Hiwaga sa Balete Drive
It was directed by Peque Gallaga and Lorenzo A. Reyes, and draws from the haunting legends associated with Balete Drive. The movie is split into two segments: *Ang Babae sa Balete Drive* and *Ikatlong Mata*. In the first story, a couple named Dennis and Sandy encounter Margarita, a ghost who haunts a house on Balete Drive. Margarita intends to take Dennis for herself, hoping to continue the marriage she had with her late husband. The second story follows Jonathan, who gains a third eye after an accident. This new ability allows him to witness various crimes, including those committed by his uncle Paul. The cast includes Rene Mariano as the narrator. *Ang Babae sa Balete Drive* features Jestoni Alarcon as Dennis, Rita Avila as Sandy, Isabel Quiait as Anghel, Zsa Zsa Padilla as Margarita, Mary Walter as Old Margarita, and John Borromeo, Jeffrey Veloso, and Raul Arellano as Margarita's men. *Ikatlong Mata* stars Charito Solis as Helga, Joel Torre as Peter and Paul (also called Roadrunner), Gina Alajar as Gilda, Ian Veneracion as Jonathan, Michael Locsin as Clinton, Harlene Bautista as Georgie, Joed Serrano as Melvin, Romy Romulo as the Investigator, Turko Cervantes as Big Bird, Sam Brillantes as Samson, Pen Medina as Gary, Mario Taguiwalo as Mr. Panopio, and Maya dela Cuesta as Ms. Mijares.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Peque Gallaga · Lore Reyes
- Producer
- Robbie Tan
- Screenplay
- Ang Babae sa Balete Drive: · Jose Javier Reyes · Peque Gallaga · Lore Reyes · Ikatlong Mata: · Orlando R. Nadres · Peque Gallaga · Lore Reyes · Jake Cocadiz
- Story
- Ang Babae sa Balete Drive: · Rene Mariano · Peque Gallaga · Lore Reyes · Orlando R. Nadres · Jose Javier Reyes · Ikatlong Mata: · Lore Reyes · Orlando Nadres
- Starring
- Ang Babae sa Balete Drive: · Jestoni Alarcon · Rita Avila · Zsa Zsa Padilla · Mary Walter · Ikatlong Mata: · Joel Torre · Charito Solis · Gina Alajar
- Narrator
- Rene Mariano
- Music
- Nonong Buencamino
- Cinematography
- Eduardo Jacinto
- Editing
- Augusto Salvador
- Studio
- Seiko Films
- Released
- 2 June 1988
- Runtime
- 112 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film is divided into two stories. In Ang Babae sa Balete Drive, the couple Dennis (Jestoni Alarcon) and Sandy (Rita Avila) meet Margarita, who haunts a house along Balete Drive. Margarita plans to steal Dennis for her to continue her marriage to her late husband. In Ikatlong Mata, Jonathan (Ian Veneracion) meets an accident, resulting in his third eye opened. He eventually becomes a witness to various crimes through his third eye, including those committed by his uncle Paul (Joel Torre).
Reader's Guide
Hiwaga sa Balete Drive is significant as a Filipino horror anthology film that adapts the well-known haunting legends of Balete Drive, a location in the Philippines associated with ghost stories. Directed by Peque Gallaga and Lorenzo A. Reyes, the film presents two distinct narratives that explore supernatural themes: a ghostly woman seeking to steal a husband, and a man who gains psychic vision after an accident. The cast includes notable Filipino actors such as Jestoni Alarcon, Rita Avila, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ian Veneracion, and Joel Torre. The film remains a reference point for Philippine horror cinema of the late 1980s, drawing on local folklore.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the haunting legends on Balete Drive.
- In Ikatlong Mata, Jonathan's third eye opens after an accident, allowing him to witness crimes.
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