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| TATLONG MARIA Movie Flyer |
During the Japanese Occupation, film making was suddenly put
to a halt. The Japanese brought with them their own films, but this was not
appealing to the local audience. Japanese propaganda offices began hiring
several local filmmakers, including Gerardo de Leon, to make pictures that promote Filipino-Japanese friendship. One of these films
was Tatlong Maria in 1944. It was written for the
screen by Tsutomu Sawamura from Jose Esperanza Cruz’s novel.
Tatlong Maria starred Carmen Rosales, Norma Blancaflor,
Liwayway Arceo, Fernando Poe, Jose Padilla, Jr., and Ely Ramos. It was produced
by Toho films and directed by Gerardo de Leon. The film was distributed by Eiga
Haikyusa. It was not a propaganda film, however, but a romance story of three
sisters.
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Tatlong Maria starred Carmen Rosales,
Norma Blancaflor,
and Liwayway Arceo,
as the 3 sisters. |
Some 200 kilometers from Manila nestles a quiet little
village surrounded by coconut groves and rice fields. In this barrio lives the
Luna family, whose three girls-Maria Fe, Maria Esperanza, and Maria Caridad-are known as the "Tatlong Maria."
The mother, Mrs, Luna, is a widow and is very devoted to her
three girls although the two elder daughters are not really her daughters-they
are Mr. Luna’s daughters by his first wife.
Padre Francisco, the village priest, encourages Dona Pilar
to cherish the three Marias and to spare nothing to bring. them up well. June 1942, shortly after the fan of Corregidor, Maria Caridad is to be wedded to
Andres Diwa, a country lad.
On the eve of Maria Caridad's wedding, her two sisters arrive
at the village, not so much to attend the wedding, as to have the property
divided.
The marriage does not take place, due to Maria Fe's violent
opposition. Remembering that she came for a specific purpose Maria Fe demands
her share of the property. Mrs. Luna cannot refuse since the property belongs
to her daughters but she requests that the rice fields, the coconut groves, and
the house be given to Maria Caridad. later, Maria Caridad is induced to go with
her sisters to Manila.
Maria Caridad, who lives in her sister's house, is strictly
prohibited to write to Andres or to her mother, Dona Pilar. Her kindly
brother-in-law, Felipe Goco, is her only consolation.
One evening Maria Caridad is brought to a dance party
sponsored by Maria Fe. Maria Fe introduces Gregorio Reyes, a millionaire, to
Maria Caridad who dances with him, but sadly all the time she is thinking
of Andres. Capricious Gregorio falls madly in love with her.
Forced to associate with Reyes, Maria Caridad one day walks
out on him. Returning to the house of her brother-in-law, she sees Mario,
Andres' younger brother, waiting for her with the news that Dona Pilar is
seriously ill. Maria Caridad informs Felipe about it and is driven home in the
Goco car to the province.
Maria Caridad arrives and her mother is dying. Overjoyed at
seeing her daughter, Dona Pilar requests the village priest, Padre Francisco,
to unite her and Andres in holy wedlock. The ceremony is performed and quietly
Dona Pilar breathes her last.
The young couple's life is a happy one. Andres' family moves
into the Luna house. Andres takes charge of the house, the coconut groves, and
the rice fields.
In the midst of this peace, one day in April, a person drops
in on Mr. and Mrs. Andres Diwa. The person says that he bought the house from
Maria Fe in Manila and that they must vacate the place within 10 days. The coconut
groves and the rice field go the same way they are disposed of by Maria Fe. Excited
Maria Caridad tells Andres to go to Manila to talk things over with Maria Fe.
In Manila, in the house of. Maria Fe, Maria Caridad finds out
that Felipe is sick but is not permitted to see him. Maria Fe will not listen
to the pleas and protestations of Maria Carida and claims that since Dona Pilar
died intestate, the property was automatically hers. she is the eldest daughter.
Maria Caridad and her husband are turned out into the streets of the city. In their aimless
wanderings, they pass the Luneta. Andres Diwa gets renewal and inspiration from
the effigy of Rizal. They return to the
farm.
Farm life for Maria Caridad is as hard as it is immediately
enjoyable. She exults in labor.
It is October and their efforts bear fruit. The rice plant
is heavy with grain. Maria Caridad prays at the altar for the safe delivery of
the life she bears' within her which is 10 days past its time …
Meanwhile, his father of Andres visits the village priest
and shows the latter a letter that is marching orders for the Veterans of the
Philippine Revolution: they are to march in front of the grandstand with their
old and original standard. The elder Diwa is overjoyed: with tears in his eyes, he says that now he can go to Manila after 40 years of waiting.
The Philippines become independent and a Republic is born.
The new flag of the Republic is' hoisted up in the blue sky, amidst the extraordinary
excitement of a grand ceremony.
Maria Caridad gives birth' to a vigorous baby boy. Andres is
a proud happy father; the elder Diwa is happier still on his return.
Behind this great joy. however, lurks a tragedy. Padre
Francisco reveals that Felipe died in May and that after his death, Maria Fe
was driven out of the Goco house and now leads a miserable life in the city.
This cannot be revealed to Maria Caridad who has just given
birth. Andres sells his carabao and goes secretly to the city to look for Maria
Fe. He goes to Maria Esperanza's house, thinking that he might be able to
obtain the whereabouts of Maria Fe, but he is told that Maria Esperanza lives
elsewhere. He is finally directed to a bar on the outskirts of the city. He
walks up the second floor of a dirty bar room. He learns that Maria Esperanza
is in the hospital, resting from an operation. In the hospital, he learns that
Julian Felix had been arrested three months ago and jailed. He also learns that
Maria Fe and Maria Esperanza work together in the bar he has just seen. Andres
advises Maria Esperanza to go back to the province with Maria Fe and help in
the harvest.
Maria Fe, thickly painted, goes to the house of her former friends
to borrow money for Maria Esperanza. Nobody pays any attention to her. Not even
Jose Santos, the pianist, has a new girlfriend. Maria Fe realizes the truth-and
amidst incense and candlelight, she is reconverted to the good life and the farm.
In the village church, a morning mass is being sung. Padre
Francisco is in the pulpit and tells his congregation that thanks should be
offered to the God Almighty for the glorious independence bestowed upon the
people.
The sermon goes on. Padre Francisco says that independence is
not complete or real unless the individuals are reborn into a compact nation-a
people that can exert united efforts for the sake of the happiness of the
country.
After mass, Maria Caridad goes to the Padre and tells him
that the Iwo' other Marias, Fe, and Esperanza, are coming back to the country
from Manila on Saturday.
Harvest time. Maria Caridad, suckling her baby, sees Maria
Fe and Maria-Esperanza from afar, arriving in a caretela.
The villagers gather in the garden to celebrate the harvest.
In the circle of dancers may be discerned Maria Esperanza and Maria Fe, rid of
the vanity of city life. In the center of the circle sings Maria Caridad, her
face radiant with joy….
Maria Fe, thickly painted, goes to the house of her former friends
to borrow money for Maria Esperanza. Nobody pays any attention to her. Not even
Jose Santos, the pianist, has a new girlfriend. Maria Fe realizes the truth-and
amidst incense and candlelight, she is reconverted to the good life and the farm.
To Pinoy Kollektor, thank you! I love this, I've been looking for my grand father's works and I found you. I am the grand daughter of Jose Esperanza Cruz, whose novel was brought to life on screen by Carmen Rosales, Norma Blancaflor and Liwayway Arceo. I know about "Tatlong Maria", but to actually read the synopsis from you blog, fantastic! Thank you!
ReplyDelete---C.C.Cruz----
hello! :)
DeleteI'm one of the students of Claret School of zamboanga city currently working on a research paper on your grand father's novel..... can i ask, where can i find the whole story of it?
__Taoism Disciple__
Hi Sir..beautiful..in case you want to sell these magazines, please let me know, I'm collecting all pre-war Liwayway magazines...PM mo nalang ako sa Facebook sir..thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi. I am so glad to find my Grandfathers novel featured here on your site. I am a grandson of Jose Esperanza Cruz. I also wrote a short novel to self publish this year entitled " Hawak Kamay Sa Ating Mga Pangarap" Check out our Facebook and Wattpad accounts to read a few first chapters. I am new in writing but I guarantee that you will love it.
ReplyDeleteJust search the title and have a good read. Thank You!
FJCruz
Like Grandpa, like grandson, both of you are great writers. Hope someday it will be made into a movie
DeleteHi FJCruz. Your grandfather is one of the many great entries of my book MOHON Mga Bulakenyong Biyaya ng Kasaysayan published in 2012. Do you have any knowledge on the dateand cause of his death? Please contact me 09172036191 / jmmycorpuz@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletethanks
jaime s. corpuz "jimmy"
it's nice story.hope one day it will play judy ann ssantos as a role o fmaria luna movies
ReplyDeletenot because i like judy ann but because she knows to act a drama and wishing that one day she will play the role from liwayway magazine.thanks!
ReplyDeletepwede mag request..... mapakita angkwento sa abs cbn... maria luna by Norma Blancaflor, and Liwayway Arceo,
ReplyDeleteas the 3 sisters. play by judy ann santos.salamt po!
salamt liwayway magazine... hope you will continue to publish any moral story and be an inspiration to others like me. i don;t want to be seen in this comment the important is i was able to read your magazine. thanks for letting me understand some story to be my guide and enlightened my understanding .i am proud to be one of a reader of liwayway magazine.
ReplyDeletewhere i can find the whole copy of the story? need it for my project. Thank you..
ReplyDelete