Cinemalaya film ‘Kaka Sa Yawan’ draws spotlight on Mangyan culture

Picture this: Coming home from work in the mountains while there’s still daylight, so as not to risk crossing a river that gets treacherous at night. Or giving birth naturally with only the local women there to attend to you.

On the flip side, you get to see the calmness of nature — the lush greens that covered the mountains, and the clear waters of the very same river — devoid of the noise of technology from the lowlands.

Such is the way of life of the Mangyan community as featured in the Cinemalaya film entry “Kaka Sa Yawan” (Brothers By the River).

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Written and directed by Alpha Habon, the film aims to put a spotlight on the Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro, an indigenous group known for its reluctance to engage with lowlanders.

“The goal is that by showing another culture na di tayo masyadong familiar, we are expanding our horizon and also see these people na we are more alike than different. It’s just an experience na gusto namin mapakita sa ibang tao para makilala din nila ang rich culture ng mga Mangyan,” said Habon in an interview after a screening of the movie.

At the heart of the movie is the unlikely bond between Niko, a boy from Manila, and Ayan, a playful Mangyan, who opened his eyes to a world far removed from his own. Ayan brings Niko into their community where he witnesses the quiet beauty of their simple way of life, healing his inner demons. In exchange, Niko opens doors for Ayan beyond his home in the mountains by helping him get an education, with the help of his father.

“Kaka Sa Yawan” stars Beaver Magtalas, child actors Bryce Nicolo Mercader and Dennis Dato. Also in the movie are Noelle Polack, Nikki Valdez, Luis Alandy, Karl Medina, Queenay Mercado, Deanne Bautista, and Benedix Ramos.

But even before shooting started, Habon said he specifically asked for the two child actors, Mercader and Dato, to spend time together so that their acting as best buddies would be realistic onscreen.

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“The relationship is number one for me, kaya dinivelop ko muna yung pagkakaibigan nila for real,” he said. “Pareho sila ni Niccolo (Mercader), gusto nila pareho si Coco Martin, yun ang common ground nila. Yung bonding nila, nagba bike, nagsu- swimming. So best friends talaga sila. Last day namin ng taping nag iiyakan sila. Ganun po sila naging close.”

Habon was all praises for Mercader and Dato who played the young Niko and Ayan, whose bonding off-camera naturally translated onscreen.

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“He’s great. He’s very quick with instructions. We had him go to a workshop. He’s very obedient, and he has a great future ahead of him,” said the director who previously directed the kiddie show “Goin’ Bulilit.”

“Si Dennis, he’s a revelation. Sya yung lumapit sa amin para mag audition. Fan daw sya ni Coco Martin,” he said of Dato, who is a Mangyan in real life.

For his part, Magtalas, who plays the older Niko, said that while the community where they filmed scenes have already showed signs of development, there are still those where electricity is a scarcity, while cell signal is almost non-existent.

“I’m happy to see na nagsisimula na silang madevelop. Meron na silang kuryente, there’s wifi na rin. I have an experience na wala po talagang signal sa phone, as in wala talaga. Meron silang piso-net. So just to send a text, maghuhulog ka ng tigpi-piso,” the actor said.

This is Magtalas’ first Cinemalaya movie. The actor, who has signed with Star Magic, will soon start training as a P-pop idol.

“Kaka Sa Yawan” is one of the nine full-length film entries currently being screened at the 22nd Cinemalaya film festival. The film festival runs from August 6 to 18, exclusively at the Shangri-la Red Carpet Cinemas in Mandaluyong.