In 2008, newspapers carried headlines regarding broadcast journalist Ces Drilon's abduction in Mindanao.

This 2010, the indie film Tsardyer highlights, among other things, the difficulties of being in a hostage situation.

In this Cinema One Originals entry, Dimples Romana portrays Leslie, a broadcast journalist who is kidnapped by rebel soldiers in exchange for ransom.

Mon Confiado and Bombi Plata portray the two cameramen who are also abducted in Sulu. 

Leslie befriends a Tausug boy named Shihab—Martin delos Santos—who is assigned to run errands for the Abu Sayyaf, mostly to "charge" the mobile phones used in their hostage negotiations.

In earlier interviews with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), director Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez and actor Mon Confiado have said that the film is loosely based on the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and the cameramen with her, but that the film is not about any of the three.

It really is about the child Shihab, according to Sigreid and Mon. And there was indeed a child in the Abu Sayyaf camp who was given duties by the adults, such as "charging" the cell phones the rebels used.

Thus, the title Tsardyer.

How was it like shooting Tsardyer?

"It was very difficult, kasi we were in the middle of the forest. We had to walk very long hours to get to the remote area, plus siyempre totoo ang mga kagat ng lamok, langgam, pero it's all part of the experience," she told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the film's gala night held November 12 at the Shangri-la Mall in Mandaluyong City.

She continued, "At least naghatid kami ng different flavor because I'm sure you've seen all the fantastic movies that are being offered now. So very different. Iba naman ang flavor."

VERY PHYSICAL SCENES. In this indie film, Dimples had to shoot some very physical scenes. She is pushed and shoved by her captors while they run across a forest to evade the military rescue team.

The violence escalates with an attempt of an Abu Sayyaf member to rape her in the middle of a field.

"Actually, most of the scenes, puro pisikal talaga, dahil abduction ito. So natural lang na lahat ng hits totoo talaga," she adds.

"More on tulak, kasi nakatali kami with baging [vines], tatlo kami. So, pag tinulak mo yung isa, pag gumulong yung isa, gulong kami lahat."