Regal Entertainment, the Philippines’ oldest and most iconic film production company, taking pride of having produced over 700 feature length films, recently celebrated its legacy as it looks forward to brighter future with a grand event at 38 Valencia Events Place.
This Regal Legacy event marked over six decades of excellence in filmmaking and career development while unveiling a future brimming with exciting new projects.
The star-studded affair highlighted the introduction of Roselle Monteverde as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Keith Monteverde as Executive Vice President (EVP).
With this new leadership, Regal Entertainment is poised to embark on a new era of innovative filmmaking, ensuring that its legendary legacy continues to thrive.
Regal Entertainment’s rich history began in 1962, when Mother Lily Y. Monteverde and her husband, Father Leonardo “Remy” Monteverde, first ventured into the movie industry by distributing foreign films.
Foreign titles like That Man from Istanbul and All Mine to Give played a pivotal role in Regal’s early success, as these Hollywood films brought in significant revenue, which encouraged Mother Lily’s to pursue her true passion in local storytelling.
In 1976, after years of distributing foreign films, she convinced Father Remy to take a bold step into producing their first Filipino film. This happened to be Magsikap: Kayod sa Araw, Kayod sa Gabi, marking the beginning of Regal’s transformation from a distributor to a leading producer of Filipino content both on the big screen and on television.
The film’s success laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most influential film companies in Philippine cinema.
From this point on, Regal Entertainment grew into a powerhouse, shaping the landscape of Filipino cinema. Two of its most iconic film franchises became cultural milestones are Shake, Rattle & Roll (from SRR 2 in 1990 to SRR: Extreme in 2023) and Mano Po (from 2002 to 2016). The Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise, propelled by the MMFF box-office hit Shake, Rattle & Roll 2 in 1990, became a long-running horror anthology series synonymous with Filipino horror. Meanwhile, the Mano Po film series, exploring the lives and struggles of Chinese-Filipino families, has garnered both commercial and critical success. Two of its titles won Best Picture at the MMFF among many other awards, and continued on with a TV adaptation on GMA Network called Mano Po Legacy, featuring three installments.
The Regal Legacy event included a moving tribute to Mother Lily, the visionary behind Regal’s success. A special presentation highlighted her decades of contributions to the film industry, featuring clips from her most iconic films and honoring her role in launching the careers of countless stars.
As part of the celebration, guests were treated to a visual journey through Regal’s rich history with the unveiling of the Regal Legacy wall and movie installations.
Decade-by-decade, photos, film stills, and memorabilia illustrated Regal’s unparalleled contributions to showbiz. Highlights from each era were presented, reminding attendees of the company’s roots as well as what lies ahead.
During the event, Dondon Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde donated P1 million to the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), taking a strong step in celebrating Mother Lily’s admirable cause.
Though Mother Lily recently passed away, her legacy remains an enduring influence on Philippine cinema, and the Monteverde family is committed to continuing her vision.
Unveiling Regal’s Upcoming Projects
At the event, Regal Entertainment unveiled three major new film projects that underscore its commitment to producing memorable content across various genres: Guilty Pleasure, My Future You, and Untold.
These new releases demonstrate Regal’s continued commitment to producing films across genres—drama, romance, and horror—that speak to a wide audience.
Guilty Pleasure
Genre: Social Romantic Drama
Director: Connie Macatuno
Writer: Noreen Capili, FSG; Trisha Mae Delez, FSG
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde
Cast: Lovi Poe, JM De Guzman, Jameson Blake, Sarah Edwards, Dustin Yu, Angelica Lao
Logline:
Guilty Pleasure explores the complex relationships and personal struggles of three ambitious lawyers as they navigate love, betrayal, and professional ambition.
Synopsis:
Alexis Miranda, a highly-skilled attorney who owns Miranda and Associates, accepts Zach Lopez, a man accused of rape, as her client. This means going against Atticus, the biggest law firm in the country, and her former colleagues who are representing the victim – Madison Valencia. Things become complicated when Alexis recalls the trauma of her own past while working on the case. She once again has to deal with Adam Lucero, the man who broke her heart, betrayed her trust, and almost made her lose her career, and Matthew Caliente, the young lawyer she mentored in the past.
My Future You
Genre: Romantic Comedy with a Sci-Fi Twist
Director/Writer: Crisanto B. Aquino
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde
Cast: Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Almira Muhlach, Christian Vasquez, PeeWee O’Hara, Bodjie Pascua, Marcus Madrigal, Vance Larena, Izzy Canillo, Mosang
Logline:
A mysterious comet connects two people from different timelines—15 years apart—through a dating app, as they attempt to change the past to create a better future.
Synopsis:
Lex, from 2009, meets Karen, from 2024, through a dating app, despite being 15 years apart. As they grow close, Karen asks Lex to change key moments in her past to prevent her parents’ separation. However, each alteration leads to unintended consequences, reshaping their futures in unpredictable ways. With one final attempt, Lex hopes to correct everything, but some events may be beyond their control.
Untold
Genre: Psychological Horror
Director: Derick Cabrido
Writer: Enrico Santos (based on an original screenplay by Anton Sta. Maria)
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde
Cast: Jodi Sta. Maria, Joem Bascon, JK Labajo, Gloria Diaz, Kaori Oinuma, Mylene Dizon, Sarah Edwards, Lianne Valentin, Miggs Cuaderno
Logline:
Untold is a cautionary tale about the dangers of sacrificing integrity for ambition, and a chilling exploration of the horrors lurking behind even the most glamorous professions.
Synopsis:
Vivian Vera has always been in the public eye, creating media content that catapults her to become one of the country’s most influential personalities. However, her success is built on lies and manipulation, leaving a trail of ruined lives. As Vivian’s past catches up with her, she faces terrifying consequences as the horrors of her deceit come to light, threatening to destroy her life and career.
The Regal Legacy event marked the beginning of a new era for the company, as Roselle and Keith Monteverde lead Regal into the future.
With a renewed focus, Regal continues to evolve while honoring its traditions, history, and above all, legacy.
