ON THE SET: Sitio Camcam

A narrow road in Cavite leads to a lowly community surrounded by murky water filled with green floating moss.

There is a wooden bridge linking several houses together. Every few minutes, an airplane passes overhead and produces distracting noise in its wake.

Welcome to the world of Sitio Camcam.

This indie film aims to depict the power struggles in a corrupt neighborhood. Written by Palanca-awardee Jerry Gracio and directed by multi-awarded filmmaker Joel Lamangan, this movie is produced by Heaven's Best Entertainment.

Allen Dizon is cast as the thug Johnny who lords over this community. He beds three women (played by Jean Garcia, Sunshine Dizon and Jackie Rice) who end up fighting each other for his affections.

Why is the film titled Sitio Camcam?

Direk Joel explained, "Kasi sa Tagalog, ang kamkam ibig sabihin masama, hindi ba? Parang kinamkam mo lahat...kinamkam mo lahat ng kayamanan, kinamkam mo lahat ng kapangyarihan.

"May mga pwersa sa loob ng sitio na yun na kinakamkam na ang lahat.

"May sindikato sa ilaw, kuryente, tubig.

"It shows that power, even among the poor, may hierarchy sila ng power. Mayroong maton na nambu-bully, may kapitan na ganun din.

"There is corruption up to the level of the barangay."

The first wife is portrayed by Jean Garcia while Sunshine Dizon is cast as the second wife of Allen's character. The first two wives gang up on the third wife, played by Jackie Rice.

Jean agreed to shoot a love scene with Allen for this movie.

Jackie also shoots an intimate scene with Allen.


Jackie Rice and Allen Dizon


However, she shoots a steamier love scene with her boyfriend (played by Kerbie Zamora).


Jackie Rice and Kerbie Zamora


Sunshine Dizon says about her character Evelyn. "Ako ang second wife ni Allen na may hawak sa mga illegal niyang negosyo. Illegal ako at first but eventually she finds...

“Mahirap i-explain ang role ko rito kasi, masyado give-away, basta, I meet someone and then, I have the change of heart. Basta ako yung babae niya na may hawak ng mga illegal na negosyo niya.”



Sunshine Dizon



ATHENA THE NEWBIE. Athena Bautista, daughter of Herbert Bautista and Tates Gana, makes her big screen debut through this movie.

She reveals that as early as five years old, she already wanted to enter showbiz.

Now 17 years old, Athena is cast as one of the children of Allen Dizon's character in Sitio Camcam.

She says about her character named May, "Pangalawang anak ako ni Salud [played by Jean Garcia] at Johnny [Allen].

"Hindi ko pa tanggap na may ibang asawa ang tatay ko. Parang may struggle pa rin na tanggapin ang [sitwasyon]."

Interestingly enough, the kids are named after months: Joyce Ching is cast as April, Athena plays May, while fellow newbie actress Zeke Sarmenta brings life to Julie.

Is she ready for controversies that might come her way when she joins the entertainment industry?

"For me kasi, kung gusto kong pumasok sa showbiz, dapat ready ka rin sa mga ganun. Hindi pwedeng sensitive ka sa ganun."

(Read: Athena Bautista jumpstarts showbiz career via debut movie Sitio Camcam)



How was it working with Direk Joel?

"Ninerbiyos ako kasi ang galing-galing na direktor niya talaga. Kilalang-kilala siya sa mga drama at siyempre, honored ako na first movie ko si Direk Joel Lamangan po. Sobrang honored talaga."



ZEKE THE NEWBIE. Another first-time actress in the project is Zeke Sarmenta, the daughter of Romnick Sarmenta and Harlene Bautista.

"Mga four years old ako, ginagaya ko si Mama," said Zeke, whose name means "Strength of God."

"Suma-sama ako sa taping, ginagaya ko ang mga ginagawa niya."

The 13-year-old actress says she is ready to face controversies that come along with the job.

"Ako, pesonally, alam ko naman po na kahit anong mangyari, ang pamilya ko saka kaibigan ko nandiyan para sa akin.

"Sa akin kasi, basta't alam mo ang totoo, yun lang yun. Hayayaan mo na ang sasabihin ng iba."



Athena Bautista (left) and Zeke Sarmenta


Other cast members of Sitio Camcam include Elizabeth Oropesa, Emilio Garcia, Christopher Roxas, Tony Mabesa, and Jaime Pebanco.