GMA Network's Jonnie Lyn Dasalla's short film 'Namnama en Lolang' enters Cinemalaya Film Festival
Out of 200 entries, Namnama en Lolang (Grandmother's Hope), a short film by GMA Network employee Jonnie Lyn Dasalla, was chosen as one of the 13 films for this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival.
In an interview with GMANetwork.com, Jonnie Lyn revealed that she only thought the concept of her 5-minute film during the lockdown, and made the film from scratch in just a week using a phone.
"Actually 'yung concept na 'to, naisip ko during mismo nung lockdown period," she shared.
"So 'yung feeling pa lang ng restlessness and anxiety during that time is enough to ignite a story.
"As a storyteller, parang kailangan kong i-document itong pangyayaring ito, itong karanasan na 'to kasi may iba't iba tayong experience during the lockdown period."
Photo by Jam Madeja
Namnama en Lolang tells the story of Lolang Keyag, who lives in isolation with her baby grandson Eli, during the lockdown. Despite the pandemic, Lola Keyag remains optimistic and hopeful for her grandson.
With a story in mind, Jonnie Lyn asked her mother, Concepcion, and nephew, Jaeceelizeon Alhexys, to be the main characters of the film.
"Actually, nung una may mga doubt siya kasi first time niya talaga mag-act," she revealed about her mom.
"And bilang Cordilleran, mahihiyain kami, and 'yung mom ko rin, first time niyang gawin 'to.
"Kinonvince ko lang siya, sabi ko sa kanya, 'Magtiwala ka lang sa akin, magtiwala ka lang sa director mo, just follow my instructions.'"
To make her mother more comfortable, Jonnie chose to use their own language, Kankana-ey, instead of Tagalog.
"And mahalaga rin na ginamit namin 'yung language na Kankana-ey para imaging komportable siya.
"Along the way, naging komportable na siya, naging genuine kasi 'yung pinapa-act ko lang sa kanya is kung ano 'yung ginagawa niya sa araw-araw na buhay."
By speaking their own language, Namnama en Lolang also celebrates the diversity of the people of the Cordillera.
"Goal ko rin po talaga na ma-i-celebrate 'yung diversity of culture na kung saan sa lenggwahe pa lang, makikita nila na magkakaroon sila ng awareness.
"Kumbaga, makikita nila 'yung mga kuwento rin sa mga regions. Hindi naman natin maikakaila na Manila-centric 'yung films na naipapalabas sa film festivals.
"Ngayong digital age, nagkakaroon ng opportunity 'yung mga katulad namin na nasa regions to show our own stories using simple equipment like phone."
In the end, Jonnie Lyn, who currently works as a digital media editor of the Program Support Department, only wanted the viewers to remain hopeful after watching Namnama en Lolang.
"Nabuo ko 'tong short film just to bring a message of hope sa iba.
"I guess, sa mga audiences, siguro may iba-iba silang perception, may iba-iba silang makukuha sa pelikula, pero ang aim ko is to give that hope.
"Doon sa mag-lola, iba 'yung reality, iba 'yung harshness ng sitwasyon na naranasan nila.
"I hope na kahit gaano man ka-negative 'yung nararanasan natin, or 'yung experience during this time, sana magkaroon pa rin tayo ng gleam of hope, and faith na makakayanan natin itong challenges na 'to with our loved ones," she ended.
The 2021 Cinemalaya Film Festival will run from August 6 to September 5. For more details, visit the Facebook pages of Cinemalaya and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.