Situated near the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is annually visited by around 20 typhoons. From this number, some are too weak to make a landfall, while others are too strong they destroy properties and claim lives. And in the aftermath, their traces are visible. Those, who are left behind, need to be steadfast and resilient in weathering a new beginning ahead.
This imagery is what director Carlo Francisco Manatad’s Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (Whether the Weather is Fine) narrates and paints to the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) audiences. The director and his main actors Charo Santos and Daniel Padilla, with newcomer Rans Rifol, formed a “creative coalition” to capture such slice of Philippine life. Carlo has successfully thrived by marrying historical events with personal accounts.
“I think ever since, madami ng pelikula that advocate something (there have been films made that advocate something),” said the director of filmmaking with an advocacy as a possible trend in a recent virtual press conference. “Siguro ngayon masyadong napapanahon lang ang pelikula namin to begin with and of course, to show it, at the time na meron tayong dinaranas ngayon sa bansa.” Recently, Filipinos have witnessed the wrath of Typhoon Odette in areas in Visayas and Mindanao, and must have recalled the hapless images of Yolanda. The world’s strongest typhoon is also part of Carlo’s narrative.
“In films in general, it’s never a trend and it has been done ever since,” added he. “It’s just that a lot of people right now are more really pushing for making films that advocate something siguro.” Kun Maupay Man It Panahon may belong to that genre and serves as an artefact that creatively documents a particular experience and milieu of a community.
“I was born and raised in Tacloban,” said Carlo, “but when Yolanda happened, I was in Manila. Most of my family (members then) were in Tacloban. At the time na nangyayari yun, nakikita ninyo yun sa news and all, I had no communication with them. I had to find a way to go there and look for them.”
The film’s autobiographical inspiration adds to its compelling charm or close-to-home feeling. Audiences will have moments of reel-and-real life intersectionality, which puts them on a reflective mood.
Getting into the stormy-test-of-the-human-spirit narrative are Charo and Daniel as the mother and son, Norma and Miguel.
“I got nervous and intimidated but not in a negative way,” shared the Kapamilya actor, also fondly called DJ by family and friends, of his experience working with the veteran actress, who also happens to be his boss at ABS-CBN. “Natatakot tayo na magkamali. But Ma’am Charo (was) a very giving actress and welcoming to us. It’s a beautiful experience na makasama si Ma’am Charo duon at makasama siya bilang isang actress.” Daniel had the rare opportunity to have seen the lady executive’s passion for making a film.
“This film is different from other films I have done, because ngayon lang ako gumawa ng isang film na based on real events like the Yolanda,” said he. “It’s a challenge for us, actors, we have to do this film for us to grow in our craft… Kami ni direk Carlo, first time namin magka-kilala but when we talked about it, I really fell in love with his film… ako po na taga-Tacloban din mismo ay hindi kayang hindian ang pelikulang ganito.” His mom, actress and host Karla Estrada hails from this city in Leyte. With that, Daniel, if one may put it, was all the more inspired to deliver the goods and made the grade.
“Kaya ko din napili at nagustuhan si Daniel because of the films he has done,” said the director. “Parang ang lawak na nang range ng filmography niya, na makikita mo rin yung range niya as an actor.” Carlo was glad and grateful that Daniel and Charo decided to act in his film.
As for collaborating with new directors like Carlo, Charo said, “I welcome the challenge and I welcome the opportunity because there’s always something new to learn from (working with) these young people.”
When she met Carlo, Charo had the impression that the director knew the story like the back of his hand. “Hawak na hawak niya yung kwento because it was loosely based on his personal experience. So, nakita ko yung vision niya for the project,” said she, who “was drawn to the story and... to the character,” after reading the script, which was written in English first. “Ang ganda, ganda ng flow ng narrative, tapos na-excite din ako when they told me that I would have the opportunity to work with DJ… Nakita ko yung batang ito na nagbinata. Sinusundan ko talaga yung mga projects ni DJ.”
Part of the creative process for the actors were the rehearsals and the reading sessions of the full script, whose dialogues were delivered in Waray, which the director and Daniel are familiar with, during the filming. The latter posed a challenge to Charo, who took on and surpassed it, by understanding the context, with the support of fellow creatives like Daniel and the dialogue coach.
Being part of a film like Kun Maupay Man It Panahon, which carries a greater purpose, is a one-of-a-kind experience for the actors.
“It makes us reflect as a people (to think kung) ano ba ang kailangan nating gawin para hindi na maulit itong mga insidenteng ito dahil kasama na yan sa buhay natin, yung bagyo,” said the veteran actress, who also encouraged everyone “to be prepared” and think of actions that will reduce risks during natural disasters.
As the African proverb implies, everyone must act as a village to raise a collective issue and find pro-active solutions to it.
(Kun Maupay Man It Panahon [Whether the Weather is Fine] is now showing in theaters.)