Bagong bayani, an affectionate term coined by Filipinos to honor their kababayans who choose to leave their home country and families to live or work abroad. Mostly, for many, to survive the hard life; and for others, to better a good life.
Who are the bagong bayani in we-the-north side of the world? What is their migrant life like?
A group of enterprising and passionate Fil-Canadians bravely attempted to define the term as they put their heads and talents together to bring to fore the harsh and painful realities of living out a life abroad whether for a dream or for necessity.
Executive producers Judith Gonzales of Pinoy Dreams Media International (PDMI); spouses Paul and Ophelia Valdez of P&O Production; and ace director Sam Herrera spearheaded what was viewed as an ambitious project but now a reality when Temptations of a Hero (Kailan Tama ang Mali?) premiered in July 13 at the Toronto Center for the Arts.
What are heroes made of? What sort of transgressions do they commit?
Alona, played by Gonzales, leaves to work as a nanny in Hongkong, a usual route taken by Filipina mothers who want to come to Canada as caregivers. And as in many documented cases, many Pinays who work as caregivers in Canada are university graduates, some are even nursing practitioners back home. So is Alona.
Andres (role essayed by John Alix) is Alona’s husband. He is left with two (2) kids to care for in the Philippines as the wife seeks greener pasture for the family. She had the better chance, they think, as Andres is a college drop-out and feeds his family with odd jobs here and there, from the luscious sea or the concrete jungle in their province.
Two years in Hongkong and five years in Canada, family gets reunited. But between the first and seventh year, we know by this time and age, families separated from each other need to expect that many things can go right or wrong.
Temptations of a Hero (Kailan Tama Ang Mali?), is a story of many true stories that happen anywhere in the world where Filipino families are separated, reunited and separated again. Hopefully, not in that sequence all the time.
The movie is produced and starred by an all-Filipino-rooted roster of talents in Canada, except may be for the kaleidoscopic pair of eyes of Rod Santibanez, a Mexican-Canadian cinematographer. Two other lead roles are taken up by Bart Santos as Alan, the son and Kassandra Adajar as the daughter. Sam Herrera, a thespian technical director, manned the lens as director and did the final edit of the film. Philippine Canadian Inquirer writer-columnist Bolet Arevalo wrote the screenplay, and penned the lyrics of the original theme song, whose music was created by Philippine-based music genius, Arnold Buena.
Fil-Canadians’ desire to bring this story to the big screen would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of the Filipino and Canadian community businesses and organizations. Among them: Professional Career International, Mitzify Canada, IRemit, Megaworld, World Vision, Honda, MN Physiotheraphy Clinic, IAdverTube, Dominion Lending, World Financial Group, Sandbank Cottages and Campsites, PIDC, Knights of Rizal, CCFAQ, FAMAS of Montreal, Filipino Achievers of Canada, Philippine Press Club, and IKubo Media, among many others.
Temptations of a Hero (Kailan Tama Ang Mali?) will also be shown in key cities of Canada including Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg. International screenings are also slated for the USA, Italy, Norway, Singapore, HK, Taiwan, Dubai, Japan, and the Philippines.
So, how do we describe bagong bayani?
The movie essays the truth we have known for so long – that new heroes are just human. They despair. They can get hurt. They can be tempted. But as humans, they have it in their hands and faith to seek the light when confronted with darkness.
To right a wrong.