Kwentong Kapuso: Movie about Pinay nanny is Singapore's Oscar bet

A touching Singaporean film where a Filipino nanny takes centerstage is heading for the Oscars.

“Ilo Ilo” tells the story of Auntie Terry, a Filipino nanny hired by a Singaporean family coping with the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and her closeness to one of her wards.

For former overseas Filipino worker Teresita Sajonia, the inspiration for the nanny character in the movie, it was more prestige than she can ever hoped for — especially after the film won at the 66th Cannes Festival Camera d'Or.

“God, kahit na sa nilibu-libo kong isip, hindi ko naalala na bigyan ako ng alaga ko ng ganitong honor,” the soft-spoken Sajonia said in an interview on “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho” aired last Sunday.

The alaga (ward) she was referring to was Anthony Chen, the film's director who recently went to the Philippines in search for his former nanny. The title “Ilo Ilo” is Sajonia's birthplace in the Philippines.

SGNewWave, a movie critique site, said “Ilo Ilo” is the first Singaporean film to win big at Cannes. On September 4, Hollywood Reporter reported that Singapore will field the film in next year's Academy Awards under the Best Foreign Language category.

Three wards

Sajonia—whom Anthony brought to the gala premier of “Ilo Ilo” at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore last month—has fond memories of her three former wards, Anthony, Justin, and Christopher. She said among the three, her favorite was Christopher, the youngest.

"Palagi 'yan kasi, dinadala ko lagi sa palengke. 'Pag nagluluto ako, nasa tabi ko 'yan,” she recalled with a smile to Jessica Soho.

Sajonia left Singapore in 1997 and now lives in San Miguel town in Iloilo selling fruits and vegetables and tending some poultry — a lifestyle many would thought not befitting a former OFW who worked for eight years in a progressive country.

"Napahiya nga ako eh,” said Sajonia when asked what she felt when she finally met Anthony face to face after many years. “Ang akala ng nanay niya, nagluluto daw ako para itinda kasi ang sabi niya 'marunong ka namang magluto'.”

A sad goodbye

Sajonia, who suffers from short-sightedness, said she left her three wards because of health and age complications.

Recalling her last day with the Chens, she said: “Uuwi ako ng Pilipinas, pupunta naman sila sa Malaysia, magbabakasyon. Akala nila siguro magbabakasyon lang ako. Sabi ko, sa alaga kong malaki [Anthony], 'Alagaan mo yung mga kapatid mo.' Tapos, hinahalikan ko sila, hina-hug, at magbi-bye. Muntik nang maluha yung mata ko.”

She tried to keep in contact with the family through letters, but found out later that the Chen's have moved out of their old residence.

Reunion

When news broke out that Anthony Chen was looking for his “auntie,” a word used by Singaporean children to call their nannies, an Iloilo-based radio station and a PR company searched for Sajonia, and found her on July 14. Anthony and Christopher Chen reunited with Sajonia on July 23.

Sajonia, on “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho,” said the Chen siblings left her with a promise: “Sabi nila ayusin daw nila ang buhay ko.”

“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa alaga ko, na kahit matagal na 'yun, naalala din niya yung mga ginagawa ko [para] sa kanila, kahit na maliit pa sila noon,” Sajonia said.

Sajonia is played by Filipino actress Angeli Bayani in “Ilo Ilo.” The film recently took three awards in the 11th Pacific Meridan Vladivostok International Film Festival in Russia, including the top prize. It was even mentioned by the Singaporean Prime Minister in his National Day rally speech in August. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News