Cinemalaya 19’s Bulawan nga Usa reimagines Ilonggo folklore

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo-based filmmaker Kenneth dela Cruz’s entry Bulawan nga Usa (Golden Deer) at the ongoing Cinemalaya 19 film festival delves into self-discovery and narrates Ilonggo folklore passed on from generation to generation.

As per synopsis, the flick revolves around Makoy, who after his beloved grandfather’s death, “embarks on a soul-stirring expedition to a mystical mountain in search of the legendary golden deer that possesses the power to grant wishes. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he befriends a spirited young mountain boy who joins him in the quest for the mythical creature and self-discovery.”

“The main theme is self-discovery, specifically in terms of finding out one’s passion and purpose. It is about the young adult’s journey in conquering his childhood grudge, grief and self-doubt in order to see what he really wants to be,” explained direk Kenneth to The STAR.

The cast members of Bulawan nga Usa are Ron Matthews Espinosa and John Niel Paguntalan.

Iloilo-based filmmaker Kenneth dela Cruz.

The 90-minute drama fantasy “closely parallels” to the director’s personal journey but he assured that it will be relatable to the audience in the sense that “everyone has their own journey to self-discovery, whether it may be about the search for passion or purpose in life.”

“This film will be relatable to the audience because it will inspire them to figure out their own ‘bulawan nga usa’ and take a leap to find it,” Kenneth added.

He chose the fantasy genre to express his narrative as influenced by his “fond memories of childhood, which include watching fantasy films and TV shows.”

“And even today I have a soft heart for children’s film and animation,” he went on.  “I noticed that this genre is seldom seen in Philippine cinema nowadays so I want to bring back this kind of film to the audience, especially to the young ones.

“Fantasy can transport the audience to a different world and give a unique experience and inspiration. I believe that this is a perfect genre to connect the theme of self-discovery to folklore. I also hope that this will make people revisit their childhood dream and be inspired again.”

Kenneth’s hometown in Iloilo serves as a fitting backdrop to the story. In his words, “There is something profoundly heartfelt, magical and humble about the tales passed down from one generation to another. And there is no better way to tell this story but to make this film with an all-Ilonggo production team and cast with promising talent and humility.”

Sharing the story of Bulawan nga Usa is “also an invitation to explore more Ilonggo stories,” the director further remarked.

The movie was particularly filmed in Alimodias, Miag-ao so that the production team and crew could show the awe-inspiring beauty of Panay mountains. They also included an all-Ilonggo cast who speak the Hiligaynon language for the film.

“The characters need to explore the mountain to search for the golden deer. The landscape plays an important role in understanding the journey of the character and it will also immerse the audience in the story world as well,” he said.

Moreover, listening to Ilonggo myths and folklore as a child has influenced Kenneth’s artistic craft in filmmaking.

“I’d always get sick when I was a child and I would often be brought to shamans than doctors,” he recounted.

“I grew up in a family that respects nature and everything connected to it, seen or unseen. I haven’t experienced seeing mythical creatures but I grew up listening to and getting curious about myths and folklore.

“This became my source of fear and fascination as a child. Now, it became my inspiration for most of my films because of their interesting world and how they challenge human actions and behavior.”

The Ilonggo filmmaker is a certified public accountant (CPA) but during the pandemic, he “re-assessed my life goals and made the decision to pursue filmmaking.”

While noting how being a CPA is “a prestigious career and provides stability,” he felt happier and more fulfilled in being a storyteller.

“In being a filmmaker, I can help preserve Ilonggo stories, amplify smaller voices and inspire future generations,” he concluded.