Our flight to Roxas City left Manila at 5:30AM, which meant we needed to be at the airport at least an hour before, plus the drive from Tagaytay (where we spent the night) was about an hour away. So we left for the airport at 3:30AM after about 2 hours sleep. Sometimes it’s better to avoid sleeping all together. Before leaving for the Philippines I had been in contact with a group call Dugo Capiznon Inc. They put on an annual Aswang Festival and I desperately wanted them to be a part of this film. They have been promoting the Aswang Festival as a tourism tool and the Christian Churches have objected to this negative stereotype representing Capiz. Finding a contact was no easy task. Although the internet is widely available in the Philippines, websites have not quite caught on as a contact or advertising tool. Even though I had contacted a member of the group through a Yahoo Group, I was unable to confirm a meeting or shoot date with them. Finally, hoping Roxas City was small and everybody knew each other, I phoned the mayors office, was given a council member's number, who gave me a member number, who gave me Che Che Lastimoso’s number. Touchdown! This ended up being worth the trouble – in fact it would have been worth ten times the trouble. Che Che met us at the airport. We were both surprised at how young we both were – well surprised how young she IS and at how young I LOOK – or maybe it was how young I act. She confessed that she was expecting a Michael Moore look alike, and I confessed I was expecting an older barrel shaped woman.
Rodolfo and Che Che of Dugo Capiznon Inc. 
Okay, let me say that Roxas City is the best kept secret in the Philippines – it’s now out! I cannot say enough wonderful things about it. We stayed right across from the beach – no white sands, but I’m used to rock beaches, so it was beautiful. No seaweed, just lots of sand, and the tide goes way out like Rathtrevor Beach here in Parksville. Roxas City itself is super friendly, amazingly clean and totally safe. There are no sellers on the beach and everywhere you go, you are greeted with a smile (okay that last part is pretty much anywhere in the Philippines). Roxas City is the Seafood capitol of the Philippines and it is CHEAP! We had 2 buckets of steamed oysters, 6 barbecue chicken legs, 2 squid fish dishes, two big bowls of rice, a fried fish, buko juice in the shell, and soft drinks and water – all for $24 CAD – including a generous tip! Roxas City has just built a new mall, so I’m sure this small piece of paradise will be a tourist destination in the near future – which the town wants. It was just nice finding a small undiscovered place – to the point that when Janice saw a white guy (other my my ugly mug) she admitted thinking ‘Hey, what are you doing here.’ – In jest of course.
Okay, let me say that Roxas City is the best kept secret in the Philippines – it’s now out! I cannot say enough wonderful things about it. We stayed right across from the beach – no white sands, but I’m used to rock beaches, so it was beautiful. No seaweed, just lots of sand, and the tide goes way out like Rathtrevor Beach here in Parksville. Roxas City itself is super friendly, amazingly clean and totally safe. There are no sellers on the beach and everywhere you go, you are greeted with a smile (okay that last part is pretty much anywhere in the Philippines). Roxas City is the Seafood capitol of the Philippines and it is CHEAP! We had 2 buckets of steamed oysters, 6 barbecue chicken legs, 2 squid fish dishes, two big bowls of rice, a fried fish, buko juice in the shell, and soft drinks and water – all for $24 CAD – including a generous tip! Roxas City has just built a new mall, so I’m sure this small piece of paradise will be a tourist destination in the near future – which the town wants. It was just nice finding a small undiscovered place – to the point that when Janice saw a white guy (other my my ugly mug) she admitted thinking ‘Hey, what are you doing here.’ – In jest of course. Roxas Beach - High Tide 
If I had to find something negative to say about Roxas City – and I mean really had to. It would be that there seems to be a tricycle (which is a cheap mode of transportation) for every person in the city. This is apparently because of the lack of restrictions on licenses. Unfortunately it makes the smog in the city – even though it is a small city – very thick, as you can see in the photo.
If I had to find something negative to say about Roxas City – and I mean really had to. It would be that there seems to be a tricycle (which is a cheap mode of transportation) for every person in the city. This is apparently because of the lack of restrictions on licenses. Unfortunately it makes the smog in the city – even though it is a small city – very thick, as you can see in the photo. Beside Roxas City Centre
Dugo Capiznon was interviewed for the film – what better organization or people than those closest to the folklore. I was very surprised at what they had to say - you'll have to watch the film. The participating members were: Angelo Blancaver, Vincent Barrios, Rodolfo Arce Jr., Cheryl (Che Che) Anne Lastimoso, and Rosemary Thursday Ortiz. I should also take this opportunity to thank Mayor Antonio Del Rosario of Roxas City, Bryan Marie Argos, Board Member Rommel Lastimoso, Karen Palomar, Mayor Romualdo Exmundo Jr. of Tapaz, and Jobert Lago. Without their help, support and tireless string pulling, we would never have been able to film throughout Capiz with such ease. Thank you for welcoming us with open arms. They will also be credited in the film, but I figured I would acknowledge them here as well. Also, without Dugo Capiznon Inc. I would never have found such beautiful, original, and intriguing locations and people to film. I have never experienced such a large group of people helping and willing to help such a small production. We filmed a hilltribe ritual dance, inside a coral church, and beside a 40ft statue of the Virgin Mary. The above people also helped us find our expert interviewees, did some acting, and found us Lolo Gonying – who will be the main focus of the next blog entry.
Dugo Capiznon was interviewed for the film – what better organization or people than those closest to the folklore. I was very surprised at what they had to say - you'll have to watch the film. The participating members were: Angelo Blancaver, Vincent Barrios, Rodolfo Arce Jr., Cheryl (Che Che) Anne Lastimoso, and Rosemary Thursday Ortiz. I should also take this opportunity to thank Mayor Antonio Del Rosario of Roxas City, Bryan Marie Argos, Board Member Rommel Lastimoso, Karen Palomar, Mayor Romualdo Exmundo Jr. of Tapaz, and Jobert Lago. Without their help, support and tireless string pulling, we would never have been able to film throughout Capiz with such ease. Thank you for welcoming us with open arms. They will also be credited in the film, but I figured I would acknowledge them here as well. Also, without Dugo Capiznon Inc. I would never have found such beautiful, original, and intriguing locations and people to film. I have never experienced such a large group of people helping and willing to help such a small production. We filmed a hilltribe ritual dance, inside a coral church, and beside a 40ft statue of the Virgin Mary. The above people also helped us find our expert interviewees, did some acting, and found us Lolo Gonying – who will be the main focus of the next blog entry. 
I set up a 250w light as it was starting to get dark. Then the rain fell – actually I would say it waterfalled. Then the power went out. The guides had gone back to get the actors, so I was left in the growing dark. I couldn’t navigate the barbed wire in the day, let alone the dark. Thank God for modern technology. I used my cel phone to call down and they began working on the problem. I sat in the dark – and I mean dark! It was rainy season in the Philippines, so there is no light from the night sky, and I was far enough into the farm (jungle to us city folk) that there was no light from any other source. I honestly couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. A young boy from the family came over to me with a lit candle. So I sat watching the moths burn themselves in the flame. A duck waddled up to the light, wanting to see through the darkness as well I suppose. But this duck – in its brilliance - started to flap its wings. I received a text message from a friend asking how I was doing. I explained the situation and he replied ‘keep your cool – kill the duck!’ So there I am eating candlelight roasted duck... In any case, the power was restored with the full 2000watts. The actors were a half hour away and the family invited me into their side of the shack. The generosity of the Filipino people never ceases to amaze me. This family was poor – sleeping on dirt floor, water from rain buckets, a hole in the ground for a toilet – I’m going somewhere with this, its not a Westerner pity bit. I’m only stating details to emphasize how much the mothers next gesture meant to me. She asked if I wanted some coffee, then started counting out her single pesos so her son could run and grab me one. I know about 10 words in Tagalog and she knew about 10 words in English, so I communicated that I was full (this is an essential phrase to learn - or else you will be fed 10 square meals a day "busog ba ako")and coffee makes my stomach upset – I desperately tried to communicate anything so she wouldn’t spend her money on me. She asked if I wanted water – I said sure. I don’t know where the water came from, but I have always been lucky with water right out of the tap in Philippine provinces. I drank it, and just so you know, I didn’t get sick. The actors showed up and we began to film. It went really well. I had a few hands to help out. When they couldn’t be found on ‘set’ I usually found them hovering near the actresses. Aimee is recognized because of her television appearances and Janice holds the intrigue of being an actress from another county – not to mention they are both very attractive. I suppose that’s where I would be if I were not married and needing to direct a film. 
We dirtied up the beautiful Aimee Villarico 
After about 3 hours of having the actors tied up, rolling in the mud and all of us being eaten by red ants, we were done. We went back to the hotel for a few well deserved San Miguel Lights (beer). 
Alaminos 
While we were working with Maricel she was also volunteering her time on an independent project directed by Bobby Bonifacio Jr. called ‘Numbalikdiwa’. This is Bobby’s first feature and not only did Maricel volunteer her time, but she also got Albert Martinez – another big Filipino star on the project as well. I have posted a link to the trailer on You Tube. 
I was introduced to Roca Cruz at ‘Be.Live Artist Management’ by an old acquaintance in the Philippines, Mish Ballesca. Roca was very accommodating in finding me the female actress I was looking for. She suggested Aimee Villarico who was a runner up on the very popular reality show ‘Close Up To Fame’. Aimee was super sweet and, shocked I’m sure, at the guerrilla style of filmmaking I put her through. She was very professional and never complained.
Kitchie Nadal 
Okay, so she isn’t actually an actress in the film. However, her songs are played everywhere in the Philippines. She has become one of the leading singer/songwriters there. I heard one song in particular and thought ‘I need this for the film’. As it turned out Roca Cruz also managed Kitche – who is currently on a US tour – and I was able to acquire rights to the song. Thanks Kitchie! 
There were dozens of supporting roles that were filled as well as interviewees. I’ll get to those in the next couple blogs. 
