| Baler | |
| Director: | Mark Meily |
| Music: | Vincent de Jesus |
| Cinematography: | Lee Meily |
| Editing: | Danny Añonuevo |
| Distributor: | VIVA Films |
| Runtime: | 116 minutes |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Language: | Filipino |
Baler is a 2008 romantic war film and the official entry of VIVA Films in the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival, starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales. Its first screening was on December 25, 2008, simultaneously with the rest of the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival film entries.
As the Philippine Revolution comes to an end, a heavily outnumbered Spanish expeditionary force under Captain Enrique de las Morenas Fossi entrench themselves in the local church of Baler, Aurora from wave after wave of Katipunan attacks. Amidst this bloody siege comes a tragic love story between a mestizo named Celso Resurreción, who fights for the Spanish forces, and Feliza Reyes, the daughter of a Katipunero.
Baler has been available on original CD and DVD since March 17, 2009.
Baler had a special screening at the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival, on May 19, 2009, in Stockton, California.
2008 Metro Manila Film Festival
| Category | Subject | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | Baler | ||
| Best Actress | Anne Curtis | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Phillip Salvador | ||
| Best Director | Mark Meily | ||
| Best Screenplay | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Best Cinematography | Lee Meily | ||
| Best Production Design | Aped Santos | ||
| Best Editing | Danny Añonuevo | ||
| Most Gender-Sensitive Film | Baler | ||
| Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards | Baler |
2009 Gawad Genio Awards
| Category | Subject | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Film | VIVA Films | ||
| Best Film Director | Mark Meily | ||
| Best Actress | Anne Curtis | ||
| Best Actor | Jericho Rosales | ||
| Best Film Supporting Actor | Phillip Salvador | ||
| Best Film Cinematographer | Lee Meily | ||
| Best Film Editor | Danny Añonuevo | ||
| Best Film Production Designer | Aped Santos | ||
| Best Film Screenwriter | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Best Film Sound Engineer | Ditoy Aguila | ||
| Best Film Soundtrack | Ngayon, Bukas at Kailanman By: Sarah Geronimo | ||
| Best Film Story | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Outstanding Genio Awardee | VIVA Films |
| Category | Subject | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | Baler | ||
| Best Director | Mark Meily | ||
| Best Actor | Jericho Rosales | ||
| Best Actress | Anne Curtis | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Phillip Salvador | ||
| Best Child Actor | Fender de leon Legaspi | ||
| Best Screenplay | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Best Cinematography | Lee Meily | ||
| Best Art Direction | Aped Santos | ||
| Best Sound | Ditoy Aguila | ||
| Best Editing | Danny Añonuevo | ||
| Best Story | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Best Theme Song | Ngayon Bukas at Magpakailanman by: Sarah Geronimo and Louie Ocampo (composer) | ||
| Best Musical Score | Vincent de Jesus |
| Category | Subject | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | Baler | ||
| Best Director | Mark Meily | ||
| Best Actor | Jericho Rosales | ||
| Best Actress | Anne Curtis | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Phillip Salvador | ||
| Best Screenplay | Roy Iglesias | ||
| Best Cinematography | Lee Meily | ||
| Best Sound | Ditoy Aguila | ||
| Best Production Design | Aped Santos | ||
| Best Musical Score | Vincent de Jesus |
On February 25, 2013, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the indictment of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Efraim Genuino, his son Erwin, and six other officials of the state-run gaming firm for malversation and graft charges in connection to a multimillion-peso deal for Baler.[1]