Silakbo (1975) and Silang Matatapang (1976)

1975 - Silakbo (Prima Productions)  

[Release date 17th October 1975; a possible co-production with Liliw Productions] 

Director/Writer Manuel Songco Cinematography Rudy Quijano Music Demet Velasquez  

Cast Eddie Gutierrez, Lotis Key, Dante Varona, Romy Diaz, Odette Khan, Zandro Zamora, Marie Antoinette, Alberta “Peaches” Rainge, Joe Villafranca, Lita Sandoval, Misty Gallardo, Jun Santos, Veen Rosette, Evelyn Shenna, Kiti-Kiti, Henry Pineda, Vivian Betty, Sheba “Mor” Tatad, Freddie Robles, Lilian Fernando, [uncredited] Weng Weng 

ACTION/ADVENTURE  

1976 – Silang Matatapang/"They The Brave" (Liliw Films/Prima Productions)  

[Release date 26th March 1976]  

Director/Writer Jun P. Cabreira Producer Cora Ridon Caballes [as Cora C. Ridon] Executive Producer Peter M. Caballes Cinematography Nestor "Popoy" Orense Music Kuya Mimo  

Cast George Estregan, Dante Varona, Ramon "Boy" Bagatsing Jr, Marie Antoinette, Lita Vasquez, Daria Ramirez, Weng Weng, Sidney Schneider, Manding Claro, Freddie Robles, Larry Esguerra, Gil Arceo, Leo Longalong, Adul Ugad, Lito Hermosa, Santy Hermosa, Totoy Tan, Boni Fernandez, Greg Sayo, Ben Sanchez, SOS Daredevils, Dick Israel, Tintoy, Romie Medalla  

ACTION 

Notes by Andrew Leavold, from his hook The Search For Weng Weng (2017): I recalled hearing rumours of an even earlier Weng Weng film [than Sila...Sa Bawa't Bangketa, 1976], which [its director Dante "Boy" Pangilinan] made great pains to dispel. "The first film participated by Weng Weng is Sila… That's when they met Weng Weng…and that begins their adoption to the kid Weng Weng. And then they made Weng Weng as an actor during that day, in my film. That's the first time Weng Weng appeared in a film." So he never appeared as an extra before in any films? "No, not yet," he said firmly and with supreme confidence. 

Three days searching through Ataneo University's microfilm archives proved Dante wrong. A newspaper ad from March 1976 proves his first CREDITED role is an even earlier Liliw production made in conjunction with Prima Productions, Silang Matatapang ("They The Brave Ones"), an action film starring George Estregan, Dante Varona, and Sila…'s Ramon "Boy" Bagatsing Jr released a full nine months before Sila… The advert subtitles Weng Weng, in the photo resplendent in what would become his trademark white suit, as "Mini Action King".  

It also confirms Weng Weng's uncredited presence in Silakbo released in October 1975, a Prima Productions title missing since the Seventies which may also be the first Liliw Films (or final Jo-Ann Productions) co-venture. Until the movie finally surfaces, all I can glean of the film's details is also from a newspaper ad: from appearances it's a standard Tagalog goon-centric action film with then-popular stars Eddie Gutierrez, Dante Varona, Lotis Key (girlfriend of Dolphy, and star of many Tagalog comedies AND kung fu films) and Romy Diaz, younger brother of super-villain Paquito Diaz, and familiar face in later Weng Weng adventures. Weng Weng's name doesn't appear in the ad's credits, but Silakbo was included in a list of Weng Weng's titles handed to me by Rene the Legman, Cora Caballes' agent in Manila, and Celing once told me his favourite Weng Weng film was "the one with Lotis Key". For a serious Wengologist, Silakbo represents not only a definitive starting point - mid 1975 - for Weng Weng's association with the Caballes, but also film number fifteen, with possibly more yet to discover.