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Celeste Legaspi is proud that their internationally acclaimed film, Song of the Fireflies, is finally showing in local cinemas starting today, June 25.

Inspired by the story of the world-renowned Bohol-based Loboc Children's Choir, the Song of the Fireflies is the second movie that Culturtain Musikati produced, following Ang Larawan.

At the movie's press conference on Monday, June 23, seasoned singer, actress, and producer Celeste Legaspi shared that the film not only tells the origin story of the Loboc Children's Choir from Bohol--it also highlights themes of resilience, hope, and the power of dreams.

“Our first film was Ang Larawan. We wanted to do a second film that would be worthy of Ang Larawan. We thought that Ang Larawan was about inspiring people and excellence in the craft, and that was what we found in the story of Ma'am Alma [Taldo] and the Loboc Children's Choir--that they are completely dedicated to excellence. They committed to being the very best that the Filipino can be.

“Their story came from a very small town na wala namang pera, all they had was talent, hard work, and commitment. We thought that's a great story to put on film that will inspire the Filipinos when they see the film.”

Aside from the inspiring story, Song of the Fireflies also features all-original Filipino music produced by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raymond Marasigan, and Jazz Nicolas. The scoring was done by Krina Cayabyab.

“It was also a good moment to put together a lot of excellent music. It's not a musical, but it's about music. And we were able to get music from our National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Jazz Nicholas, Raymond Marasigan, Krina Cayabyab. All the folk songs that the choirs would sing. That's why punung-puno yung pelikula ng mga napakagandang musika. That's why we thought, let's go into this idea, the Loboc Children's Choir, let's make it into a film.”

Producing films that will inspire and show the excellence of the Filipino, especially our music, is the main vision of Celeste Legaspi and her team from Culturtain Musikati Productions.

However, the theater and movie producer confessed that while they're eager to convey the story of the Loboc Children's Choir, they had not thought of the budget to produce it when they started.

Celeste explained, "It has always been our vision, pero always excellent. Ayaw namin ng mga puwede na, ayaw namin ng mediocre. Kapag hindi excellent, ayaw naming sumali doon. Doon kami mataray in that sense.

"Then, we're courageous kasi usually we begin our projects na wala pa kaming pera. And because maybe we have shown our tenacity for excellence and our dedication to what is good about the Filipino that many people come and support us. That has been very heartwarming ever since Ang Larawan, ever since we began making our original Filipino musicals.

"We are courageous, and we are also foolish. But what can you do, ganun talaga ang art, e, you have to take a leap of faith and believe that at the end of the jump, there will audience that will support us and who will love what we do."

First-time actors

It's also worth noting that the film captures raw and authentic emotions as some of the cast members are first-time actors bringing real, unfiltered performances to the screen.

This is what happened to Morissette Amon, who plays the role of Ma'am Alma Taldo. She is the musical director and conductor of the Loboc Children's Choir.

Celeste related, “First of all, our main responsibility was to portray Ma'am Alma as honestly as we could. Talagang si Moriseette embraced that challenge. You know, she's used to concerts and television, she had to find that part of her that is just about honest.

“We never really sat her down and said, 'This is the challenge that you have, you have to portray Alma as honestly as you can.' She just knew it by meeting Ma'am Alma and learning from her. So, Morissette was already an asset aside from being Bisaya.

“Yun ang number one challenge, how to portray Alma fairly and justly, because she's a very special person. We didn't want her anything na trivia lang.”

Besides Morissette, many of the choir members in the film were also first-time actors.

“The real story is the children,” writer Sarge Lacuesta said.

“You'll be surprised to know that most of the kids who play in the choir are really kids from the choir. I think, people should be alive to the fact that if you go to Loboc now, pakinggan n'yo lang kung saan may music, nandoon sila nagpa-practice, nandoon madalas si Ma'am Alma. It's a thing that's happening until now, 45 years after. That is the story.”

Director King Palisoc said the workshop they conducted before filming helped in building rapport among the cast members

“It's refreshing because yung experience namin shooting the film was really punung-puno ng authenticity. Kumbaga, since first timers sila, yung emotions na lumalabas kapag umaarte sila, was really coming from an honest place.

“Before shooting the film, nagkaroon kami ng workshop with the actors. Parang we had a two-day workshop just to get to know each other and do acting exercises.

Ang naging rule ko talaga during the workshop and the production was really allow them or to give them the opportunity to be honest or to be authentic sa sarili nila.

“I think naman it showed, even yung other members of the choir, yung small scenes, even if sometimes scripted yun, the way they delivered it parang honest. I guess, part of them was really themselves as choir members.”

This film also stars Ms. Rachel Alejandro, Noel Comia Jr., Krystal Brimner, alongside Chai Fonacier, Via Antonio, Cai Cortez, Tommy Alejandrino, Alex Medina, and more.

Song of the Fireflies swept the 2025 Manila International Film Festival with multiple wins: Audience Award for Best Picture, Best Actress (Morissette), Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Alejandro), Best Supporting Actor (Noel Comia Jr.), and a Special Award. It also won the Platinum Remi Award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.