New Eddie Garcia, Gina Pareno movie inspired by those who loved more than once

MANILA, Philippines — Directed by Dan Villegas and produced by Globe Studios and Project 8 Corner San Joaquin Productions, “Hintayan ng Langit” is a story about former lovers Lisang (Gina Pareno) and Manolo (Eddie Garcia) who met in purgatory.

In an interview with Philstar.com, Juan Miguel Severo revealed that the inspiration in writing the movie is when his grandmother died and an unknown old man was consistently on the wake of his grandmother. Later, he learned that the man was his grandmother’s suitor.

“’Yung inspiration ng movie is ‘yung matandang lalaki sa burol ng lola ko. Walang nakakakilala sa kanya until nalaman namin na manliligaw pala ni lola dati pero ayaw payagan ng tatay niya si lola. Nabalitaan din namin na after two years, namatay ‘yung matanda. So naisip ko, what if magkita sila sa purgatory bago umakyat sa langit,” he said.  

“Actually ‘yung character ni Lisang ay inspired ng dalawang lola ko – sa mother side at sa father. Si Lola Pining ‘yung namatay na at sobrang banidosa at gandang ganda sa sarili, samantalang si Lola Broneng, na buhay pa hanggang ngayon, ay ‘yung ugali naman ni Lisang,” he added.

When asked what is the message of his film, he said: “I don't want it to provide answers as much as it raises questions. I want it to question the compatibility of our notion of heaven and our notion of love. And by extension, the rules of marriage, paano nga ba ‘yung mga nagmahal ng dalawa? Paano nila hahatiin ang puso nila pagdating sa langit?”

The film, now showing in cinemas nationwide, was a part of the recently concluded QCinema International Film Festival where it won an Audience Choice Award and a Best Actor honor for Eddie Garcia.

Juan Miguel is also a part of the Christmas Time album under PolyEast Records. They recently launched the album last November 23 at the Greenfield District in Mandaluyong.  

RELATED: KathNiel raves over Juan Miguel Severo’s ‘Hintayan ng Langit’