CINEMALAYA ENTRY DEALS WITH THE REALITIES RAISING A CHILD WITH AUTISM

Celebrity couple Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing have taken on highly challenging and emotionally-charged roles in this year's Cinemalaya entry "Love Child." The film, one of the 10 full-length features competing in the festival's 20th edition, follows a young couple navigating the complexities of raising an autistic child in an increasingly unsupportive environment.

Directed by Jonathan Jurilla, "Love Child" tells the story of college sweethearts Ayla and Paolo, who drop out of school to start a family after an unplanned pregnancy.

Their world is turned upside down when their son, Kali, is diagnosed with autism. As they face the daunting task of raising a child with special needs, their relationship is tested, and they are forced to find strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

Jurilla, whose original script won first place in the Dulang Pampelikula Category of the 71st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, draws from his personal experience as his son, Oyen, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of 2.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Oineza and Bagatsing said they found the script profoundly moving especially that it aims to raise awareness about ASD and emphasize the importance of social understanding.

"When we first read the script, we already had a deep attachment to the story and the characters. We really felt them through the script alone. I cried and cried when I first read it. I didn't want to let it go. We want to do this, and we want to do this for them. We want their stories to be heard and told," shared Oineza.

"I think the biggest factor that helped us is that it's a love letter from direk Jonathan to his son, who is on the spectrum. So, our preparation was really about making way for direk's stories. We didn't stray too far because it's already his personal experience and his wife's. It's such an honor for us to sit down, listen, and wait for the information to give voice to those stories through the scenes," Bagatsing added.

"The script is so beautiful that as we read it, it felt like we were watching a movie. But the excitement of 'Wow, this script is so beautiful' also came with growing pressure and the responsibility of how we will be able to tell it this time," he continued.

The couple added that taking on this project deepened their understanding and empathy to those who are dealing with the same situation, reason why they wanted to tell the story in a very accurate manner.

"The challenge is that I'm nervous. I hope I did it right and that it was enough, and I guess I channeled that nervousness into the character because the character was feeling the same way. There were many scenes where the character is researching and figuring out what to do, wondering if there's something missing. I used that fear of 'Did I prepare enough?' in the character because they also found out about their child's diagnosis late and are figuring things out along the way. It also helped that there was a supportive partner to figure things out together," Oineza explained.

"The challenge was also a gift. Tyrron Ramos, the young actor who played our son, brought a true child's presence — sometimes moody, sometimes wanting to play, and sometimes needing comfort. We enjoyed it but were also challenged by how to respond to him. As RK, if this happened to me, I wouldn't know what to do. The couple didn't know what to do in the scenes either. Tyrron gave us many nuances with his actions, so we reacted accordingly. After each scene, we felt all the emotions — joy, exhaustion, and playfulness. The biggest challenge was letting go and being ready for whatever happens," Bagatsing added.

As Oineza and Bagatsing bring this heartfelt story to life, they hope to connect with audiences and highlight the strength and resilience of families navigating these challenges.

"We want to tell their story. We aim for a broad reach so their stories can be heard. With the trailer coming out, we see it as a platform for their voices to be heard. We see many sharing their own stories, and that's the main goal for this film. It's for them," said Oineza.

"The ultimate goal is for them to feel seen and heard, and not just to focus on the struggles but also to highlight their resilience, strength, and unwavering love in the face of adversity. We want to champion those emotions. I want them to connect with the material and gain more respect for themselves and from others," concluded Bagatsing.

Amidst ongoing rehabilitation of the CCP Main Building, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. proudly bring this cinematic feast to Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

During its 10-day run from August 2 to 11, Cinemalaya films in competition and exhibitions will be screened at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, TriNoma, Market! Market!, U.P. Town Center and Greenbelt.

2024-08-02T16:49:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd