CAN BE DONE: Between Episodes 49 and 50
July 22, 2007.
A shooting of Kim and Gerald’s movie “I’ve Fallen for You” occurs, and the rest of the Nueva Liga Filipina (save for the GMA-affiliated characters and the ones who left the organization) are invited as extras at director Lino Cayetano’s personal request.
Matthew Luke: Pero paano tayo papapasukin doon sa ABS-CBN compound? Sir Gabby now treats us all as enemies.
Gerald: Not to worry, Matt. Nag-hire kami ni direk Lino ng extra security personnel pera hindi tayo galawin ng mga galamay niya.
Hyacinth: Nakaka-touch naman… pero why did he invite us in the first place?
Kim: He sympathized with your cause, lalo na ngayong nalagasan tayo ng mga miyembro.
Matthew Luke: Well, if he’s doing this to lift our spirits, then it’s much appreciated. Malay natin, we may gain more new allies!
Hyacinth: That’s the spirit, Matt!
After a confirmation call from the director, the NLF, along with the hired security personnel, goes to the ABS-CBN compound — specifically, Studio 1.
Once the entire troupe is personally greeted by the director at the gates of the studio…
Lino Cayetano: Good day, Mr. Laonglaan and Ms. Monterola, pati na rin ang buong Nueva Liga Filipina. Inimbitahan ko kayong lahat as a personal favor, and I’m glad na sinagot ninyo ang aking request. Kim, Gerald, now explain kung ano ang gagawin ngmga kasama ninyo.
Kim: Ganito iyon. We’re now in a set na parang isang anime convention. Nakapunta na kayong dalawa sa isang convention dati, di ba?
Hyacinth: Of course we did! As anime fans, obligasyon namin ang pumunta sa mga conventions.
Gerald: And since we’re in a pretend anime convention, kayo ay kukunwaring mga cosplayers. Pero… napansin ko na wala kayong mga dalang costume.
Matthew Luke: Oo, wala nga kaming mga costume dahil hindi namin inaasahan ito, sa totoo lang. But we have a contingency measure.
Kim and Gerald: Ano?
Matt and Hyacinth have this contingency measure: they bring out their Decadrivers, wrap them around their waists, flash their individual cards, and shout…
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Rider Change!
They then insert the cards into the Decadrivers.
Voice of Matthew Luke’s Decadriver: KAMEN RIDE: DESCENDER OF TERRESIA!
Voice of Hyacinth’s Decadriver: KAMEN RIDE: PASCA KANONNO!
Holograms of the two aforementioned characters from Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology then appear around the childhood friends and merge into their bodies, transforming them into their respective characters.
Kim, Gerald, and Director Cayetano all drop their jaws in amazement.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Voila! Instant cosplay surprise!
Lino Cayetano: Pero saan n’yo nakuha yung mga Masked Rider transformation belts na iyon?
Matthew Luke: (impersonating Tsukasa Kadoya) Mula sa isang Masked Rider na dumadaan lang. Tandaan mo iyan!
Kim: Ehehe. Well, in 30 minutes, magsisimula na ang shooting natin, so if you’ll excuse us, we’ll change into our costumes.
While Kim and Gerald leave to change into their cosplay outfits, the director then tells our childhood friends…
Lino Cayetano: OK naman ang ginawa n’yo, since we’re in a pretend convention. Pero yung mga kasama n’yo… baka wala silang mga costume.
Hyacinth: Not to worry, direk. Pinahiraman namin sila ng mga dating costumes namin. Kung may mga nakukulangan pa rin, we also told some of our cosplayer friends via Sir Tulfo na papahiraman din yung mga costumes nila.
Lino Cayetano: Excited nga talaga kayong dalawa na mgaing mga extra ko, ha? I may do this hiring-extras job for free, but what matters in the end is an excellent film I’ll make.
Matthew Luke: It’s a pleasure for us.
Kim and Gerald then arrive in their cosplay outfits, and the filming of the first scene then starts without a hitch. The director then calls for a 15-minute break.
While Matthew Luke is resting in a corner, he happens to chance upon an anonymous letter. He then opens it, and its message reads…
“Meron pa akong utang sa inyo, kaya guguluhin ko ang pelikula n’yo!”
— Ang may pakana ng anti-Willie-and-Charo plot dati
He is understandably nervous about the type of mess-up that will be made during the filming, so he contacts Hyacinth, and together with Kim and Gerald, they approach the director.
Lino Cayetano: Ha? May manggulo sa ating pelikula?
Matthew Luke: Oo. At yung may pakana ng planong pagbagsakin sina Willie Revillame at Charo Santos-Concio dati ay siya ngayong may pakana ng gagawing pananabotahe.
Lino Cayetano: Talagang ayaw kayong tatantanan… Sige. We’re putting the perimeter of Studio 1 under maximum security, but filming will still proceed as normal. Understand?
Hyacinth: Yes, sir.
The second phase of filming then proceeds smoothly, until a nondescript cosplayer (who dressed up as Ultros from Final Fantasy VI) proceeds to throw plastic bags filled with squid ink at the entire set.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Ayan yung nanabotahe!
Lino Cayetano: CUT! Call the security personnel!
The security personnel then try to contain the saboteur, but they are suddenly knocked out by the saboteur’s nondescript magical powers.
????: Ahahaha!!! Welcome back, my darling sawsaweros y sawsaweras! Kilala n’yo ba ako? Careful~!
Gerald: Anak ng–! Ginagaya mo pa ang namayapang si Inday Badiday!
????: Ang taon ay nagiging buwan na… dahil nabinyagan ako ng liwanag ng karunungan.
Kim: Anong karunungan?
????: Hindi pala ganid ang mga Lopez… kakampi sila ng sambayanang Pilipino! Ang tunay na kalaban ng bayan ay si Ginang Pekeng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo! Kasama siya ni Ginoong Diktador na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na nanlubog sa Pilipinas sa kumunoy ng kahirapan! Kaya ang pinakamainam na solusyon… ay ang sugpuin sila at ang mga galamay nila… tulad ninyo!
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Sino ba kayo… Miss Balimbing?
????: Huwag n’yo akong tawaging balimbing. Ako ay si…
The Ultros cosplayer then reveals herself to be…
Leila de Lima: Department of Justice employee AND future Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, formerly of the Arroyo Empire and now affiliated with the Benevolent Aquino Kingdom! Ngayon… dahil napagtanto ko na ang mga Aquino ay ang mga tagapagligtas ng kawawa nating bansa… ako ngayon ang magsisilbing espada ng hustisya! Humanda kayo… mga kampon ng kadiliman!
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Kampon ng kadiliman kuno!
Meanwhile, the director then decides on something.
Lino Cayetano: Hmm… meron daw nanggugulo sa convention… but some convention attendees will try their best to keep the peace by fighting that party-crasher! Mahusay! I might as well film that scene para meron namang kakaibang twist…
He then instructs his crewmen, who are still surprised at the scene.
Lino Cayetano: Kukunan na natin ang magiging action scene, mga men! Pronto!
After some preparations, the director gives his cue.
Lino Cayetano: Lights, camera… ACTION!
—
Extra Strategy Battle: A Fight Scene in a Romantic Movie?!
—
Leila de Lima: Ngayon, mga galamay ni Arroyo… kahit mag-isa ako, meron akong kakaibang lakas… ang lakas ng kuryente ng kinuha ko mula kay La Greta nang walang pahintulot. Merong din akong device na kayang higitan ng 0 ang 2 bilang aking sandata. Siguradong tapos kayong lahat na mga sumusuporta sa dorobong bruhang iyan!
Hyacinth: You’re in for a whip of reality, madam! Akala n’yo ba na porke nandaya daw si Arroyo at nag-sorry pa siya sa kasalanan niya eh karumal-dumal na parusa ang gagawin ng mga Aquino bilang ganti?!
Matthew Luke: Kung saan mas malakas, doon siya papanig. Iyan ang ginagawa ng isang balimbing na tulad mo.
Leila de Lima: Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na ang kaliwanagan ko ay hindi pangangalimbing? Mga tinamaan kayo ng sayad! Tama na ang satsat! Laban na kung laban!
While the other members of the NLF who also take part as extras pledge to help their esteemed leaders, two groups of cosplayers also volunteer to assist the NLF in fighting de Lima.
Matthew Luke: Sige, payag ako. We can use all the help we need just to stop her. Just keep yourselves alive.
—
Victory Condition: Defeat all enemy units.
Loss Condition: All friendly units are defeated.
—
STRATEGY BATTLE START!
The outcome of this strategy battle? At the stage, The Descenders (Not!) and the Chiu-Anderson Love Team manage to shave off Leila de Lima’s absurdly high HP with their physical attacks; while the remaining units cast buffing spells to the friendlies and attack magic to de Lima from afar, thereby finishing the battle in less than five turns.
STRATEGY BATTLE ENDS IN A MAJOR VICTORY!
Leila de Lima: Grr! Kung magsalita kayo, para kayong walang kamatayan… Piliin n’yo ang kalabanin n’yo, mga hunghang! Ang tuwid na daan ng mga Aquino ang mananaig sa huli!
She then leaves Studio 1 via teleportation. The security personnel fail to catch her.
Lino Cayetano: CUT! (approaches the party) Job well done, everyone! Totoo ngang magaling kayo sa mga laban tulad ng sabi ng mga kasama ko!
Matthew Luke: Wala lang iyan, direk.
Hyacinth: Though… hindi namin inasahan ang isang gate-crasher tulad niya.
Gerald: Pero… paano pala bumaliktad yung isang dating anti-Lopez into a pro-Lopez? I remembered a quote, but I don’t exactly remember the words.
Kim: “There are no permanent friends… only permanent interests.”
Matthew Luke: Baka ganoon din ang punot-dulo ng pagtiwalag ng iba sa atin sa Nueva Liga Filipina.
Hyacinth: Well, never mind. Magpahinga muna tayo and we can then continue with the filming.
Lino Cayetano: Great idea. You all deserve a break.
The filming of “I’ve Fallen for You” eventually wraps up; and even though Lino Cayetano fights tooth-and-nail just to get his movie released (since ABS-CBN hates to release anything favorable to the NLF), he still succeeds, with the help of international distributors.
Months later, “I’ve Fallen for You” hits big at the silver screen due to the free publicity the Nueva Liga Filipina gave.
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