and television actor, singer, and songwriter....
- Lt. Ricarte - Caridad Sanchez - Bae Farida
- Carlo AquinoCarlo AquinoCarlo Aquino is a Filipino actor and a lead singer with the band Kollide. Formerly an exclusive contract star of ABS-CBN Star Magic, he now appears in some shows on the GMA Network. He played the role of Oscar in the remake series Sinasamba Kita which aired on GMA...
- Rashid - Noni Buencamino - Musa
- Jiro ManioJiro ManioJeriko Alumbres Manio is a Filipino actor at ABS-CBN. He started acting at a very young age and became the youngest multi-awarded actor of his generation....
- Francis delos Santos - Ronnie Lazaro - Datu Ali
- Jhong Hilario - Jason
- Jodi Santa Maria-Lacson - Dolor
Awards
- Gawad Urian AwardsGawad Urian AwardsThe Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle....
2003- Cesar MontanoCésar MontanoCesar Manhilot, known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies...
- Best Actor (nominated)
- Cesar Montano
- Metro Manila Film FestivalMetro Manila Film Festivalupright|thumb|320px|Metro Manila Film Festival Official LogoThe Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines is the annual film festival held in Manila...
, 2001- 2nd Best Picture
- Gatpuno AJ Villegas Cultural Awards