From farmers to fish pen boys in ToFarm’s stories from the countryside

Bayang Barrios (left) and Roger Gonzales in “Kamunggai”

More than it being a way to promote regional cinema, Vic Acedillo Jr. said he shot his latest film, “Kamunggai,” in his home province Camiguin to spend more time with his aging mother.

In 2013, Acedillo ended his 15-year mainstream advertising career in Manila to return to Camiguin to be with his 89-year-old mom, Inday. At the time, his two other siblings had just passed away.

“I tend to my mom, so I can’t be away from home for a long time. I make my films there because it’s like hitting two birds with one stone,” Acedillo told the Inquirer. (His previous films, “Lando at Bugoy” and “Kakampi,” were also filmed in Camiguin.)

There is no film community in Camiguin at all. “When I was making my first movie, along with my crew from Manila, the residents there all thought we were scammers or kidnappers,” Acedillo reported.

Acedillo said the toughest challenge was completing his all-Bisaya speaking cast and crew. “I also wanted a team that’s based in Camaguin. I want people whom I can easily go to for my projects. We have yet to find a cinematographer based there—ours is from Davao (Coicoi Nacario),” he said.

Kent Raymond Basa in “Kamunggai”

The film, shot in Barangay Mainit, Catarman, revolves around Lolo Peping, who lives alone in his little shack and tends to a simple vegetable patch nearby. It provides daily sustenance and a meager livelihood for him. However, some opportunistic villagers regularly help themselves to its fruits.

Acedillo said the seed of the film’s story came from observing quarrels between neighbors when freeloaders feel entitled to harvest produce that they didn’t work for.

“The issue may seem petty especially to cosmopolitan minds, but this problem occurs anywhere in the Philippine countryside,” he pointed out. “It is often a cause of conflict.”

‘Baklad’

Scene from “Baklad”

“Baklad,” meanwhile, tells the story of fish pen boys whom filmmaker Topel Lee described as “one of the most neglected people in the country’s workforce and society.”

“They give us the fish we eat every day, but we never know that, like the fishes, they’re also drowning in sorrow, and dream of breaking free from the nets of poverty,” Lee said.

Written by Sigfreid Barros Sanchez, the movie stars Ronwaldo Martin.

Unlike most actors who always make sure they look good onscreen, Ronwaldo (younger brother of Coco Martin) is more concerned with being true to the character he portrays, according to Lee.

Ronwaldo Martin (left) and Rafa Siguion-Reyna in “Baklad”

“He isn’t your typical action star who would do sit-ups and push-ups before a scene to make sure his body is lean. He is more concerned with how to best attack a scene,” Lee told the Inquirer.

Ronwaldo plays Tutoy in this coming-of-age story of a fish pen boy who is learning to dream big, triggered by his sexual awakening from his boss’ new lover (Elora Españo).

Lee noted, “Ron wants to be different. He studies his character by observing other fish pen boys. He doesn’t care if he looks fat onscreen.

“He said the real baklad guys aren’t conscious of their looks, anyway. He’s the quiet and contemplative type. He is also very observant. I often catch him looking at me when I’m telling stories to the production team.”

Rafa, son of Bibeth Orteza and Carlos Siguion-Reyna, was a revelation in “Baklad,” added Topel. “My impression of him in the beginning was that he’s an elitist. I was wrong. I saw that he really prepared for the role physically—he didn’t shave and had his skin darkened.”

What proved to be most difficult for Topel was how to mount all of his 110 sequences on their set in Jala-Jala, Rizal, and finish filming in just six days.

“We tried to shoot in an actual fish pen on our first day, but we only finished four sequences. It was hard to get there and leave using only paddle boats, which required skill in balancing,” recalled Topel, adding that they were also delayed by a storm.

He recalled: “There were some of us who didn’t know how to swim. Also, there was no available bathroom. When one of us would pee, especially the women, the rest of us would just turn our backs.”

“Baklad” and “Kamunggai” are among the six finalists in the 2017 ToFarm Film Festival, which runs until July 18 in cinemas at SM Megamall, SM Manila, Greenbelt Mall, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Metro East.