Edjop does not present itself as a typical biopic. Instead of following the usual sequence of events, director Katski Flores (Still Life, Ang Pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz, Runaway) presents two parallel stories in a dialogue on history itself. Beyond giving us the story of student activist and martial law icon Edgar “Edjop” Jopson, the film explores what happens to the people who inherit that history and shows what it means to live with a past you never chose.
The first is the story of Edgar Jopson (Elijah Canlas), from his childhood as a student activist and leader in at the Ateneo de Manila University to eventually becoming one of the most revered figures and stories during and after martial law. The second is about his daughter Joyette (Jodi Sta. Maria), where the biopic diverts its gaze from Edgar as she comes to terms with his life and death. The film moves between Edgar’s past and his family’s present, unfolding in a dual, non-linear narrative that makes it more of a contemporary conversation than a typical historical biopic.
It was a compelling choice that offered a fresher take on his story, especially for those who have already read U.G.: An Underground Tale – The Life and Struggle of Edgar Jopson. It puts viewers in the shoes of another Jopson member far from the realities of Edgar, as Joyette knew him almost only as a concept.
Edjop further shows how the family Jopson left behind continues to commemorate him, which includes Joy Jopson (portrayed in her later years by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo) and his eldest, Noy (Cedrick Juan), who joins various historical initiatives and memory projects. However, Joyette carries a different relationship with her late father, remaining angry and very much distant from him for much of the film after feeling like he abandoned them. The tension between Joyette’s desire to run away or detach herself completely from politics and the near impossibility of truly escaping her father’s legacy is one of the film’s strongest depictions.
EDJOP’S JOURNEY FROM STUDENT ACTIVIST TO THE CPP
Canlas’ portrayal of Edjop was a standout, with the actor not shying away from showing physical and emotional vulnerability, particularly in scenes depicting his abuse at the hands of state forces. We follow the progression of Edgar’s activism, from his beginnings as an advocate for nonviolent resistance under the moderate National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), even trying to brush off the more left-leaning, radical groups from joining their demonstrations during the First Quarter Storm, before eventually becoming a radical himself and later the leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The filmmakers depicted his journey particularly well, giving enough space to meticulously capture the circumstances that shaped his decision to be armed, exhausting every avenue for peaceful change before having the political epiphany that, with just how much the people were suffering and being killed, mere dialogue would no longer be enough.
Beyond Edgar’s activism, we get to see him as a son, a brother, and ultimately a father alongside his partner Joy Jopson (played in her early years by Kakie Pangilinan). These glimpses showed the parts that made him ordinarily human and the life he had to give up for the cause.
HOW ‘EDJOP’ DEPICTED THE FIRST QUARTER STORM
While the filmmakers excelled in terms of intimacy and humanity, it fell short on scale, particularly in the scene of crowds taking to the street. This may seem like a nitpick, especially as it may be more of a matter of creative decision, but it failed to visually capture what it was really like for an estimated 50,000 students to protest during the First Quarter Storm. It deserved a stronger visual representation of their collective force. While there were montages of the actual rallies, a more cinematic depiction would have been a more powerful moment that could reinforce just how aggressive the crowds of young people were at the time.
Despite this, Edjop stays true to the realities of the martial law era while underlining how its lessons are being forgotten today. It shows everything that makes us Filipino, from the violence and the corruption to the injustices, to the people who resist and inspire us to be better. The film challenges its audience to decide whether it’s with anger or with hope on the day we finally run out to the streets.
Edjop will premiere in cinemas nationwide on September 16, days before the 54th Anniversary of martial law. It’s a much-needed film for a nation starting to forget.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The film tells the story of Edgar Jopson from his childhood as a courageous student activist and leader in Ateneo to becoming one of the most revered figures of sacrifice for the country after fighting against martial law.
Elijah Canlas portrays both the young and old Edgar Jopson in the Edjop biopic.
Elijah Canlas, Jodi Sta. Maria, Kakie Pangilinan, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, and Cedrick Juan are among the cast of the film.
Edjop will premiere in cinemas nationwide on September 16.
Joyette Jopson is a triathlete and the daughter of the late Edgar Jopson; her story also plays a pivotal role in the biopic.
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