Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip (transl. If you are but a dream) is a 2002 Filipino romantic comedy and fantasy film directed by Wenn V. Deramas and produced by Star Cinema. The cast was led by Jolina Magdangal, with Leandro Muñoz and Rafael Rosell in his introducing film.[1] It is Magdangal's first solo starring film and her first and only film opposite Muñoz and Rosell.[2]
Although Magdangal did not attend the premiere night due to her commitment to her concert tour in the United States, the film was commercially successful.[3][4][5][6] On its opening day, Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip registered the highest box office receipts compared to its competitions.[7] For the box office success of the film, Magdangal received the citation Princess of Philippine Movies in the 33rd Box Office Entertainment Awards.[8]
Critical response
The film received positive reviews from moviegoers and film critics with Butch Francisco of the Philippine Star saying "Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip... is a fun movie to watch. Call it baduy if you wish, but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that it is a decently-made movie ... it is a very small movie with an obviously tight budget but I do appreciate the fact that it is inventive, creative and very energetic – with its every scene well-planned and well-thought of... It is a far cry from those usual small-budgeted run-of-the-mill Tagalog pictures that are downright stupid and assault the sensibilities of the viewers... Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip is cute, fun and perky. More importantly, it stresses old positive values and traits that are so sorely lacking in most of our films today."[9]
Note: Panaginip was later included in Magdangal's compilation album Jolina: Platinum Hits Collection released on 2002 by Star Music.
Notes
The film marks Nida Blanca's last film after she was stabbed to death in a condo parking in Makati City, Philippines on 7 November 2001.[11] It was reported that Blanca's spirit was allegedly felt in the studio where Magdangal was dubbing her scenes with the actress.[12] Producer Lita Santos later revealed that Blanca admires Magdangal seeing her youth in the latter.[12] Blanca and Magdangal has starred in two other films before Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip, in Hataw Na (1995) and Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventures (1996).[12]
Magdangal's Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip (Star Cinema) and Judy Ann Santos' film May Pag-ibig Pa Kaya? (Starlight Films) were released on the same day (January 30, 2002), and the consecutive release developed[13] their natural rivalry with critics believing that said rivalry is their generation's version, popularity wise, of the country's top rivalries in Gloria Romero and Nida Blanca and Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.[14][15][3][16]
In 2003, Director Wenn Deramas revealed Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip as one of his favorite directorial films.[17]
