Sa Kuko ng Agila

Sa Kuko ng Agila
Sa Kuko ng Agila
Directed by	Augusto Buenaventura
Written by	Ricky Lee
Produced by	Raymond Tan
Starring	Joseph Estrada
Cinematography	Fred Conde
Edited by	Edgardo Vinarao
Music by	Jaime Fabregas
Production; company	Richfilm
Distributed by	Richfilm
Release date	July 5, 1989;
Running time	110 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino; English;

Sa Kuko ng Agila (lit. 'In the Eagle's Claw'), is a 1989 film directed by Augusto Buenaventura and written by Ricky Lee. The film stars Joseph Estrada, alongside Senator Nikki Coseteng, Maria Isabel Lopez, Tommy Abuel, Paquito Diaz and Jinggoy Estrada. The film is a depiction of the real Olongapo City when the U.S. Military bases were still there.^[1]

Plot

Tonyo (Joseph Estrada), a mini-bus driver in Olongapo, opposes U.S. military bases in the Philippines. He saw the changes of the city after the military bases were established. Social problems of corruption, prostitution, poverty, and the plight of fishermen after the base appropriated much of the land and sea. The movie depicts his struggle between principle and practicality, a battle of healthy past and promising future and the quest for freedom and nationalism.^[2]

Full cast

Joseph "Erap" Estrada as Tonyo
Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng as Cristy
Maria Isabel Lopez as Shirley
Paquito Diaz as Martin
Tommy Abuel as Lucio
Jinggoy Estrada as Caloy
Laurice Guillen as Lumeng
Subas Herrero as Jose Morelos
Ruben Rustia as Don Fernando
Dexter Doria as Lolit
Lara Melissa de Leon as Del
Ilonah Jean as Anna
Bomber Moran as Asyong
Caloy Salvador as Badong
Anna Ascalon as Photographer
Rene Matias as Sunga
Nick Nicholson

Production

In early November 1988, Senators Joseph Estrada and Nikki Coseteng revealed to the press that they plan to star in a film called Sa Kuko ng Agila, which will revolve around the issue of United States military bases in the Philippines; the expected release date for the film was in February 1989.^[3]