LJ Moreno as Joan and Arnold Reyes plays William in the Cinemalaya film “The Leaving”

Written and photographed

By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

A woman’s blood curdling scream wakes them up. Grace (LJ Reyes) and Martin (Alwyn Uytingco) meet at the lobby of their apartment floor wondering what happened to their next door neighbor. Neither of them wants to talk about what each has seen and heard in their own rooms, until they realize they have no choice but to turn to each other. The suspense may be reminiscent of “The Ring” or “The Eye”, but “The Leaving” is much more than that and has an important message. Classified under suspense or horror, the underlying theme is one of migration. This is the only horror flick in this year’s batch in Cinemalaya, although Kim Homer Garcia’s “Magkakapatid” can also give you a scare.

from left: Director Ian Dean Loreños, Actress Margery Lao, Assistant Director Kat Loreños, Producer Franco Alido of “The Leaving” not in pic are Best Production Design Syrel Lopez & Ivan Zaldarriaga and Best Supporting actress LJ Reyes and Best Cinematography Dan Villegas in the New Breed Category.

Much has been said about the OFW phenomenon but “The Leaving” may be unique in that it deals with the migration of the Filipino Chinese. Ian Dean Loreños is a Tsinoy film maker who wanted to tell a story close to his heart. “The Leaving” is a film in the New Breed Category at Cinemalaya and won several nods: Best Supporting Actress (LJ Reyes), Best Cinematography (Rommel Andreo Sales Jr. shared/tied with Dan Villegas of Mayohan) and Best Production Design (Syrel Lopez and Ivan Zaldarriaga).

The Chinese in Ongpin have migrated to more affluent places in Metro Manila. Some have even gone abroad. This Diaspora, if you will represents several things one of which is the loss of the traditional culture that is slowly fading in Chinatown. Loreños was able to weave a suspenseful tale of the consequences of forgetting one’s traditions. It revolves around the celebration of “Spirit Day”. By showing the realities, problems and dangers of everyday living in Chinatown, one gains an insight as to why people look for other places to live.

Alwyn Uytingco plays Martin and film maker Ian Dean Loreños in “The Leaving.”

Both Ian Dean and his sister Kat are alumni of the Berlinale Talent Campus. Berlinale is a wide ranging and high end film training program in conjunction with the Berlin Film fest. Kat works as assistant director in this project and has participated in Animahenasyon 2007, the premiere animation festival here in the Philippines.

“The Leaving” is divided into chapters devoted for each character, very similar to Oscar winning film “Crash”. According to the director, “I wanted to show that the world we are living in is small and we are all interconnected.” Another Cinemalaya entry Last year, “Astig” by GB Sampedro also has the same multiple focus treatment. Arnold Reyes who plays William a wayward husband of Grace, also starred in “Astig”.

LJ Reyes’ portrayal of Grace, a young but suffering wife attracted the attention of jurors and garnered a Best Supporting Actress award. Loreños already had Reyes in mind when he wrote the role. An initial health problem of Reyes almost prevented her from playing Grace but was able to call the director back and join the shoot in time. Reyes’ background of going to St. Stephen’s High school (a Chinese school) helped her with the Fookien dialogue.

LJ Moreno (center) with from left Talk N Txters Harvey Carey and Jimmy Alapag. LJ and Jimmy will tie the knot this November.

Another LJ in the cast is the very sexy LJ Moreno who plays Joan. She is a complete contrast to the subtle and timid wife played by LJ Reyes and easily attracts William with her seductive features and charm. William is so taken by her he buys her a spanking new and expensive cell phone in spite of his failing business. “Although LJ Moreno is a big star she auditioned for the part. When I saw her I was convinced she was Joan,” shared Loreños. Moreno was supported by her fiancé Jimmy Alapag by going to the gala screening of the film. Alapag plays for Talk NText and is currently the top point guard in the PBA.

Alwyn Uytingco who (is also in REKRUT) plays Martin he is one of the up and coming new actors to watch out for. Uytingco inhabits the role of the kindhearted bachelor who is urged by his mom to move to the U.S. All his immediate family members have already emigrated there except for him.

from left: Assistant Director Kat Loreños, Actresses and real life sisters Margery and Miaka Lao.

A casting discovery of Loreños is the real life sisters Margery and Miaka Lao. Margery is convincing as an insane neighbor tormented by the memory of her lost sibling. Margery did not have any dialogue but had a lot of screen time where her actions revealed her frayed mind.

The very grungy, dark and oppressive atmosphere in the film was achieved by production designers Syrel Lopez and Ivan Zaldarriaga. To most people Ongpin is a busy, chaotic place where you can find cheap food and bargains. The two production designers successfully brought out the darker side that the story called for, hence the award.