‘Heneral Luna’ earns P180M, needs P20M more to break even

MANILA, Philippines – The biopic “Heneral Luna” has now earned P180 million in its four weeks in cinemas nationwide.

The film’s producer, lawyer Joji Alonso, said on her Facebook post on Friday that as of October 1, the period drama has already earned P180,434,088.

They need to raise P19,565,912 more for them to reach the P200 million mark to break even from their expenses for the film.

"[There is] P19,565,912 left to reach P200 million and break even after grossing another P8,086,507 yesterday. Please, please continue to support this film!"

It took a while for the film to gain popularity. On its first week, it screened in 99 cinemas nationwide, which was later trimmed down to 39. But after the public’s appeal to cinemas to extend its screening, it went up to 105 cinemas and growing.

“Heneral Luna” was also chosen as Philippines’ entry for Oscars next year for the Best Foreign Language film category.

READ: ‘Heneral Luna’ is Philippines entry to Oscars 2016

In a separate post, Alonso explained that they also need to reach P200 million to give the producers enough budget to start working on another biopic of a Filipino hero.

Some reports said that the next film that Alonso’s team is planning is the biopic of Gregorio del Pilar which will star Paulo Avelino. — Joyce Jimenez