Walang Kawala reveals the secret
relationship of a fisherman named Joaquin (Polo
Ravales) and a student named Waldo (Joseph Bitangcol). When Joaquin's wife Cynthia (Althea Vega) returns from Dubai and
gets pregnant, Waldo feels betrayed and runs away to the city. Joaquin searches
for Waldo and in the process, the two become unwitting victims of a human
trafficking ring headed by a corrupt cop named Rufo (Emilio Garcia).
One month before the playdate, the movie industry is already abuzz with talk about the daring scenes that the actors willingly did; these include the intimate scene of Polo and Joseph wherein both actors were absolutely naked, Polo and Joseph's open-mouthed kissing scenes, and Joseph's macho dance. Jean Garcia, who plays the martyr-wife of Rufo named Beng, subjected herself to physically demanding scenes. Althea Vega and Marco Morales, who are both being introduced in the movie, put aside their inhibitions and bared for the camera.
These daring scenes were essential to tackling the timely issue of human trafficking. The result is a motion picture that penetrates the minds, hearts and our conscience. "It is a mirror to society, a revelation of the purity of real love, and the dark side and weakness of people," says Direk Joel.
According to the United Nations, human trafficking is defined as: "The
recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by
means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction,
of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability
or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of
a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation."
Walang Kawala was shot on location in scenic Bataan and in the gritty streets of Manila. Aside from director Joel Lamangan, there are at least three more award-winners on the creative team: Eric Ramos who wrote the screenplay, production designer Edgar Martin Littaua and sound engineer Ditoy Aguila. "I am very happy about the talented cast and amazing artists who collaborated with us. I am truly proud of this film," says Direk Joel.
"Walang Kawala" opens on November 12 at the following theaters: Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Gateway Mall, Cinerama Isetann and New Cinema Theater (Cebu City).