#TatakPalanca “That Thing Called Tadhana” And Other Palanca-Winning Screenplays-Turned Movies

"That Thing Called Tadhana" is getting another company in a special crop of movies to which it belongs.

"That Thing Called Tadhana" is getting another company in a special crop of movies to which it belongs. The 2015 blockbuster will soon be joined by the comedy "Deadma Walking" as one of just a handful of films based on Palanca award-winning screenplays.

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature or the Palanca Awards is the most prestigious literary competition in the country. It was stablished in 1950 by the heirs of industrialist and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. to elevate education and culture in the Philippines. Ever since, it has produced some of the greatest and most memorable literary works in Philippine history. Its winners include great Pinoy writers such as N.V.M. Gonzales, Francisco Arcellana, Rolando Tinio, Rene Villanueva, Gregorio Brillantes, Cirilo Bautista, Jose Y. Dalisay, and more.

From just two categories (the English and Filipino short stories) in the first year, the contest has grown to 20 categories, giving Filipino writers more opportunities and boosting the treasury of Filipino literature.

In 1994, the Palanca Awards launched the Screenplay (Dulang Pampelikula) category. Jurors here are industry professionals such as directors and veteran screenwriters. Submitting to this category has become a chance for screenwriters to have their works read and get a shot at being produced. A number of winning scripts have actually been turned into films. “That Thing Called Tadhana” is one and here are some more:

“That Thing Called Tadhana”

Writer: Antoinette H. Jadaone

Year it won: 2014

Year produced: 2014

Plot: A heartbroken woman meets a fellow Filipino at the airport in Italy.

Upon arriving in the Philippines, they set off for a road trip to Sagada and strike up a special relationship.

After Angelica Panganiban was sent the script for consideration, Direk Antoinette and her team didn’t hear from the star for a while until Antoinette posted a random comment on Angelica’s IG to which the actress replied, “Direk, nabasa ko na! Ako na yang si Mace!” Angelica was, of course, referring to the female lead which eventually won for her a Best Actress award at the Cinema One Originals Film Festival. When Star Cinema distributed the movie in early 2015, it grossed about 104 million pesos—making it one of the most successful productions of Cinema One Originals and one of the most popular Palanca-winning scripts.

"Kusina"

Writer: Cenon O. Palomares

Year it won: 2006

Year produced: 2016

Plot: A woman’s life and loves are unraveled in the dishes she whips up in her home kitchen.

Star Judy Ann Santos started filming four months after she gave birth to her daughter Luna. In an interview, Juday said that she liked the story so much she requested directors David Corpuz and Cenon Palomares to wait until she would be available to shoot.

“Sa Pusod ng Dagat”

Writer: Jun Lana

Year it won: 1996

Year produced: 1998

Plot: In a fishing village in the 1950s, a community midwife gets pregnant by her late husband’s married friend and her teenage son is finding it hard to accept the situation.

The late director, Marilou Diaz-Abaya came upon the script when she served as a Palanca juror in 1996. Jun Lana’s work (originally entitled “Mga Bangka sa Tag-Araw”) won first prize and Direk Marilou immediately optioned it. The movie was produced by GMA Films and was invited to several international filmfests. “Sa Pusod ng Dagat” won the FIPRESCI/NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) prize at the Singapore International Filmfest and earned raves at the Berlin International Film Festival.

“Azucena”

Writer: Enrique Ramos

Year it won: 1998

Year produced: 2000

Plot: The story revolves around the friendship of a dog butcher and a young girl.

Bibeth Orteza, one of the jurors in the Palanca, recommended the winning script to her husband, director Carlos Siguion-Reyna. In an interview, Bibeth, a noted writer and actress, said that “Azucena” appealed to her because it is about how women, children and dogs are the oppressed of this world.

"Deadma Walking"

Writer: Eric Cabahug

Year it won: 2016

Year produced: 2017

Plot: A comedy of “deadly” proportions ensues when a straightacting gay man diagnosed with terminal illness asks his gay best friend to help him mount his fake wake and fake funeral.

Palanca jurors were in stitches upon reading this script about transcendence and trannies, high hopes and high heels (among other things). Juror Soxie Topacio, an actor and director, said, “It’s comedy after comedy with surprise ending.” Fellow juror Ed Lejano, a film writer and director described it as a “rollicking comedy about a fabulous, fake death.”

“Deadma Walking” stars Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan Guzman as the best friends Mark and John and plenty more stars. The movie is being submitted for consideration to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.