“I don’t believe in coincidences,” says lead cast Ely Buendia on the timely release of one of the 10 full-length films in this year’s Cinemalaya, “Padamlagan”. “This story has to be told,” he adds.
The Eraserheads frontman who has successfully crossed over from music to making movies believed that the film’s message is a fitting commentary on the biggest political issue that this country is currently facing.
“Padamlagan” (Night Lamp) focuses on the grieving father (Ely Buendia) who lost his son (Esteban Mara) in the collapse of the Colgante Bridge in the Naga River in Camarines Sur. The tragedy, which struck on September 16, 1972, caused 138 deaths.
Although at that time, people are informed of the limitations of a wooden bridge, the infrastructure collapse is a reminder that while public works is a priority service of the government, it remains problematic. It is either behind current technology or its funds corrupted.
In the case of the Colgante Bridge, the wooden structure was not able to withstand the deluge of devotees during the fluvial procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. During its collapse, the debris killed the onlookers who were on it and the people below who were attending the fluvial parade.
For Buendia, he accepted the acting project because of its story. And belatedly, he acknowledges the timeliness of its release. “Just because the problem or issue has been deep-seated in our culture for decades now, it has to be told,” he remarks.
The film’s director Jenn Romano noted the limited references of the tragedy, especially online. It has now become her goal to tell the story in the most authentic way, using the father-son relationship and the religious aspects of the film as her vehicles in storytelling.
What could be the main highlight of “Padamlagan” is the recreation of the collapse of the bridge itself from which Romano teases: “Abangan n’yo na lang.” Even with the budget limitations of independent films, the young filmmaker assures that they were able to find a way to re-enact the tragedy creatively.
From the search for his lost son and the rebuilding of his relationship with his wife (played by Sue Prado), the rock artist recalls the somber mood of the film. “It’s a very emotional movie. There is hardly any ray of sunshine,” Ely recalls.
Buendia also shares his other challenges in filming, including speaking the most authentic form of the Bicolano dialect. “May isang scene na nahirapan ako mag memorize. I speak the language, mahirap pa din ‘yung mga malalalim”, the Camarines Sur native declares.
“Padamlagan” is part of the 21st edition of the Cinemalaya Film Festival which is ongoing from October 3 to 12. The Gala Screenings are being held at the Shangri-La Cinemas in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City with screenings in partner cinemas: Gateway Cinemas, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Circuit Makati, Market! Market! and UP Town Centre.