Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit

Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit is a 1989 drama film directed by Elwood Perez and produced by Lily Monteverde. The film stars Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III and it chronicles the turbulent life-long relationship between Noli (Aunor), a poor and hard-working barrio lass, and Anselmo (Cruz), her childhood sweetheart.[1]

For the 2020 TV series of the same title, see Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit (TV series).
Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit
Official theatrical poster
Directed byElwood Perez
Produced byLily Monteverde
Screenplay by
  • Jake Cocadiz
  • Jigs Recto
Story byJake Cocadiz
Starring
Music byLutgardo Labad
CinematographyRicardo Jacinto
Edited byGeorge Jarlego
Production
company
Regal Films
Release date
  • August 17, 1989 (1989-08-17)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit won both the FAMAS Award for Best Picture and the FAP Award for Best Picture. Nora won Best Actress for this film in Urian, FAMAS, and FAP while Tirso won Best Actor in PMPC Star, FAMAS, and FAP.

Plot

Noli (Nora Aunor), is an intelligent girl but a poor farmer's daughter. She dreams of going to college to become a doctor. To realize her dreams, her father, Damian, mortgages his farm to a rich land owner, Dona Martina (Gloria Romero). But the old woman and his son, Anselmo (Tirso Cruz III), look down on Noli's family and sneer at her ambitions. Perseverance pays off and Noli is able to finish college and claims back their property from Dona Martina. Noli and Anselmo fall in love with each other. But Dona Martina resents the relationship. Noli gets pregnant, does not tell Anselmo and instead marries Arturo despite the objections of his sister, Margarita. Then Arturo commits suicide when he finds out that the child is not his. Years pass and Noli's daughter, Maggie, grows up to be a beautiful but rebellious young lady with her a mother's looks but with exact opposite character. She falls in love with Jun, who turns out to be Anselmo's son. Things soon become complicated.[2]

Cast
  • Nora Aunor as Doña Magnolia "Noli" Dela Cruz vda. de Zulueta and Maggie Zulueta
  • Tirso Cruz III as Dr. Anselmo Santos and Anselmo Santos Jr.
  • Gloria Romero as Doña Martina Santos
  • Miguel Rodriguez as Señor Arturo Zulueta
  • Ana Margarita Gonzales as Margot Zulueta
  • Perla Bautista as Cedes Santos
  • Vangie Labalan as Matilde
  • Beverly Salviejo as Connie
  • Rolando Tinio as the principal
  • Manjo del Mundo as Noli's Brother

Production

The production of Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit lasted nearly three years, with Regal Films announcing its completion on August 12, 1989.[3]

Release

Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit was released in the Philippines on August 17, 1989.

Critical response
  • This is the quintessential Tagalog movie and a loving tribute to the "Golden Age of Philippine Cinema." - Mario A. Hernando, Malaya Newspaper, 1989
  • Aunor is a prime mover here. It’s a relief to see her come out of semi-retirement in fine form, still eons away from the calculated angst of Sharon Cuneta. Aunor as a heroine is in a class by herself. No one, not even Vilma Santos, can quite strike the chord this Superstar, with her chocolate skin and sad eyes, does in the Filipino audience—for all her years in the movies and on TV, she has retained an admirably disciplined lack of guile as an actress. Her character—the brown-skinned peasant triumphing over the mestizo aristocrat—is laden with cliches, some of which Aunor has lived in real life. But Aunor was never one for predictability. Just when you expect her to resort to hysterical drivel, you gaze into her eyes, the eyes of an old woman, and feel a chill run down your spine. - Melissa G. Contreras, “Guy and Pip Grow Up,” Chronicle Weekend Guide, August 19, 1989

Box office

Awards and recognition
Year Group Category Nominee Result
1990[4] FAMAS Aawards Best Picture Won
Best Director Elwood Perez Won
Best Actress Nora Aunor Won
Best Actor Tirso Cruz III Won
Best Supporting Actress Gloria Romero Nominated
Gawad Urian Awards (Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino) Best Actress Nora Aunor Won
Best Music Lutgardo Labad Won
Best Production Design
  • Raymond Bajarias
  • Ray Maliuanag
  • Gerry Pascual
  • Freddie Valencia
 Won
Best Actor Tirso Cruz III Nominated
Best Director Elwood Perez Nominated
Best Picture Nominated
Best in Cinematography Ricardo Jacinto Nominated
Best Editing George Jarlego Nominated
Best Screenplay Jake Cocadiz Nominated
Best Sound Joe Climaco Nominated
Film Academy of the Philippines Awards Best Picture Won
Best Actress Nora Aunor Won
Best Actor Tirso Cruz III Won
Best Director Elwood Perez Won
Best Original Screenplay
  • Jake Cocadiz
  • Jigs Recto
 Won
Best Production Design
  • Raymond Bajarias
  • Ray Maliuanag
  • Gerry Pascual
  • Freddie Valencia
 Won
Star Awards for Movies (Philippine Movie Press Club) Best Actor Tirso Cruz III Won
Production Designer of the Year Ray Maliuanag Won
Best Actress Nora Aunor Nominated
Catholic Mass Media Awards Best Actress Nora Aunor Nominated
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References
  1. "Nora Aunor Filmography". Archived from the original on 16 May 2013.
  2. "BILANGIN ANG BITUIN SA LANGIT... The Quintessential Tagalog Movie". Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  3. Libo-on, Eddie (12 August 1989). "Guy bounces back". Manila Standard. Standard Publishing, Inc. p. 24. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  4. "Bilangin ang bituin sa langit (1989): Awards". IMDb. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
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