"Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it" : A Look on Kip Oebanda's "LIWAY"

People watch her as everyday as the revengeful "Contessa", but this year, people get to see Kapuso actress Glaiza De Castro in a different light as she plays a Martial Law victim in her latest indie film, “Liway” written and directed by Kip Oebanda (Bar Boys).

The film which is based on a true story is an official entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival and features Glaiza De Castro as the titular character “Liway” who finds herself in the middle of prison during the tail-end of the Martial Law era. The film chronicles their life inside prison as she tries to raise her son, named Dakip (since he was born after his parents got imprisoned) in such environment, that despite of the hard situation that the child finds himself in, he can grow up happy, hopeful and resilient. At the same time, their family is struggling with a difficult question, what is best for their child during that time since the risk for former rebels have already intensified as more people disappear or found dead. The family is in immense pressure not just to survive but to ensure that the child doesn’t grow up traumatized and still remains hopeful despite the situation. Will they let Dakip stay with his family in that prison cell or will they set the child free? But if they were to set their child free, can they take the pain of having your own son grow up not knowing you as his parent?

According to the director, this film is very timely given of what’s happening in our society right now. The film is a hopeful and optimistic tale of a family as they try to survive the hardships that they face. “Liway” wants to give encourage people to believe that no matter what happens in our society, even the times becomes suppressive (like during the Martial Law), there’s a way to speak, there’s a way to act, there’s a  way to keep your dignity as a person in spite of what’s happening around you.


When asked whether this film is an anti-Marcos film, director Kip clarified that the film has no intentions of such. “It’s just a true story of  a family. Hindi siya kasi nagme-makeng stand na anti or pro-Duterte, or anti or pro-Marcos, ang stance talaga (ng pelikula) ay totoo ito. Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it. Now, whether or not the audiences perceives that as anti-Marcos or pro-Marcos, that’s a different story.” He further commented that “I don’t sugarcoat what happened during that era. Towards the end of our film, meron naman kasing documentary/ testimonial proof that all of these things did happen. And for me, malaking contribution na yun to say that these histories are real. That these stories are true. Na totoo itong mga taong ito at ang mga kwentong ito because may movement ngayon to discredit that narrative, to say na exaggerated yan or masasama’t criminal silang lahat. There is a push to eradicate that history.”
Director Kip and his family is a real life survivor of the Martial Law era. According to him, “I care very much about this particular issue, and I get hurt when people say na hindi kami totoong tao, or hindi totoo yung mga narratives namin. People really did suffer. People really did die.” He said that just to be able to contribute to the discourse by saying that these stories are real is already an achievement for a filmmaker like him at this point in time.

As for Glaiza De Castro, he said that by accepting the film despite her busy schedule due to her teleserye, it shows that she’s really interested. He further commented that people are going to see a
different side of her in this film. “It’s a challenging role, I would say. Kasi on one hand, she’s a very caring and loving mom who’s calm and poised, but she’s also the commander of a rebel movement. So it’s a very difficult balancing act of toughness and sensitivity that I think she pulls off very, very well. So I’m very happy for her.”

 

The film reunites Glaiza De Castro with Dominic Roco who plays her husband. Glaiza and Dominic both starred in another indie film before, the 2015 romantic flick “Sleepless”. The film also stars Soliman Cruz, Renante Samantes, Joel Saracho, Sue Prado, Vance Larena, and introducing Kenken Nuyad as the child Dakip, with Khalil Ramos. The film will debut at the Cinemalaya Film Festival this August 3-12, 2018.