''Siargao'' is a 2017 Philippine
surf romance film
Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...
directed by
Paul Soriano
Paul David Soriano(; born October 17, 1981) is an American-born Filipino commercial and film director, producer.
Personal life
Soriano was born and raised in Los Angeles. His father is director and pastor Jeric Soriano, the son of actor Nest ...
. Starring
Jericho Rosales
Jericho Vibar Rosales (; born September 21, 1979), also known as Echo, is a Filipino actor. He is currently a freelance actor.
Primarily a film and television actor, he is known by his stage name "Echo" cousin of Jefferson C. Rosales. He beg ...
,
Erich Gonzales
Erika Chryselle Gonzales Gancayco-Lorenzo (born September 20, 1990), better known by her stage name Erich Gonzales (), is a Filipino actress. She is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. She started her showbiz career at the age of 14, as ...
, and
Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Jasmine Cassandra Curtis-Smith (; born April 6, 1994) is a Filipino-Australian actress, host, dancer, endorser, writer, and model. She is known internationally for her critically acclaimed performance in Hannah Espia's 2013 film ''Transit (2013 ...
, it is produced under Soriano's own company Ten17P.
The film was commercially released in the Philippines on December 25, 2017 as part of the
43rd Metro Manila Film Festival
The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 43rd edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Metropolitan Manila Devel ...
, and was the festival's top multi-awarded entry having won seven of its twelve nominations: including
2nd Best Picture,
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to:
Film awards
* AACTA Award for Best Direction
* Academy Award for Best Director
* BA ...
(Soriano),
Best Cinematography,
Best Sound, and
Best Editing.
Plot Synopsis
Set in the rustic but breathtaking surf island of
Siargao
Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 196 kilometers southeast of Tacloban. It has a land area of approximately . The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a s ...
, an island off
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte ( Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Norte''; ceb, Amihanang Surigao; Tagalog: ''Hilagang Surigao''), officially the Province of Surigao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao. ...
in
Caraga
Caraga, officially the Caraga Administrative Region (or simply known as Caraga Region) and designated as Region XIII, is an administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of Mindanao. The region was created through ...
region of northeastern
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
, Diego (
Jericho Rosales
Jericho Vibar Rosales (; born September 21, 1979), also known as Echo, is a Filipino actor. He is currently a freelance actor.
Primarily a film and television actor, he is known by his stage name "Echo" cousin of Jefferson C. Rosales. He beg ...
), a burned-out musician, returns to his hometown to escape his troubles in the city. He meets Laura (
Erich Gonzales
Erika Chryselle Gonzales Gancayco-Lorenzo (born September 20, 1990), better known by her stage name Erich Gonzales (), is a Filipino actress. She is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. She started her showbiz career at the age of 14, as ...
), a sheltered YouTube vlogger who is picking herself up after a failed relationship, when they are seated beside each other on the plane ride to Siargao. Upon arrival on the island, Laura realizes that she has no means of transportation to her reserved lodgings, and so Diego offers to give her a ride on his friend's Jeep. Along the journey, they get to know each other's backgrounds and scratch the surface of either's purpose for going to Siargao.
In their respective residences, the real reasons for their getaway are revealed: Diego is returning home after experiencing unhappiness and dissatisfaction in Manila as an artist, stemming from his regret over leaving his hometown sweetheart Abi (
Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Jasmine Cassandra Curtis-Smith (; born April 6, 1994) is a Filipino-Australian actress, host, dancer, endorser, writer, and model. She is known internationally for her critically acclaimed performance in Hannah Espia's 2013 film ''Transit (2013 ...
), of whom he has always loved but had never gotten the timing right to be with. Laura, on the other hand, is trying to discover her independence after rejecting the marriage proposal of her ex-boyfriend, Mikey (
Enchong Dee
Ernest Lorenzo Velasquez Dee (, born November 5, 1988), professionally known as Enchong Dee, is a Filipino actor, model, and swimmer. Dee is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He came to prominence after starring in his first major TV ...
), whom she still loves but is afraid to commit to in marriage. In one of the many heartfelt conversations Laura and Diego participate in, she asks Diego what his favorite flavor of popcorn is, and divulges that she does not know the answer to the question herself, as she had spent all of her time in her relationship trying to mold her interests to mirror Mikey's.
As Diego rekindles his connection with Abi through surfing and Laura continues to film her experiences in Siargao, the two wayward souls find understanding and support in each other's woes. Diego and Abi hash out their still existing feelings for each other, with Abi revealing that even if she loves Diego, she cannot be with him if he wants to return to the city, as she is used to and does not want to leave her simple life in Siargao. Laura watches Mikey's livestream about his and Laura's breakup, tearfully sharing his willingness to give Laura the world and being turned down, and that Laura has been trying to keep in touch, to no avail, as Mikey does not see the point when it had been her who had left him.
After a conversation between Diego and Laura where they agree that no matter the setbacks, mistakes, and disappointments, they have to keep on living and pushing for those they truly love, Diego holds a public performance for the locals where he dedicates a song to Abi that he wrote about her years prior, while Laura decides that after spending some time in Siargao by herself trying to figure out if she can and deserves to be alone, she ultimately refuses to be and attempts to contact Mikey again, finally reaching him via phone call after weeks of estrangement.
Diego, on his way back to Manila, seeing Laura on the plane once again, and deciding to stay permanently in Siargao to pursue a long-desired relationship with Abi. Laura lands in Manila, and is met at the airport by Mikey where the two hug, presumably to reunite and to try and resume their relationship for good.
Cast
;Main
*
Jericho Rosales
Jericho Vibar Rosales (; born September 21, 1979), also known as Echo, is a Filipino actor. He is currently a freelance actor.
Primarily a film and television actor, he is known by his stage name "Echo" cousin of Jefferson C. Rosales. He beg ...
as Diego
*
Erich Gonzales
Erika Chryselle Gonzales Gancayco-Lorenzo (born September 20, 1990), better known by her stage name Erich Gonzales (), is a Filipino actress. She is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. She started her showbiz career at the age of 14, as ...
as Laura
*
Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Jasmine Cassandra Curtis-Smith (; born April 6, 1994) is a Filipino-Australian actress, host, dancer, endorser, writer, and model. She is known internationally for her critically acclaimed performance in Hannah Espia's 2013 film ''Transit (2013 ...
as Abi
;Supporting
* Luke Landrigan as Edong
*
Suzette Ranillo
Maria Suzette Sevilla Ranillo (born January 11, 1961) is a Filipino actress who started at the age of 12 as an actress with the screen name, Nadia Veloso. She is well known for her awards and successes in film, television and theater.
Biograph ...
as Diego's mom
*
Mica Javier as Karen
* Wilmar Melindo as Wilmar
*
Roxanne Barcelo
Anne Roxanne Barcelo (born January 20, 1985), also known as Roxee B, is a Filipino-American actress, model and singer. In 2006, she became one of the 14 housemates of ABS-CBN's '' Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition''. Before entering the Big ...
as Belay
*
Will Devaughn
William Devaughn Stumpf (born February 27, 1982) is a Filipino-American commercial model and actor.
Biography
He entered the Pinoy Big Brother house, during its Celebrity Edition 2, and became the fourth big placer of that season. He arrived in ...
as Tommy
*
Wil Dasovich
Wil Dasovich (; born August 26, 1991), is an American television personality, model, and vlogger. He is known for his vlogs on YouTube. He has appeared on various television shows but most notably on ''Pinoy Big Brother''.
Early life
Dasovich ...
as Oliver
;Special participation
*
Enchong Dee
Ernest Lorenzo Velasquez Dee (, born November 5, 1988), professionally known as Enchong Dee, is a Filipino actor, model, and swimmer. Dee is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He came to prominence after starring in his first major TV ...
as Mikey
;Cameo appearances
*
Franco
Franco may refer to:
Name
* Franco (name)
* Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975
* Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître"
Prefix
* Franco, a prefix used when ref ...
as Performer
*
Reese Lansangan
Maria Therese "Reese" Lansangan (born October 16, 1990) is a Filipino musician, singer-songwriter, visual artist, graphic designer, fashion designer, and published author. She is best known for her 2015 debut album ''Arigato, Internet!'', and for ...
* Bret Maverick-Higham as Johnny
Production
![Paul Soriano MMFF 2017](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Paul_Soriano_MMFF_2017.jpg)
''Siargao'' was directed by
Paul Soriano
Paul David Soriano(; born October 17, 1981) is an American-born Filipino commercial and film director, producer.
Personal life
Soriano was born and raised in Los Angeles. His father is director and pastor Jeric Soriano, the son of actor Nest ...
under his production company, Ten17P.
The film was set and filmed in
Siargao
Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 196 kilometers southeast of Tacloban. It has a land area of approximately . The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a s ...
island.
Soriano described the premise of his film as a story of "finding and losing yourself, and falling in and out of love".
Soriano went to
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte ( Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Norte''; ceb, Amihanang Surigao; Tagalog: ''Hilagang Surigao''), officially the Province of Surigao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao. ...
province to inform government officials of his plans to shoot a film in the province's island. Soriano planned to start principal photography in April after the
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
observances.
[ Filming wrapped in August 2017. The production team and cast stayed in Siargao for at least six weeks during film shoot.
]
Release
A minute-long trailer of Siargao was officially released by October 2017 with no definite release date announced at that time.
The film was commercially released in the Philippines on December 25, 2017 as part of the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival
The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 43rd edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Metropolitan Manila Devel ...
.
Reception
Box office
''Siargao'' sold about during the official run of the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival
The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 43rd edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Metropolitan Manila Devel ...
making it the third most successful film in the film festival in terms of box office gross behind '' Ang Panday'' and '' Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad''.
Accolades
See also
*'' Apocalypse Child''
References
External links
*
{{Paul Soriano
Films shot in Surigao del Norte
Films set in Surigao del Norte
Films directed by Paul Soriano