MORISSETTE INAMING "NERVE-WRACKING" ANG PAGBIBIDA SA MUSICAL FILM

JERRY OLEA

Malaking blessing para kay Morissette ang first movie niyang Song of the Fireflies kung saan gumanap siya bilang Ma’am Alma Taldo, ang devoted founder ng Loboc Children's Choir (LCC) sa Bohol.

"This film really does capture I think the essence of being Filipino," sabi ng Asia’s Phoenix sa mediacon noong Hunyo 7, 2025, Sabado, sa CX Studio, Launchpad Bldg, Reliance Cor. Sheridan, Mandaluyong City.

"Our film is not a musical but it has songs. It’s a film with such beautiful music by icons of our country.

"So I feel like we are able to... yung musical side pa lang po, nai-share namin through this film.

"And siyempre, about family, about closeness to one another, family ties, and just resilience.

"Upon watching the film, I hope that we were able to bring back to screen just the essence of being a Filipino po, lalo na po sa akin, isang Bisaya, Cebuana na Bohol is a neighbor of ours.

"Parang nakaka-proud to be able to get such a simple story from the Loboc’s Children Choir, their story, and just to be able to also showcase po it talaga.

"Which is really something that is worth telling and sharing po."

Song of the Firefiles features music by composers Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raimund Marasigan, Jazz Nicolas, and Krina Cayabyab.

Read: Morissette Amon and Dave Lamar reconcile with her family

MORISSETTE ON HEADLINING A MOVIE

Inamin ni Morissette na nerve-wracking ang pagbibida sa unang pelikula niya.

"Having to, I guess, show up all the time, be there, portray the role, but I think the more nerve-wracking for me, or mas nakakakaba for me, is because I’m portraying a real person," pagtatapat ni Morissette.

"And so having to embody an actual person… siyempre it’s also different when you come up with your own character, di ba?

"Like Jackie and Herbert, they are not actual people, but they are representing the kids.

"But in the case of Ma’am Equet and for my role po, si Ma’am Alma, they’re actual people. And so I think nakakakaba with how we portray them.

"And there’s also the reality of siyempre we are making our film, maganda for the film, for the screen…

"Pero parang the dynamics in real life also between Ma’am Equet and Ma’am Alma, and having to portray that and put that in the film also, personally nahirapan ako dun also.

"But I’m just very happy po na as we were shooting, I was learning as we go.

"Kasi ang galing ni Ms. Rachel maging Ma’am Equet, yung very intimidating but you know that there’s an intention of why she wants the kids to succeed.

"Because she wants Loboc to be represented well. And siyempre si Ma’am Alma, like she just wants to help up the kids.

"They want the same thing but they have different strategies, I feel."

Sina Krystal Brimner at Noel Comia Jr. ang gumanap bilang Jackie at Herbert, respectively, sa Song of the Fireflies.

Si Rachel Alejandro naman ang gumanap bilang cultural advocate na si Equet Butalid.

Nasa cast din ng pelikula sina Chai Fonacier, Via Antonio, Cai Cortez, Tommy Alejandrino, at Alex Medina.

Directed by King Palisoc, the film is produced by Culturtain Musicat Productions with MQuest Ventures, in cooperation with Quezon City Film Development Commission, CMB Film Services, and Hartman Communications.

Palabas ang Song of the Fireflies sa local cinemas umpisa Hunyo 25.

NOEL FERRER

Paano siya naka-relate sa character ni Ma’am Alma Taldo?

"For me po, how I was able to relate and resonate as being Ma’am Alma is how sometimes and this is something equal to constantly," tugon ni Morissette.

"Na minsan, sarili ko yung nagpipigil sa sarili ko to do greater things."

Ipinakita raw sa pelikulang Song of the Fireflies ang insecurities ni Ma’am Alma, na pakiwari ni Morissette ay pinagdaraanan ng maraming tao araw-araw.

"Na they are capable of amazing things pero yung mga siguro inner demons, or mga overthinking, pag overthinking, doon pa ang pumipigil sa kanila to be able to step outside of the box," dagdag ng Asia’s Phoenix.

"And so honestly for me po, like, I have also been in the industry for a while as a singer pero upon portraying Ma’am Alma’s role, parang natutunan ko to really take risks.

"And to just embrace who I am, and really value the people who genuinely want me to succeed also.

"So I’m just very grateful na I got to give life to Ma’am Alma Taldo in the film after being inspired by her in real life."

Read: Gladys Reyes, mala-Julie Andrews ang atake sa musical film

MORISSETTE ON MEETING THE REAL ALMA TALDO

Na-meet ni Morisette si Ma’am Alma noong 2019 na gumawa sila ng teaser para sa Song of the Fireflies.

Pagtatapat ni Morisette: "Honestly, medyo na-challenge ako noon kasi she’s so soft-spoken and she’s so down-to-earth.

"And maybe also coz of age, pero. like, it was kind of hard to get information from her personally about her past and ano.

"But I think what really helped me was putting yung perspective na the way she acts is kinda like how my grandma also acts na very loving, very tender, very caring.

"So that was my main pillar for portraying Ma’am Alma, but as we were shooting po, especially while we were in Bohol, we were able to talk to previous LCC members.

"Nakausap ko din po yung isa sa mga anak ni Ma’am Alma who’s also a part of the choir before, and shared with us how she was also before.

"She’s so simple, Ma’am Alma, she’s very simple and very down-to-earth. For me, she represents also like a Filipino’s soul.

"Na she’s so simple, she just loves music, she wants to help other people."

Song of the Fireflies is a tribute to the extraordinary journey of the Loboc Children’s Choir, which began in the 1980s in the quiet riverside town of Loboc, Bohol.

Composed of children as young as 9 to 13 years old, the choir had to rise above poverty, limited resources, and natural calamities— all in pursuit of a single dream: to let their voices be heard beyond the walls of their classroom.

Their dreams burned brightly, fanned by the steadfast guidance of their teacher,

Ma’am Alma, and the unwavering support of Equet Butalid, a cultural advocate of Bohol who believed deeply in their talent.

Read: REVIEW: Isang Himala shines with powerhouse performances

GORGY RULA

So far, hindi pa rin pumapasok sa kamalayan mga manonood ang Pinoy musical film.

Wala pang musical film na talagang nag-hit, pinag-usapan, at talagang tinatao.

Super promote pa naman ang Cignal TV sa Song of the Fireflies kaya ilang beses ko nang napanood ang trailer nito.

Medyo nabibigatan lang ako. Kasi sabi nga nila, drama film with songs.

Sana, maka-relate pa rin ang mga manonood sa dramang ilalahad sa pelikulang ito, at mga awiting kakantahin nila.

Pero sana, maipapakita pa rin ang kagandahan ng Bohol.

THE HEART OF MUSIC

Tama namang ituloy pa rin natin ang Pinoy musical film at paglikha ng mga awiting atin.

Kagaya nitong The Heart of Music na gagawin ni Gladys Reyes para sa Utmost Creatives Motion Pictures.

Isa rin itong musical fim, at masang-masa, sabi ng nagsulat at magdidirek nitong si Gat Alaman.

Hindi singer si Gladys, pero sa kanya ipinagkatiwala ang mahalagang role ng isang Yaya Madonna na nagbibigay ng kasiyahan sa isang pamilyang gagampanan ng mag-asawang Robert Seña at Isay Alvarez.

Mga original songs ang kakantahin nila, pero may ilang old songs din kagaya ng "Paru-parong Bukid," "Bahay Kubo," "Atin Cu Pung Singsing," at "Ugoy ng Duyan."

"Nag-crash course ako sa piano, pinag-aralan ko itong 'Ugoy ng Duyan,' tapos hindi na pala namin kakantahin!" natatawang kuwento sa amin ni Gladys.

Itong The Heart of Music ay isang wholesome film, sabi ni Direk Gat, dahil balak nilang ilibot ito sa mga paaralan.

"Itong Heart of Music is a very heartfelt and family drama. Hindi po natin nilagyan ng anything like mura or any bad words in this film, para pati yung mga bata ay kaya nilang panoorin.

"Kasi, we’re also eyeing this film for the distribution in schools.

"Isa po yun sa malaking goal in this movie, and also yun po… we picked the best actors para gawin yung character ng bawat isa dito," pakli ni Direk Gat.

Nababagay raw kay Gladys ang lead role nito bilang si Yaya Madonna, kahit hindi naman talaga siya singer.

"Siya ang magbibigay ng buhay. Siya yung heart of music dito.

"Sa kanya nakasentro yung istorya na talagang… siya yung magbibigay ng kulay, siya yung magbibigay ng saya, magbabalik ng musika dun sa buong bahay at sa puso ng bawat karakter na kasama po niya dito sa pelikula," sabi pa ni Direk Gat.

Read: Gladys Reyes, mala-Julie Andrews ang atake sa musical film

2025-06-09T16:07:04Z