Hari ng Tondo | A Gritty Family Story On and Off Screen

The Cinemalaya fever is on!

And no, I’m not blaming it for the week-long illness that kept me and my daughter on bed rest, that’s definitely the weather. Still, despite the heavy rains, traffic, and all the chaos in the metro, the Cinemalaya Film Festival X has become one of the hottest topics in town, especially for movie lovers like me.

Now on its tenth year, Cinemalaya is shaping up to be one of its biggest editions yet. With over fifty films being showcased, the spotlight naturally falls on the fifteen entries in competition. These are divided into two categories: the Director’s Showcase with five entries, and the New Breed category with ten entries.

Among all the films, I was particularly excited about Hari ng Tondo, the comeback movie of award-winning director Carlos Siguion-Reyna. After a 14-year hiatus from filmmaking, he returns with a project that feels deeply personal, especially with his wife, Bibeth Orteza, writing the screenplay.

Making it even more special, the film turned into a true family affair, with their son Rafa Siguion-Reyna and niece Cris Villonco joining a cast of talented actors from television, film, and theater.

One of the challenges for Director Carlos, who was actually born in Tondo, was guiding actors to deliver authentic performances, especially those who had no prior experience of the place before filming.

I was fortunate enough to be invited, along with fellow bloggers, to the Siguion-Reyna residence in Forbes Park, Makati City. The setting was a stark contrast to the gritty visuals of Tondo shown in the film’s trailers and sneak previews of the 91-minute feature, making the experience all the more intriguing.

We had a wonderful dinner conversation with the film’s lead stars, who joined Direk Carlos, his wife, and their son. Present were veteran actors Robert Arevalo and Rez Cortez; singer-actors Gian Magdangal and Ciara Sotto; as well as theater greats Audie Gemora and Lorenz Martinez.

The film tells the story of a grandfather on the brink of bankruptcy who brings his grandchildren back to the community that shaped him, only to discover that the place is no longer the same.

Ricardo Villena (Robert Arevalo) loses his fortune on the same day he learns that his granddaughter Anna’s (Cris Villonco) wedding has been called off and his grandson and namesake Ricky (Rafa Siguion-Reyna) has failed to graduate, again. Anna catches her fiancé with another woman, while Ricky dreams of pursuing music instead of finishing school. Believing that their sheltered upbringing has left them unprepared for life’s challenges, Ricardo brings them to his birthplace in Tondo, where he owns a rundown tenement called “Alapaap.” Away from their comfortable life in Forbes Park, the grandchildren encounter people and experiences that will ultimately shape their future.

The film also features a talented ensemble cast, including Liza Lorena, Aiza Seguerra, Lui Manansala, Gian Magdangal, Menggie Cobarrubias, and Mark Tayag.

As soon as I recover, I’m definitely heading to the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2014, which runs until August 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, and Alabang Town Center.