A place not only for the romantic

Film review: Siargao

MANILA, Philippines — The lives of three brokenhearted people inevitably intertwine in the beautiful island of Siargao in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) light-drama entry, Siargao.

Erich Gonzales plays video blogger Laura, who travels by her lonesome to skirt from a wedding proposal made by her boyfriend, played in a cameo by Enchong Dee. He was ready “to give the whole world” to her, but she was not ready for it. Laura killed “the Internet’s best love team,” when she nixed her boyfriend’s proposal.

On the plane, Laura meets Diego Punzalan or Jig, (Jericho Rosales), a celebrity performer who goes home to Siargao, his birthplace and hometown. Jig earlier came to Manila to successfully pursue his dream of becoming a singer-musician.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith is Adi, Jig’s “the one that got away.” He loved her when she had a boyfriend, so their romance never really went that far. When they see each other again in Siargao, the romance is rekindled.

If you’ve never been to Siargao Island, watching the film will easily make you fall in love with the majestic place — its virgin island, pristine white-sand beaches and fluid-like waves. It’s a small town and, as the characters in the film repeatedly mentioned, “Everyone knows each other in Siargao.”

Another brilliant opus directed by Paul Soriano, Siargao clearly shows the conscious effort made by its megman to project his characters in the island to be so real. No pretentious acting.

Jig pictures surfing and explains to Laura how to do it, comparing it to survival. “In surfing, all you hear are the waves. Then you surf, glide and crash. When you’re underneath the water, you resurface. Then, you know you’re alive. You keep on riding. You keep living. That’s hard to do. But if you love it, you will do it.”

The country’s top surfers, Luke Landrigan and Wilmar Melindo, play cameos in Siargao, with erstwhile Pinoy Big Brother housemate Will Dasovich. In supporting roles are Suzette Ranillo as Jig’s mom and Mica Javier as his sister.

In one scene, the film also gives importance to proper waste management, as celebrity performer Jig leads the locals and tourists in the island to clean and dispose the trash on the beachfront.

To those who have followed the two-decade career of Jericho, it is safe to say that Siargao is perhaps tailor-made for him. Like his character, Jig, Jericho is a real-life surfer who enjoys the waves of La Union. He also sings and plays the guitar. (He performs one of his original songs in the film.) And, like Jig, Jericho frequently rides his motorbike in real life.

Siargao is a film about love and second chances. Nope, it will not easily make you cry, but largely, Siargao will make you appreciate Philippine nature at its finest. Big time. (Try not to miss the breath-taking panoramic shot of the teardrop shaped island within the film.)

After watching Siargao, your feet will undoubtedly itch to trek to the island and inevitably try surfing, if not simply explore the beach or enjoy nature. We can easily bet on it. In Siargao, “you’ll have infinite stories and memories to share and cherish for a lifetime.”