Migrante an eye-opener for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - Director Joel Lamangan and scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan once again join forces to come up with another timely and relevant advocacy movie  Migrante (The Filipino Diaspora).

Migrante aims to become an eye-opener on the real situation of the numerous Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) their lives, loves and families.

Jodi Santamaria and Allen Dizon lead the cast which includes Joem Bascon, Robert Arevalo, Raquel Villavicencio, Jaime Pebanco, Chynna Ortaleza, Rich Asuncion, Alex Castro, Regine Angeles, Vaness del Moral, Angelie Nicole Sanoy, May-I Fabros, Krisanto Ilagan, Sam Nasser and Joshua Bramaje.

Migrante International, the non-governmental organization (NGO) which assists beleaguered OFWs in various parts of the world, will help the production team as its consultant. Likewise, it wiIl coordinate the international screenings of Migrante in countries with Migrante chapters.

“Several stories about the sad plight of OFWs have remained unsolved cases and they need to be told. It’s about time that we exposed the sordid situation of our countrymen who don’t get the badly-needed support from our government, our people and even their own families,” director Joel gripes.

Along this sentiment, XITI Productions owned by producers Gracia Lara and Butch delos Reyes, promise to continue producing significant movies. Migrante is their third project; the first was Deadline: The Reign of Impunity which is about media killings and warlordism in the Philippines; second was Patikul which is about literacy in Mindanao.

Lara says, “Producing films is a big gamble, but this early, we’re already very proud of our library of works which are all worthy movies… an advocacy on our part which rewards us with inexplicable fulfillment…”

Principal photography for Migrante commences this month. Many crucial scenes will be shot in Israel, hence, the excitement of the production team not only for the chance to shoot abroad but also for the extra good feeling of becoming a part of another important film that will be a homage to the so-called New Heroes.