Gagamboy

Gagamboy is a 2004 Filipino superhero comedy film co-written and directed by Erik Matti. The screenplay written by Dwight Gaston was based on an original story written and developed by Matti, Gaston, and Roselle Monteverde-Teo. The film stars Vhong Navarro, Jay Manalo, and Aubrey Miles in the lead roles while the supporting cast includes Rene Facunla, Kathryn Bernardo, Ernie Zarate, Long Mejia, and Bearwin Meily.

Gagamboy
Film poster
Directed by	Erik Matti
Screenplay by	Dwight Gaston
Story by	Dwight Gaston Roselle Monteverde-Teo Erik Matti
Produced by	Ronald Stephen Monteverde Roselle Monteverde-Teo Sherida Monteverde Douglas Quijano
Starring	Vhong Navarro Jay Manalo Aubrey Miles
Cinematography	J.A. Tadena
Edited by	Vito Cajili
Production company	MAQ Productions
Distributed by	Regal Entertainment
Release date	January 1, 2004 (2004-01-01)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino
Box office	₱17.6 million

Produced by MAQ Productions and distributed by Regal Entertainment, the film was theatrically released on January 8, 2004, as one of the entries for the 29th Metro Manila Film Festival and it is similar to the Spider-Man films, with a mutated spider that causes Junie to gain his superpowers and become Gagamboy.

Plot

Junie (Navarro), is an ice cream vendor, who sells ice cream to children and adults alike. After his shift, he is in a predicament with a rival vendor, Dodoy (Jay Manalo). Their manager, angered by their actions, demotes Junie to a warehouse guard. Dodoy celebrates, only to be demoted too, working a different shift to Junie. Junie goes home in a bad mood, until he sees the love of his life, Liana (Aubrey Miles). After dinner, Junie is ready to sleep, to start a new job the next day. While working, Junie accidentally swallows a spider that has been exposed to a chemical spill, thus giving him web-slinging abilities, and becoming "Gagamboy"(Spiderboy). After his shift, Dodoy comes into work and leaves a sandwich unprotected. A cockroach exposed to the same spill as the spider slips into his sandwich, and as he eats it, he collapses, only to regain consciousness as a large cockroach. He hires two henchmen, and calls himself "Ipisman" (Cockroachman). Junie and Dodoy both try to win Liana's love. Dodoy practically gives up, only to return as Cockroachman, to kidnap Liana to lure Spiderboy to his lair. There, he plans to finish off Spiderboy, but the tables turn and Dodoy is destroyed.

Cast

• Vhong Navarro as Junie/Spiderboy/Gagamboy
• Jay Manalo as Dodoy/Cockroachman/Ipisman
• Aubrey Miles as Liana
• Long Mejia as Barangay Captain Gimo
• Bearwin Meily as Assistant Barangay Captain Abner
• Rene "Ate Glow" Facunla as Gloring
• Mon Confiado as Snatcher
• Benjamin Abellardo as Simeon
• Chris Cruz as Bronson
• Nikko Manalo as Boogie
• Ernie Zarate as Boss
• Kathryn Bernardo as Tsoknat
• Joseph Roble as Kiamoy
• Cyrus Valdez as Wiwi
• Ogie Diaz as Stage Manager
• Janine Desiderio as Aswang

Release

The film was shown at the 2004 Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Critical reception

Despite its low production qualities, the film received general praise due to its use of humor, especially in parodying other tokusatsu and superhero films. As a result, the film is well known in the Chinese kuso community.

Box office

The film opened on January 1, 2004, as a part of the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film opened seventh at the box office, earning 18 million in its first week, and eventually earning 27 million in its theatrical run.

External links

• Gagamboy (2004) at IMDb