Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya
VCD cover of the film
Directed by	Carlos Siguion-Reyna
Written by	Bibeth Orteza
Produced by	Armida Siguion-Reyna Charo Santos-Concio Malou N. Santos
Starring	Rosanna Roces Ricky Davao Gardo Versoza
Cinematography	Yam Laranas
Edited by	Manet A. Dayrit
Music by	Ryan Cayabyab
Production companies	Reyna Films Star Pacific Cinema
Distributed by	Star Pacific Cinema
Release date	February 11, 1998 (1998-02-11)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (English: The Man in Selya's Life) is a controversial 1998 Filipino drama film written by Bibeth Orteza and directed by her husband, Carlos Siguion-Reyna. The film stars Rosanna Roces, Ricky Davao, and Gardo Versoza. In the film, a woman confronts her own prejudice among the community of intolerant, bigoted, and homophobic gossipers when she chooses between two men: a high school principal who is a closeted gay man and a man who wants more commitment with her. This film is the second and last film of Rosanna Roces with Reyna Films and one of the films directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna that features taboo topics in Philippine cinema.^[1]

A co-production of Reyna Films, headed by the director's mother, Armida Siguion-Reyna, and ABS-CBN's film production arm, Star Cinema, via its Star Pacific Cinema label, it is the first film produced by Star Cinema where its story and themes are aimed at adult audiences. The film was released on February 11, 1998, and it became a blockbuster and received accolades from international film festivals and controversy from censors.^[2]

The story revolves around Selya (Rosanna Roces), a schoolteacher. She wants more commitment from Bobby (Gardo Versoza), with whom she has a sexual relationship, but Bobby refuses to give her what she wants and he leaves her. Selya runs away and ends up in a little town where she meets Piling (Eva Darren), who is also a schoolteacher, and Ramon (Ricky Davao), a closeted gay man. The townspeople are homophobic, and she begins to hear vicious criticisms and unbridled gossip as she embarks on a relationship with Ramon. Selya realizes that things won't end well as Ramon does not want a sexual relationship with her, and she walks out on Ramon even as he proposes to her. Selya returns to Bobby, only to regret her decision when he gets her pregnant and still doesn't change. Selya then decides to return to Ramon and raise her child with him. Eventually, she becomes happy with her decision to live in a civil union with Ramon, though their relationship remains platonic, and Selya realizes her worth as a woman. In the end, as Bobby tries to take her and their child away from Ramon, Selya confronts her own irony, daringly exhibiting her strength of character as she conquers her physical desires and chooses the more emotionally rewarding bond.

• Rosanna Roces as Selya
• Ricky Davao as Ramon
• Gardo Versoza as Bobby
• Allan Paule as Carding
• Eva Darren as Piling
• Crispin Pineda as Imo
• Gigi Locsin as Belen
• Cednic Millado as Abet
• Macky Villalon as Diday
• John Nielsen Apilado as Ramoncito
• Renato del Prado as Ambo
• Virgie Lopez as Diding

• Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya at IMDb
• Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya at the British Film Institute^{[better source needed]}

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