Temptation Island



The search for a new Miss Manila Sunshine is on. Prizes include a trip to California, a house and lot, a brand new car and a substantial amount of money. Four lovely young ladies from all walks of life join, and are chosen as finalists. Suzanne (Jennifer Cortez)/Serafina (Lovi Poe) is a bored heiress who wants to get out of the country for the summer. The overprotected Dina (Dina Bonnevie)/Virginia (Heart Evangelista) hates depending on her brother for rides, and wants a car of her own. Bambi (Bambi Arambulo)/Pura (Solenn Heussaff) is a beauty pageant veteran who has fallen on hard times from her frivolous parties. Azenith (Azenith Briones)/Cristina (Marian Rivera) is a con artist who aims for the house and lot, and plans to seduce the judges with the help of her boyfriend.

All finalists and judges board a yacht for the pageant finals. Also on board is the pageant coordinator Joshua (Jonas Sebastian/John Lapus), his boy toy/photographer protégé Ricardo (Ricky Belmonte/Mikael Daez), the no-nonsense waiter Umberto (Domingo Sabado/Tom Rodriguez), Suzanne's loyal maid Maria/Nympha (Deborah Sun/Rufa Mae Quinto), and the stowaway smitten with Dina, Alfredo (Alfie Anido/Aljur Abrenica).

But a fire breaks out and sinks the yacht! These people then jumped overboard and washed up together on a barren desert island, forced to tolerate hunger, heat, thirst, lust... and each other.

Temptation Island (1980) is considered as director Joey Gosiengfiao's masterpiece. It has been considered the crown jewel of Camp, and the Bible of witticisms to a generation of Filipino cineastes. It was adapted for the stage with gay actors playing the beauty contestants. A faithful 2011 update was helmed by Chris Martinez and became a box-office hit.

Not to be confused with the Reality TV show.

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Temptation Island provides examples of:
"Azenith/Cristina: ...There are a lot of old men on the second board of judges. The dirtiest, and the oldest! Tonio: And aren't they your forte? Azenith/Cristina: And yours are the cougars!"
 * Abandon Ship - A fire in the yacht was set off accidentally by Umberto's cigarette. He dropped it as he tried to catch Alfredo, whom he discovered hiding in the crew's quarters.
 * Box Of Holding - Suzanne/Serafina's maid Maria/Nympha lugs around her make-up box, full of accessories like silk scarves, sunglasses, Walkmans/iPods, a hair dryer and an ironing board. It contains nothing that can help with their situation.
 * Beauty Contest - The Miss Manila Sunshine pageant kicked off everything.
 * Beverage Spill - Tonio splashes Azenith/Cristina with the cocktail she requested, after Tonio caught her flirting with Alfredo.
 * Black Comedy
 * The Cameo - The 2011 version featured socialites Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Tim Yap.
 * Remake Cameo - Azenith Briones became the pageant's corporate sponsor. Deborah Sun became Pura's mother, Nenuca.
 * Camp
 * Camp Gay - Joshua.
 * Pet Homosexual - Tries to be this to the "upper-upper" Suzanne/Serafina.
 * Casting Gag - In the 1980 version, Anita Linda played Bambi's mother, Nenuca. "Nenuca" was the name of a character Anita Linda once played.
 * Con Artists Who Don't Do Anything - Azenith/Cristina, and her boyfriend Tonio, are "damn good crook(s).". They were not able to engage in their work because the shipwreck ruined their plans.
 * Coronation Couch - Both of them intended to work the judges.
 * Pet Homosexual - Tries to be this to the "upper-upper" Suzanne/Serafina.
 * Casting Gag - In the 1980 version, Anita Linda played Bambi's mother, Nenuca. "Nenuca" was the name of a character Anita Linda once played.
 * Con Artists Who Don't Do Anything - Azenith/Cristina, and her boyfriend Tonio, are "damn good crook(s).". They were not able to engage in their work because the shipwreck ruined their plans.
 * Coronation Couch - Both of them intended to work the judges.
 * Coronation Couch - Both of them intended to work the judges.

"Cristina: Chicken curry! Serafina: Chicken cordon bleu! Virginia: Chicken nuggets! Pura: Chicken a la king! Nympha: Two-piece chicken... with extra rice!"
 * Femme Fatale - Azenith/Cristina. "I'm a big-time bitch... people think lowly of you because they believe your main tool is your body. But they're wrong. It's your brains!"
 * Deadpan Snarker - The castaways. Queen of Snark is either Suzanne/Serafina or Joshua.
 * Deserted Island - It's vast but barren except for sparse and inedible shrubbery.
 * Do Not Go Gentle - Some examples:
 * Suzanne/Serafina rummages through her make-up box and finds her Walkman/iPod. Everyone appreciates the music. Azenith/Cristina notes, "No water, no food, (no signal). Let's dance!" And they all do.
 * Another Azenith/Cristina example, to Umberto: "They say love is like food too, so please love me somehow."
 * The castaways bravely look for food and light a fire to attract would-be rescuers.
 * Fever Dream Scenes - A few days into their ordeal, the starving girls hallucinate giant versions of the treats they used to take for granted. Massive ice cream cones, a huge roast chicken, and a fleet of electric fans materialize. They strike exaggerated poses beside their hallucinations.
 * For the Evulz - Suzanne/Serafina seems to enjoy deliberately taunting the other girls.
 * Green-Eyed Monster - Joshua envies Ricardo's warmth towards Bambi/Pura, and this motivates him to constantly belittle her.  Suzanne/Serafina hates that she didn't get to pair up with any of the straight guys.
 * Impoverished Patrician - Bambi, because she forced her parents to spend on her lavish parties and designer clothes. She is named Pura in the remake, prompting Joshua to rub her poverty in her face.
 * Mock Millionaire - Bambi/Pura throws parties and buys new clothes to keep up appearances; these are not enough to upstage her frequent guest, Suzanne/Serafina. Joshua sees through her efforts and despises her for her social climbing.
 * Princess in Rags - Bambi/Pura resents her mother's reminders about their debts.
 * Incredibly Lame Pun - Only in the remake. In a jealous fit, Joshua reminds Pura of her poverty. "Your name suits you. Pura. Purita. Poor!" Ricardo had to intervene.
 * The Ingenue - Dina, renamed as Virginia in the 2011 film.
 * Lampshade Hanging - Several instances.
 * Azenith/Cristina was exasperated with Bambi/Pura. "For your information, we are shipwrecked and currently in the middle of nowhere!"
 * Large Ham - In order of hamminess: Joshua, Cristina, Nympha and Serafina in the 2011 version.
 * Les Yay - Nympha often applies lotion or massages Serafina. In the pool scene Maria/Nympha is shown working at the center of Suzanne/Serafina's chest.
 * Lover and Beloved - Joshua and Ricardo.
 * Maid - Maria/Nympha.
 * Beleaguered Assistant
 * Old Retainer - Maria/Nympha has been in Suzanne/Serafina's service for some time, and has been involved in her upbringing. She even took care of the girl during a bout of typhoid fever. That said, she can't be more than a decade older than the beauty contestants.
 * Yes Woman - She frequently strokes Suzanne/Serafina's ego. It's rarely enough to please the boss.
 * MacGyvering - The women (except for Suzanne/Serafina) took off their pantyhose and used them to catch a few puny fishes they all shared.
 * Meaningful Awards - The girls received secondary titles upon being chosen as finalists. Virginia is Miss Body Beautiful. Pura is Miss Photogenic. Cristina is Miss Talent and Serafina is Miss Friendship.
 * Meaningful Rename - Shout-outs aside (see below), Virginia and Pura's renames suit their characters. Cristina and Serafina's renames have a touch of Irony.
 * The Remake - In 2011. At times it was shot-for-shot, with lines echoing together in the credits.
 * Rich Bitch - Suzanne/Serafina. She bullies Maria/Nympha even when her wealth is meaningless on a deserted island.
 * Romance on the Set - Dina Bonnevie and Alfie Anido were an item on location, with a Slap Slap Kiss dynamic.
 * Service Sector Stereotype - Umberto served drinks in the yacht, thus he is a "posh waiter/bartender" stereotype. He failed to catch Alfredo, and accidentally set the boat on fire in the process. Nevertheless, he proved to be the most pragmatic castaway,
 * Shout-Out - Names of Joey Gosiengfiao heroines are used for the remake.
 * Nympha (1980), for Maria.
 * Diary of Cristina Gaston (1982), for Azenith.
 * Virginia P. (1989), for Dina.
 * Secrets of Pura (1991), for Bambi.
 * Nights of Serafina (1996), for Suzanne.
 * Stalker with a Crush - Alfredo is portrayed sympathetically.
 * Dogged Nice Guy - He stowed away on the yacht to be with Dina/Virginia.
 * Stage Mom - Nenuca pushes Bambi/Pura into joining beauty contests to replenish the family coffers.
 * Trademark Favorite Food - These are desperately missed on the island.
 * Suzanne/Serafina cannot be without iced tea. Maria/Nympha managed to stash one teabag and a small jug of water to make one more serving. Too bad, they didn't bring ice.
 * Joshua reminisces about his last good meal: "Just last night I was supping on the most delicious fried chicken, and cold rosé wine." Continuing the fried chicken theme, Serafina vows to do "anything for crispy fried chicken!"
 * All the girls crave chicken in one form or another. They desperately, stylishly clung to an imaginary giant roast fowl in the remake.
 * Diary of Cristina Gaston (1982), for Azenith.
 * Virginia P. (1989), for Dina.
 * Secrets of Pura (1991), for Bambi.
 * Nights of Serafina (1996), for Suzanne.
 * Stalker with a Crush - Alfredo is portrayed sympathetically.
 * Dogged Nice Guy - He stowed away on the yacht to be with Dina/Virginia.
 * Stage Mom - Nenuca pushes Bambi/Pura into joining beauty contests to replenish the family coffers.
 * Trademark Favorite Food - These are desperately missed on the island.
 * Suzanne/Serafina cannot be without iced tea. Maria/Nympha managed to stash one teabag and a small jug of water to make one more serving. Too bad, they didn't bring ice.
 * Joshua reminisces about his last good meal: "Just last night I was supping on the most delicious fried chicken, and cold rosé wine." Continuing the fried chicken theme, Serafina vows to do "anything for crispy fried chicken!"
 * All the girls crave chicken in one form or another. They desperately, stylishly clung to an imaginary giant roast fowl in the remake.
 * Joshua reminisces about his last good meal: "Just last night I was supping on the most delicious fried chicken, and cold rosé wine." Continuing the fried chicken theme, Serafina vows to do "anything for crispy fried chicken!"
 * All the girls crave chicken in one form or another. They desperately, stylishly clung to an imaginary giant roast fowl in the remake.


 * The original has Maria the maid wishing for chicken adobo.
 * Upper Class Wits - What Suzanne/Serafina and Joshua believe themselves to be. Given their actions in the movie, they're actually...
 * Upper Class Twits - Joshua is implied to be slightly worse than Suzanne/Serafina.
 * The pageant's corporate sponsor also has shades of this.
 * The Vamp - Azenith/Cristina planned to win the contest by being "a crook; a damn good crook."