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Set against the rich cultural backdrop of Ilocos Norte, 'All The Things I Leave You' brings a boys' love story of love, loss, and legacy to the big screen this Pride Month.

More than just another boys' love story, All The Things I Leave You (Patawid) offers something deeper—an emotionally rich narrative about love, family, memory, and the things people leave behind.

Set against the culturally vibrant backdrop of Ilocos Norte, the BL series-turned-film takes viewers on a moving journey through past and present, weaving together themes of romance, grief, identity, and legacy.

What makes All The Things I Leave You stand out is its strong sense of place. Unlike many productions that creatively manipulate locations for convenience, the team behind the project made a deliberate choice to stay authentic.

Director Jade Castro shared that showcasing Ilocos as it truly is became one of the project's defining strengths. Rather than simply using Ilocos as a backdrop, the production embraced the region's culture, traditions, and people—allowing the story to become deeply rooted in its setting.

This commitment to authenticity extended beyond the visuals. Castro emphasized that the project became a true collaboration with the Ilocano community.

“Kasi mga katrabaho namin, mga writers namin, Ilocano. Tapos may mga interns, mga bata, puro mga Ilocano din. Hanggang sa pagsu-subtitle,” he said.
“So sabi ko, hindi ko magagawa to kung hindi mga Ilocano ang mga katrabaho. So, dapat sa shoot laging may Ilocano na kasama.”

For Castro, this became one of his most unique and meaningful directorial experiences.

He admitted that working on the project challenged his perspective as a filmmaker, particularly the idea that a director should always be the dominant voice behind a film.

“So, parang naramdaman ko talaga na although nilalagay ko yung sarili ko, and all of my desires and passions, but also, it's the voice of somebody else other than me.

"Parang binubuwag ko yung auteur theory, binubuwag ko yung idea na bidang-bida yung director. So, minsan may hirap gawin doon kasi akala ng lahat parang sa 'yo tumitingin for everything. Dito, naramdaman ko talaga yun. Kaya isa siya sa pinaka-proudest kong nagawa.”

He added, “Yung mindset na alam ko, kailangan ko maraming matutunan. I think yun yung unang step. Dapat tanggalin muna yung yabang. Kailangan tanggalin muna yung yabang.
“At meron kasing sine-serve na kwento. Dapat meron kang fidelity to a larger truth. Hindi yung ego ang sumasagabal.”

Justine Paul Basobas and Benedix Ramos in All The Things I Leave You. Photo by Nherz Almo

The film features Benedix Ramos and Justin Paul Basobas, who bring emotional depth and quiet intensity to their roles as Jorge and Kiko. Ramos portrays Jorge, a privileged young man searching for purpose within the constraints of family expectations, while Basobas plays Kiko, a practical newcomer whose presence disrupts—and eventually transforms—the world around him. Their performances anchor the film's exploration of connection, class, and emotional discovery.

All The Things I Leave You is a story about what gets passed on from one generation to another.

Despite its title, the story is not entirely centered on death. Instead, it focuses on legacy—on the emotional, cultural, and personal inheritances people leave behind.

Love plays a central role, but so do family values, rituals, and generational ties.

The film also highlights the richness of Ilocano culture in subtle but meaningful ways. Audiences can expect to see traditions surrounding funerals, strong family dynamics, local food, language, rituals, and values embedded naturally into the story.

Castro noted that while the project avoids reducing Ilocanos to stereotypes, it does explore familiar cultural traits with more nuance. Traits often associated with Ilocanos—such as being frugal—are given deeper context, rooted in discipline, hard work, saving for the future, and prioritizing family.

BL touch

The film also touches on LGBTQ+ identity within the Ilocano setting, presenting a more layered portrait of the region.

By blending a heartfelt BL narrative with cultural authenticity and emotional depth, the project offers something rare: a story that feels intimate, grounded, and deeply human.

“I think, kapag pinanood ito, marami silang mapupulot. I just want them to celebrate life. There's also a struggle, e. When you watch the film, actually, may struggle. Pero because of the genre, there's also a positivity.

“Ako, I wanna tell everybody, especially the community, that life is worth celebrating. We fight the fight, but let's also have fun and make ourselves happy,” he said.

Originally conceived as a six-episode series, All The Things I Leave You was not initially planned for a theatrical release.

“Nag-snowball na lang, e. Kasi, noong napasok sa festivals, pinalabas siya nang buo. Then, ngayon, gustong ipalabas sa mga sinehan, so parang movie na siya,” Castro concluded.

All The Things I Leave You is now showing in SM Cinemas nationwide.

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