OBISPO. Helms “Purok 7.”
One of the finest Cinemalaya debut films we watched this season was “Purok 7.” Set in Tarlac, where 31-year-old filmmaker Carlo Obispo is based, the film is about how teenage protagonist, Diana (Krystle Valentino), copes with the absence of her OFW mother.
The director shares, “A lot of the characters are based on real people, some of whom I grew up with. My father was an OFW. My mother was a teacher, but she had a hard time sending all of us to school. There’s danger in sending Filipinos abroad, so why do we go there? They want a better life for their families, despite the dangers.”
Resignation letter
A Philosophy graduate of St. Louis University in Baguio City, Obispo used to be a call center agent and English tutor. He shares, “One night, I decided to quit my job. Right then and there, I wrote a resignation letter.
“After two weeks, I was already making a short film! But, I live in the province, where resources are limited. Upon my friends’ prodding and encouragement, I made the short, ‘123,’ which led to a good break. It won Best Short at the 2011 Cinemanila film fest.”
There were a lot of challenges during “Purok 7’s” shooting—from scheduling to financing. Obispo admits, “It came to the point that I wanted to give up, but every time I’d look at my family, who didn’t give up on me, I realized that I didn’t have any right to let them down—by giving up on myself!”