By Mikee Natinga Norico
Sumagaysay (right) and Salvadico (left) proudly stand at the center stage as they receive the Balanghai trophy together with their film’s production team.
Central Philippine University (CPU) alumni Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico brought pride to the university as they clinched the prestigious Best Full-Length Award for their film “Tumandok” at the 20th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival on August 11, 2024.
The film, a powerful portrayal of the struggles and resilience of the Ati community in Sitio Kabarankalan, features Ati actors Jenaica Sangher and Felipe Ganancial. It tells the heart-wrenching story of a 16-year-old chieftain’s daughter fighting to protect her ancestral land.
Sumagaysay, a 2018 AB Mass Communication graduate, and Salvadico, a 2019 Digital Media and Interactive Arts alumnus, both honed their filmmaking skills at CPU Sigrab. Their journey from student filmmakers to award-winning directors is a testament to their dedication and talent.
The duo’s impressive track record includes multiple awards from various film competitions, establishing them as rising stars in the Philippine film industry. Their success serves as an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers and a source of pride for the entire CPU community.
In an interview, Sumagaysay expressed her disbelief and gratitude upon receiving the award. “We cried. We didn’t expect the award because we were competing with the best filmmakers in the nation and their films are great. But the Lord indeed has better plans and the strength, the hearts, and the bravery of the community really resonated through the film. It still feels surreal until now,” she shared.
The filmmakers extended their gratitude to their families, CPU faculty, cast, crew, and the entire Ati community of Sitio Kabarankalan for their invaluable contributions to the film’s success. They emphasized the importance of recognizing the community as co-directors, co-writers, co-designers, and co-authors of “Tumandok,” and expressed their hope that the film would help secure the community’s ancestral domain title (CADT).
“There are many people we want to thank: our families for their unwavering support; our teachers at CPU for instilling the values we needed for this journey; our cast and crew who braved the storm, the heat, the dust, and everything else to make Tumandok happen; and the 296 people in Sitio Kabarankalan who have shown us their strength. They are our co-directors, co-writers, co-designers, and co-authors of the film. We hope that through Tumandok, we will be able to help them secure their CADT, and we encourage everyone to participate in this cause,” Director Sumagaysay said.
With “Tumandok,” Sumagaysay and Salvadico have not only brought home a prestigious award but have also shed light on the plight of the Ati community, inspiring viewers to support their cause.
CPU extends its warmest congratulations to Sumagaysay and Salvadico for this remarkable achievement. Their triumph is a testament to the university’s commitment to producing exceptional talents who contribute significantly to the arts and culture of the nation.
You can also follow @tumandokfilm2024 on Instagram to learn more about how to donate and support Sitio Kabarankalan.
https://www.instagram.com/tumandokfilm2024?igsh=MWV0bXd2d3d3bjBlOQ==
https://www.southernlantern.com/film/tumandok