Directed by the late , Matrikula attempts to answer a question that feels even more relevant today than it did 25 years ago: How far will a mother go to secure her child’s future?
While marketed heavily on its provocative themes, Matrikula (the Tagalog word for "tuition fee") leverages its adult rating to expose the socio-economic rot within the Philippine educational system. It provides a gritty, unvarnished look at the extreme sacrifices marginalized students endure to secure a college degree. Production Overview August 13, 1997 Director Romy V. Suzara Production House Premiere Productions (Premiere Entertainment) Lead Cast pinoy movie matrikula rosanna roces 1997
, an actress who redefined the "bold" star archetype with raw, unfiltered performances. One of her most poignant works from this era is the 1997 drama, Matrikula (1997) A Struggle for Education Directed by the late , Matrikula attempts to
(Roy Alvarez), who represents the dark underbelly of Mariposa's past. Production and Cast Produced by Premiere Productions Production Overview August 13, 1997 Director Romy V
: Despite the "ST" marketing typical of the 1990s, the film touches on the gritty reality of poverty and the lack of social mobility. The Cast and Production Mariposa Rosanna Roces Eddie Boy Jao Mapa Jinky Denise Joaquin Uncle Ernie Joey Padilla Arnold Juan Rodrigo Lallie Vivian Foz
Roces strips away her glamorous image completely. She looks tired. She looks malnourished. She looks like every struggling single mother you’ve seen waiting for the bus in the rain. It is a performance that should have won awards, but because of the "skin flick" marketing of the era, it was largely ignored by critics.