Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng Mga Aswang (transl. Commander Garlic: Enemy of the Aswang), or simply Kumander Bawang, is a 1988 Filipino fantasy comedy film directed by Ramje and starring Herbert Bautista as the titular character, alongside Mat Ranillo III, Matet, Mia Prats, Timmy Cruz, Jigo Garcia, Jay Jay Salvador, Vina Morales, Joko Diaz, and Ronald Jayme. Produced by Viva Films, the film was released in theaters on September 29, 1988. Critic Lav Diaz gave Kumander Bawang a negative review, criticizing the film's stale and cliché comedy.
| Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng Mga Aswang | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ramje |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by | Jojo Lapuz |
| Produced by | Ramon Salvador |
| Starring | Herbert Bautista |
| Cinematography | Rody Lacap |
| Edited by | Augusto Salvador |
| Music by | Mon del Rosario |
Production company | |
Release date | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Bautista later reprised the role of Kumander Bawang in the 2006 fantaserye Super Inggo.[3] He has a son named Boy Bawang in Super Inggo.[4]
Plot
editTikboy is a moro-moro performer who wanders into the woods to take a dump during a performance. After being waylaid by numerous creatures, he meets a hermit who tells him of his destiny as the latest incarnation of Kumander Bawang, a superhero who fights aswangs led by Conde Regalado, who has risen after decades of slumber to wreak havoc on the living. To do so, he retrieves the necklace that activates Kumander Bawang's powers from a half-aswang girl, then proceeds to kill Regalado and the aswangs by hurling explosive garlic at them, while Tikboy's grandfather, Lolo Ambo, incites the townspeople to burn down the Regalado mansion.
Cast
edit- Herbert Bautista as Tikboy[5] / Kumander Bawang
- Mat Ranillo III as Conde Regalado
- Matet as Luningning
- Mia Prats as Liwayway
- Timmy Cruz as Carmen
- Jigo Garcia as Odie
- Jay Jay Salvador as Ernesto
- Vina Morales as Vinia
- Joko Diaz as Kiko
- Ronald Jayme as Nestor
- Melissa Perez Rubio
- Berting Labra as Lolo Ambo[5]
- Vangie Labalan as Ek-Ek
- Lito Anzurez
- Bebong Osorio
- Dick Israel
- Balot
- Jenny Francisco
- Paulo Delgado
- Byron Lozano
Music
editThe music of Kumander Bawang and the music of Buy One, Take One were released together by Viva Records in one album titled Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng Aswang/Buy One, Take One: Viva Films Original Movie Soundtrack.[6]
Critical response
editLav Diaz, writing for the Manila Standard, gave a negative review of the film for its cliché and stale comedy, noting that it is due to it being geared towards children. He commended, however, the engaging plotline involving Berting Labra's grandfather character struggling to keep the moro-moro stage tradition alive.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. September 29, 1988. p. 27. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
EVER...............Kumander Bawang
- ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. September 28, 1988. p. 27. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
EVER..........................Colors
- ^ "The kick that won for Makisig the Inggo role". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. August 21, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Kumander Bawang". International Catalogue of Superheroes. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c Diaz, Lav (October 6, 1988). "Asan ang luya?" [Where's the ginger?]. Manila Standard (in Filipino). Manila Standard News, Inc. p. 27. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
Sa kabila ng kahinaan ng pelikulang ito (dahil mga paslit lang marahil ang target na manonood), nakakatawag naman ng pansin ang isang aspeto ng kuwento — ang Moro-Moro.
- ^ ASWANG'S THEME (From Kumander Bawang). YouTube. Google LLC. April 6, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2020.