Palabra de Honor (Danny Zialcita, 1983)

Twisted relationships galore!

Eddie Garcia (Don Adolfo), the rich businessman in town, is about to get married to Gloria Diaz (Victoria). His daughter, Jackielou Blanco (Sylvia), is opposed to it for being the youngest and favorite daughter, she is in love with her father.

"Be practical, papa. Okay, you're tired. You're lonely. Go ahead. Hawakan mo siya. Kunin mo siya. But not as your wife, as your mistress."

Her older sister, Hilda Koronel (Cristy), is married to Ronaldo Valdez (David), who marries her for her money. Alam ito ni Hilda yet she remains married to him. Ayaw niyang masira ang kanilang pangalan sa lipunan.

Ronaldo is Gloria's ex-lover. She plots to get into Eddie's family to exact revenge against the former lover.

Elizabeth Oropesa (Olivia), as a woman, takes a stand against Eddie. She assumes her right every chance she gets. But in the world of men, she is not taken seriously. Her words don't matter. "Lahat ng tao rito kung tawagin niya ay sa unang pangalan. Ako lang ang hindi," she mutters.

She is married to Dindo Fernando (Louie) who, according to her, is richer than Eddie, yet doesn't get the same amount of respect in the community as Eddie's. He says, "Ginawa niya ang kanyang pera. Minana ko lang ang akin."

In Dindo's standards, hindi magkapantay ang yaman nila. Besides, ayaw niyang kabanggain si Eddie. Hindi lamang ito tinitingala ng lipunan, he also doesn't want to jeopardize his affair with his daughter Hilda whom he gets pregnant.

Tommy Abuel (Arthur) is Eddie's sort of right-hand man. Hindi sing-yaman nina Eddie at Dindo, but a respected man, nonetheless. He is married to Amy Austria (Elma) who hasn't been sleeping with him for a long time. She avoids him like a plague, believing that he is sleeping around. However, it is she who is having a constant tryst, with Hilda's husband, Ronaldo.


Mark Gil (Tony) is Tommy's friend whom he helps getting a job in a campus in their community. He is married to Beth Bautista (Niña) whom Tommy has the hots for. Tommy helps Mark in acquiring the teaching position as a favor to Beth who promises herself to her once the deal is done. But Beth is having cold feet. Hindi niya magawang ibigay ang sarili kay Tommy.

Tommy, on the other hand, has a change of heart when he realizes how much he loves Amy. Until he learns of Amy's infidelity, who is about to go with Ronaldo. Kakaalam lang ni Ronaldo ng relasyon nina Hilda at Dindo, and he leaves her. He blackmails Dindo into giving him a million peso. Matapos ay inaya niyang magtanan si Amy.

Sinugod ni Tommy si Ronaldo. Nakipagsapakan. Then he confronts Amy.

"Ang dami mong dahilan. 'Wag kang lalapit. Mabaho ka. Mabahong hininga mo. Amoy shoktong. Wag kang didikit. Ang kamay mo baka kung sa'n nanggaling, matetano pa ko. Alis diyan!' 'Yun pala may kumakalikot sa 'yo. Sarap mong sapakin!"

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is against Mark's employment. Sinubukan niya ang lahat upang hindi ito matuloy. She even rallies in front of his house, pero wala siyang nagawa. Hindi lamang si Mark ang kabangga niya rito, maging si Eddie na isang malaking pader sa komunidad. Tulad ng mga naghaharing kapitalista sa mundo, he has the money. He has the last say.

"Kung ayaw n'yo nang palakad ng eskwelahan, kung ayaw ninyo sa taong 'yan, bukas ay ipasasara ko ang eskwelahan. At maghanap na kayo ng papasukan ng inyong mga anak doon sa kabilang bayan. Tingnan natin kung hindi kayo mahihirapan. At 'pag nangyari uli ito, ang inyong mga asawa ay ihanap n'yo ng ibang trabaho. Hala! Magsiuwi na kayo!"

Beth is intrigued as to what motivates Elizabeth into going after her husband. Nag-imbestiga siya. Nalaman niya ang di kagandahang nakaraan ni Elizabeth. Sinugod niya ito at binantaang ilalabas ang baho niya kapag di niya tinigilan si Mark.

Battle ensues. This has got to be the most masculine fight by women in Philippine cinema. Sapakan kung sapakan. Matinding sampalan. Matigas na sabunutan. Mabigat na sakalan. Tulakan. Murahan. Dayaan. Matira ang matibay. DZ made sure na hindi gawing malamya at katawa-tawa ang eksena dahil mga babae sila.


Yet, he also made sure that it is a sensual one. Foreplay para sa mga mapagnasang mata ng kalalakihan. Torn clothes, exposed bras, peeping panties, at nipples na halos bakat na sa bra. It is hitting two birds with one stone. Turning women into fighting savages ala men and serving men with delectable feast. Progressive and offensive at the same time.

When Eddie discovers Gloria's past with Ronaldo, he is disheartened. For someone who honors his word, nadismaya siya na niloko siya ng babaeng mahal niya. He could've ended the engagement, but he didn't. He has given his word to marry Gloria, and he is not about back out on it. He gets married to her, pero nagbago na ang sitwasyon. She gets her part of the bargain (money-wise), and he gets to be true to his word. Ito ang kanyang palabra de honor.

If we are to look at the whole picture, asan na nga ba ang isang salita ng mga taong involved sa kwentong ito? When they promised to cherish and adore each other through thick and thin in the sanctity of marriage, did they do so? Hindi na nga ba mahalaga ang pagtupad sa nabitiwang salita? Are promises really made to be broken? O may tulad pa ni Eddie na pinangangahalagan ang kanyang dignidad kahit pa siya ay nalagay sa alanganin? Ito nga ba ang tunay na palabra de honor? Ang tuparin ang ipinangako kahit pa hindi naging totoo ang kabilang parte?

More than wealth, mas pinangalagahan ni Eddie ang tingin niya sa kanyang sarili. Hindi niya kayang sumiping sa isang asawang alam niyang walang pagmamahal sa kanya. Subalit sa kanyang pagtupad sa pangakong kasal kay Victoria, hindi ba rin siya nagkakasala sa batas ng matrimonya ng kasal?

Maraming power struggles sa pelikulang ito. Kakikitaan na maging ang mga mayayaman ay may pagnanasa pa ring maitaas ang kanilang sarili sa kapwa nila mayaman. Ang mga galing naman sa hirap ay di mawawalan ng need upang maiangat ang kanilang pwesto sa lipunan kahit kayamanan lamang ang inaasam nila noong una.

May power struggles within married couples. Sino ba ang dapat ang domineering at sino ang submissive? Babae ba dapat ang nasa ibaba at lalaki ba dapat ang humahawak ng relasyon? Sa kontekso ng mag-asawang Pinoy, makikitang malakas ang boses ng babae sa isang relasyon lalo na sa pamamahala ng tirahan at mga anak. Ganito pinapahalagahan ng lalaking Pinoy ang kanyang asawa. Subalit paglabas ng tahanan, siya ang boss. Siya ang may say sa lahat ng kanyang magiging desisyon.

May power struggles sa mga magulang at anak. Kailan ba nagkakaroon ng pagkakataong magsalita ang anak laban sa desisyon ng mga magulang? Kailan ba maaring makinig ang mga magulang sa anak notwithstanding the age difference and status of relationship?

May power struggles within the boss and his employees. Mas madalas sa hindi, ang boss ang may huling salita. No matter how much you detest your boss's decision, one never bites the hand that feeds him.

Sa panahong ito kung saan laganap ang lokohan, pagsisinungaling, betrayal, backbiting, may nagpapahalaga pa ba sa palabra de honor tulad ng isang Don Adolfo?



Related post:
Pelikula, Atbp.'s "Palabra de Honor (1983)"