Mother Lily Monteverde's legacy lives on; Regal Entertainment unveils three projects


At a glance

  • Regal Entertainment unveiled three major new film projects at the event that underscore its commitment to producing memorable content across genres: Guilty Pleasure, My Future You, and Untold.


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Regal Entertainment, the Philippines' most esteemed and iconic film production company, proudly commemorated its legacy of creating over 700 feature-length films. 

With eyes set on an even brighter future, the company marked this momentous occasion with a grand event at the prestigious 38 Valencia Events Place.

The Regal Legacy event celebrated over six decades of filmmaking and career development excellence, unveiling a future brimming with exciting new projects.

The star-studded affair highlighted the introduction of Roselle Monteverde as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Keith Monteverde as Executive Vice President (EVP).

In her welcome speech, Roselle and her siblings are unwavering in their commitment to carry forward the illustrious legacy of their mother, Mother Lily Monteverde. Their dedication to serving the film industry and delighting the Filipino audience remains resolute.

"We all know that Mother Lily has touched many lives. I am delighted to have my friends here in showbiz, especially the artists who have supported us for many years.

"On behalf of Regal Entertainment and my siblings, my brother Dondon, my sister Sherida, and Goldwin Monteverde, we have strongly decided to carry on, not just in words but also in action, the legacy of Mother Lily," Roselle said.

Roselle added: "We cannot just see go-away seeds planted since she became a housewife in the entertainment industry more than 60 years ago.

"As a movie fan and distributor of foreign movies, and finally, her greatest achievement as a movie producer, she cared for Regal and the whole entertainment industry.

"She fought for the industry many times. Lagi niyang sinasabi, hindi dapat pabayaan ang pelikulang Pilipino. Ang industriya ng pelikulang PIlipino. She nurtured this with dedication, love, compassion until her achievement became part of people's lives.

"My siblings and the key people of Regal together are here to serve the industry and the Filipino audience worldwide.

"We will uphold moving forward as great as what was planted to continue the legacy of Mother Lily. We are here because we love what we do. We are here because we want to grow and live in this industry, our life. 

"Ito talaga ang itinaguyod ni Mother ang pamilya niya, ang movie industry. Hindi lang ang Regal ang itinaguyod niya kundi ang pelikulang Pilipino. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa aking mga magulang dahil lagi nilang sinasabi kayo ang kanyang pamilya. We will continuously support each other and make not only Regal but the whole entertainment industry forever. This is Mother Lily's legacy. And this is now our legacy," saoid Roselle.

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Dondon and Roselle Monteverde, children of movie producer Mother Lily Monteverde, announce a donation of P1 million to the Mowelfund during the Regal Legacy press conference at Valencia Events Place in Quezon City on Sept. 21. At right is Keith Teo, son of Roselle. During the same event, Roselle announced that the Monteverde clan would continue the legacy of Mother Lily in showbiz.

New leadership

With this new leadership, Regal Entertainment is poised to embark on a new era of innovative filmmaking, ensuring its legendary legacy thrives.

Regal Entertainment’s rich history began in 1962, when Mother Lily Y. Monteverde and her husband, Father Leonardo “Remy” Monteverde, first ventured into the movie industry by distributing foreign films.

Foreign titles like That Man from Istanbul and All Mine to Give played a pivotal role in Regal's early success, as these Hollywood films brought in significant revenue, encouraging Mother Lily to pursue her true passion in local storytelling.

In 1976, after years of distributing foreign films, she convinced Father Remy to take a bold step into producing their first Filipino film. This happened to be Magsikap: Kayod sa Araw, Kayod sa Gabi, marking the beginning of Regal’s transformation from a distributor to a leading producer of Filipino content both on the big screen and on television.

The film’s success laid the groundwork for one of Philippine cinema's most influential film companies.

From this point on, Regal Entertainment grew into a powerhouse, shaping the landscape of Filipino cinema. Two of its most iconic film franchises became cultural milestones are Shake, Rattle & Roll (from SRR 2 in 1990 to SRR: Extreme in 2023) and Mano Po (from 2002 to 2016). The Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise, propelled by the MMFF box-office hit Shake, Rattle & Roll 2 in 1990, became a long-running horror anthology series synonymous with Filipino horror. Meanwhile, the Mano Po film series, exploring the lives and struggles of Chinese-Filipino families, has garnered both commercial and critical success. Two of its titles won Best Picture at the MMFF, among many other awards. They continued with a TV adaptation on GMA Network called Mano Po Legacy, featuring three installments.

The Regal Legacy event included a moving tribute to Mother Lily, the visionary behind Regal’s success. A special presentation highlighted her decades of contributions to the film industry, featuring clips from her most iconic films and honoring her role in launching the careers of countless stars.

As part of the celebration, guests were treated to a visual journey through Regal’s rich history by unveiling the Regal Legacy wall and movie installations.

Decade-by-decade, photos, film stills, and memorabilia illustrated Regal’s unparalleled contributions to showbiz. Highlights from each era were presented, reminding attendees of the company’s roots and what lies ahead.

P1 million for Mowelfund

During the event, Dondon Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde donated P1 million to the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), taking a solid step in celebrating Mother Lily's admirable cause.

Though Mother Lily recently passed away, her legacy remains an enduring influence on Philippine cinema, and the Monteverde family is committed to continuing her vision.

Unveiling Regal’s upcoming projects

Regal Entertainment unveiled three major new film projects at the event that underscore its commitment to producing memorable content across genres: Guilty Pleasure, My Future You, and Untold. These were the projects approved by Mother Lily before she passed on.

These new releases demonstrate Regal’s continued commitment to producing films that speak to a wide audience across genres—drama, romance, and horror.

Guilty Pleasure

Genre: Social Romantic Drama
Director: Connie Macatuno
Writer: Noreen Capili, FSG; Trisha Mae Delez, FSG
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde

Cast: Lovi Poe, JM De Guzman, Jameson Blake, Sarah Edwards, Dustin Yu, Angelica Lao

Logline:

Guilty Pleasure explores the complex relationships and personal struggles of three ambitious lawyers as they navigate love, betrayal, and professional ambition.


Synopsis:
Alexis Miranda, a highly-skilled attorney who owns Miranda and Associates, accepts Zach Lopez, a man accused of rape, as her client. This means going against Atticus, the biggest law firm in the country, and her former colleagues who are representing the victim - Madison Valencia. Things become complicated when Alexis recalls the trauma of her own past while working on the case. She once again has to deal with Adam Lucero, the man who broke her heart, betrayed her trust, and almost made her lose her career, and Matthew Caliente, the young lawyer she mentored in the past.


My Future You

Genre: Romantic Comedy with a Sci-Fi Twist
Director/Writer: Crisanto B. Aquino
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde

Cast: Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Almira Muhlach, Christian Vasquez, PeeWee O’Hara, Bodjie Pascua, Marcus Madrigal, Vance Larena, Izzy Canillo, Mosang

Logline:
A mysterious comet connects two people from different timelines—15 years apart—through a dating app, as they attempt to change the past to create a better future.

Synopsis:
Lex, from 2009, meets Karen, from 2024, through a dating app, despite being 15 years apart. As they grow close, Karen asks Lex to change key moments in her past to prevent her parents’ separation. However, each alteration leads to unintended consequences, reshaping their futures in unpredictable ways. Lex hopes to correct everything with one final attempt, but some events may be beyond their control.

Untold

Genre: Psychological Horror
Director: Derick Cabrido
Writer: Enrico Santos (based on an original screenplay by Anton Sta. Maria)
Executive Producers: Roselle Y. Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Lily Y. Monteverde
Cast: Jodi Sta. Maria, Joem Bascon, JK Labajo, Gloria Diaz, Kaori Oinuma, Mylene Dizon, Sarah Edwards, Lianne Valentin, Miggs Cuaderno

Logline:
Untold is a cautionary tale about the dangers of sacrificing integrity for ambition and a chilling exploration of the horrors lurking behind even the most glamorous professions.

Synopsis:
Vivian Vera has always been in the public eye, creating media content that catapults her to become one of the country's most influential personalities. However, her success is built on lies and manipulation, leaving a trail of ruined lives. As Vivian’s past catches up with her, she faces terrifying consequences, such as the horrors of her deceit coming to light and threatening to destroy her life and career.

The Regal Legacy event began a new era for the company as Roselle and Keith Monteverde led Regal into the future. With a renewed focus, Regal continues to evolve while honoring its traditions, history, and legacy.