MANILA, Philippines?The love story of former President Corazon Aquino and slain opposition leader Benigno ?Ninoy? Aquino will be the focus of a biopic to be produced by Star Cinema, which will begin principal photography in the first quarter of 2010.

ABS-CBN senior vice president and managing director Malou Santos made the announcement Tuesday, saying the film arm of ABS-CBN is eyeing Piolo Pascual to play the young Ninoy and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, as the adult Cory.

?I want the movie to show how President Cory was like when she was still being courted by Ninoy,? Malou told Inquirer Entertainment in a phone interview. ?I want to see how she coped when her husband was incarcerated for seven years.?

Cory married Ninoy in 1954. They had five children: Ballsy, Pinky, Noynoy, Viel and Kris. Ninoy was arrested and imprisoned shortly after then president Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972.

Malou added that the biopic would also show how Cory took care of her family as they lived in exile in the United States for three years in the 1980s.

Daughter, sister, friend

?I also want the viewers to see how she was like as a daughter, a sister and a best friend,? added Malou. ?The movie should also show how close she was to Fr. Catalino Arevalo (Cory?s spiritual adviser).?

Malou said Star Cinema is now in the process of forming a creative team for the biopic. It is aiming for an international release, according to Adprom director Roxy Liquigan.

Malou said she broached the idea of a biopic on Cory to Kris, a Kapamilya contract artist, early this week. The actress-TV host immediately agreed.

?We will consult the Aquino family every step of the way,? Malou stressed. ?This is a big project and should not be rushed.?

Meanwhile, Vilma admitted that the news of her inclusion in the project has made her very nervous. ?I honestly don?t know how to react,? said the award-winning actress. ?Is Star Cinema sure about this? Karapat-dapat ba ako? This is not an ordinary movie. It?s a big honor to be considered for the role but it also requires a lot of preparation.?

Reservations

Vilma, however, has a few reservations. ?I have to know their (Star Cinema bosses) time-table,? she pointed out. ?The movie I made with them, ?In My Life,? has yet to be shown. There?s also the issue of whether or not I would run for reelection next year.?

?But imagine if this project pushes through with me,? said Vilma, ?it would be one of the biggest films I?d ever make.?

Star Cinema readily presented a plan: ?If Vilma would agree to do the film, we would make sure that she?d work on her scenes before she gets really busy with the elections,? said Malou.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph