Advocacies in focus

MANILA, Philippines - In 2009, when Donna Sanchez accepted the challenge to produce her first film, “Tulak,” she had no inkling that this would lead to three more films – with another in the works – and the birth of a company dedicated to producing advocacy films.

Sanchez originally worked in distribution, starting her own company, Megacommercial, some 26 years ago. When personal problems forced her to close her business in 2006, she put up Exogain. “It’s a word that means from any pain, disease or trouble, something beautiful comes out.”

It was actress Maria Isabel Lopez who first approached Sanchez with the opportunity to do Tulak. Lopez, who met the future producer at church, knew that Sanchez was very active in NGO projects related to addiction and co-dependence.

It was not something on her to-do list, Sanchez admits, but the film’s advocacy was close to her heart. “I’m a recovering addict; I’ve been clean for 20 years,” she reveals. “This is my amends work.”

Sanchez worked together with Neal Tan to revise the original script for Tulak into a rehabilitation story because she wanted to make sure that viewers realized that there is hope for addicts and their families and friends who are affected by their addiction. The film starred Rafael Rosell, together with Fanny Serrano, Maria Isabel Lopez and Julio Diaz, among others.

After shooting wrapped on the film, Sanchez was able to use her experience in distribution to their advantage. “Schools were looking for a medium to teach about drug addiction,” her team discovered. So they offered the film to schools as an info drive to students, complete with speakers and materials about drug addiction. The film is still being shown in schools around the country today.

Sanchez’s second project came shortly after with another film by Neal Tan, “HIV (Si Heidi, si Ivy, at si V…),” which was written by Wanggo Gallaga. The film stared Jake Cuenca and Iza Calzado. After screening the film, some viewers who were HIV positive approached Sanchez saying, “Thank you for being our voice.”

Sanchez also produced “Pinoy Scouts,” featuring Sam Concepcion, a film about the environment, told through the experiences of boy scouts.

“Larong Bata,” which focused on bullying, starred popular pair Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco. In researching for the film, Sanchez shares that she realized that children become bullies because of negative experiences at home, thus pushing her to come up with the slogan, “Walang bully kung walang api (There will be no bullies if there is no oppression).”

 Because of their advocacies, all her films are endorsed by the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, and have received accolades from various award-giving bodies.

Maria Isabel Lopez won Best Supporting Actress at the Gawad Tanglaw and Empress Golden Screen Awards; and Best Child Actor for JP Mesde at the PMPC Star Awards for Tulak. FAMAS awarded HIV as Best Advocacy Film in 2010, while the film garnered the Best Gender Sensitivity Award at the Metro Manila Film Festival the following year. Iza Calzado was also awarded as Best Actress. Likewise, Larong Bata won as Best Advocacy Film at the FAMAS awards in 2013.

During STARweek’s interview with Sanchez, it was the first day of shooting of her latest film, “Filemon Mamon,” which focuses on health as well as the life and heroism of Andres Bonifacio. This poses a new challenge to Sanchez and her team because it is a musical.

The latest film features stage actor Jerome Ignacio, together with Nanette Inventor, Giselle Sanchez and Christian Bautista, among others.

When asked what her next movie will be, Sanchez laughs and says, “Every time I say this will be my last project!” But, she says, schools are always asking what film of hers they can look forward to next.

“I love seeing something from nothing. From a concept, words on paper, and the next thing it’s on celluloid for everyone to see. The medium of film is very powerful,” she says.

Sanchez shares that she would like to update the film about drug addiction. Her dream project, however, is a film about EDSA – “The symbol of EDSA, and where are we now,” she says, adding, “I was never nationalistic until EDSA. For the first time, I knew what it was to give up your life for your country.”

Ultimately, Sanchez says, “I want my viewers to not only be entertained, but get something more. I don’t want them to leave empty. I want them to leave intellectually full.”