The touching drama Kamoteng Kahoy is the fifth Sine
Direk entry produced by APT Entertainment and the Directors Guild of the
Philippines. Its star-studded premiere night took place at the University of
the Philippines Cine Adarna last night, June 9.
Director Maryo J. delos Reyes took pride in the fact that he lobbied for his
film to receive a General Patronage rating from the Movie and Television Review
and Classification Board.
This film stars Nash Aguas, Robert "Buboy" Villar, Gloria Romero, Yul Servo,
Ana Capri, Marissa Sanchez, Anton Bernardo, Gerard Madrid, Julio Pisk, Sharlene
San Pedro, and Irma Adlawan.
In his opening speech, Direk Maryo revealed that as a
Boholano, he was deeply affected by the tragedy that struck the town of San
Isidro in 2005. An unfortunate accident caused the death of 27 students and
almost a hundred were hospitalized after eating maruya made of kamoteng
kahoy (cassava).
"I felt, I had to say something, but not about the tragedy. Of course,
tragedies happen in our lives," says Direk Maryo. "Maaaring nasunugan tayo,
maaaring nagkaroon ng calamity, binaha, maaari tayong namatayan ng mga loved
ones. Pero papaano pag natapos ang tragedy? That is what we wanted to explore,
and that is what we wanted to deal with. When I was talking with Ricky [Lee,
the screenplay writer], sabi ko sana hindi masyadong depressing, dahil
pagkatapos ng isang tragedy laging depressed ang mga tao. Sabi ko, let's center
on two children who survived.
"Ito yung pelikula na magtuturo sa adults kung papaano tingnan ang isang bagay
with innocence, with truth and with honesty, which I find in the children. Sila
yung madaling magpatawad sa mga panahon na mahirap magpatawad, sila yung
nagbibigay na yung nag-e-express ng kanilang emosyon, ng walang pakundangan, ng
walang kahihiyan. Hindi sila prevented ng kahihiyan or kung ano mang sabihin ng
kapwa para masabi kung ano yung nararamdaman nila. They will express their
feelings and this is what is feature in the film."
YOUNG DRAMATIC ACTORS. Viewers will find a lot of
scenes in Kamoteng Kahoy that just might move them to tears. The young
cast members, particularly Nash and Buboy, have heavy dramatic scenes in this
film and one can't help but admire these budding actors.
Some of the highlights include the actual poisoning that took place in the San
Isidro Elementary School, the torture scene of Buboy's character at the hands
of his aunt (Irma Adlawan), the time when Lola Idang (played by Gloria Romero)
is being persecuted by the town, and ending of the film when the character of
Nash learns the power of forgiveness.
Still, there are enough light moments in the film that will definitely
entertain viewers as well. One of them is the scene where Nash and Buboy have
to deal with a baby piglet. Both child actors found it difficult to shoot this
scene. Nash pointed out, "Maliit lang po [ang biik] pero ang bigat! Parang Pinoy
Fear Factor po kasi ang baho! Ang hirap kasi ang likot ng baboy. Tinurukan
pa nga ng tranquilizer yung baboy para tumino, e!"
In this film, Meryll Soriano impressed viewers with her intense performance of
a mother grieving for the death of her child. The actress told PEP (Philippine
Entertainment Portal) that she was initially wary about shooting the slapping
scene with Gloria Romero.
"Nung nabasa ko nga ang script, sabi ko ‘Paano ko sasampalin ang isang matanda?'
Tapos nung nalaman ko na si Tita Glo, inisip ko, pwede ko nang isama sa resume
na nabugbog ko na si Ms. Gloria Romero. Hindi pa kami nagkakasama sa isang
eksena although part kami noon ng Betty La Fea. "
All the stars of the film attended the premiere night except for Ms. Gloria
Romero, who was sick at that time.
Written by Ricky Lee, Kamoteng Kahoy was shot for nine days in Bosoboso,
Laguna.
SYNOPSIS. This is based on a true story that happened in a small barrio in Bohol in 2005. Twenty-seven pupils died and almost a hundred were hospitalized after eating cassava cakes sold by Lola Idang (played by Gloria Romero), who might have accidentally used pesticide in her ingredients. She has been selling cassava cakes in that school, and has a loving relationship with the children.
The film follows a town's journey from painful trauma towards healing through the intercutting points of view of the two child survivors, and the old woman vendor. The two child survivors, in their own beguiling yet perceptive ways, slowly learn the issues of crime, prejudice, and compassion as they develop friendship and accept their loss. The old woman, who is ostracized and condemned by the entire town, even by her own family, finally makes senses of the whole tragic thing and takes matters into her own hands.
Answers don't come easy, but in the end, redemption arrives
for every soul in the town in the form of a final climatic event.
Kamoteng Kahoy is now being screened at the following venues: SM
Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM Fairview, Robinsons Metroeast,
Robinsons Novaliches, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Sta. Lucia and
Cinerama.