Tisoy!

Tisoy! is a 1977 Philippine satirical comedy film directed by Ishmael Bernal from a story and screenplay written by Severino Marcelo that is based on his comic strip of the same name.^[1] The film stars Christopher de Leon, Jay Ilagan, Charo Santos, Bert "Tawa" Marcelo, and Lorli Villanueva, with the special participation of Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco, Hilda Koronel, and Elizabeth Oropesa.

Tisoy!
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ishmael Bernal
Written by	Severino Marcelo
Based on	Tisoy! comic strip by Nonoy Marcelo
Produced by	Nora Aunor Villamayor
Starring	Christopher de Leon Jay Ilagan Charo Santos Bert "Tawa" Marcelo Lorli Villanueva
Cinematography	Arnold Alvaro
Edited by	Augusto Salvador
Music by	Vanishing Tribe
Production company	NV Productions
Release date	April 30, 1977 (1977-04-30)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English

Produced by NV Productions, the film was theatrically released on April 30, 1977, and it is the first film where Christopher de Leon and Charo Santos paired up.^[2] In 2019, the film was digitally restored and remastered in 4K resolution by ABS-CBN Film Restoration, in partnership with Kantana Post-Production (Thailand).^[3]

Synopsis

Tisoy, a young and free-spirited balikbayan, returns to the Philippines to find his long-lost American father. While finding him somewhere in Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces, he meets new friends including Boy and reunites with his high school sweetheart Maribubut and Tikyo, a happy-go-lucky comedian from Bulacan.

Cast

• Christopher de Leon as Tisoy
• Jay Ilagan as Boy
• Charo Santos as Maribubut
• Bert Marcelo as Tikyo
• Lorli Villanueva as Pomposa
• Ruffy Mendoza
• Dexter Doria as Marjorie
• Soxie Topacio as Gemmo
• Pongay
• Jun Morales as Clip
• Moody Diaz as Aling Otik

Special participation

• Nora Aunor as Corazon (from the 1976 film Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo)
• Dranreb Belleza as Bindoy
• Feling Cudia as Pining
• Marianne dela Riva as Woman stuck in traffic
• Johnny Delgado as Faith Healer
• Angie Ferro as Faith Healer
• Ernie Garcia as Party Guest
• Sandy Garcia as Taxi Driver
• Trixia Gomez as Party Guest
• Hilda Koronel as Lady in hotel hallway
• Edgar Mortiz as Attendant
• Orestes Ojeda as Man stuck in traffic
• Elizabeth Oropesa as Maria (from the 1976 film Nunal sa Tubig)
• Rolly Quizon as a Scuba diver in a hotel fountain
• Bembol Roco as Julio Madiaga (from the 1975 film Manila in the Claws of Light)

Reception

Critical reception

Film critic Mario Hernando gave a mixed-to-positive review and called the film "partly corny" and "partly hysterically crazy".^[3]