THE STORY of a family traveling back home to Bicol province on a pedicab is one of the entries in the ongoing Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) that kicked off yesterday.
“Pauwi Na” is a story inspired by a feature article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer titled “Family pedals way back home to Leyte” published on Sept. 7, 2003.
The award-winning film is top billed by Bembol Roco (as Mang Pepe), Cherry Pie Picache (as Aling Remedios), Meryll Soriano (as Isabel), Jerald Napoles (as JP), Jess Mendoza (as Jesus Christ) and Chai Fonacier (as Pina).
Pepe’s family decided to go home to the province because their daily life in the city, living in the slums, had been a struggle for survival.
With not enough money for transportation, the family rode their pedicab from Quezon City to Bicol, which is 441 kilometers away.
Picache, who won the Best Actress award at the Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines (ToFarm) Film Festival 2016, invited her fans to watch the film on her Instagram account (@yescppicache) and reposted Soriano’s post.
“Humbly inviting you all to watch our film, Shanghai International Film Festival best film “Golden Goblet Award”, 1st ToFarm film Festival Jury Special Award for outstanding film, and 7 nominations in Gawad Urian 2017. Please support our film #PauwiNa,” Picache who reposted Soriano’s Instagram video.
Soriano on her Instagram (@planetumeboshi) also invited her fans to watch “Pauwi Na” from Aug. 16 to 22.
“Inviting you all to watch our film, Pauwi Na. August 16-22 in cinemas NATIONWIDE!!! Salamat po!! MAGBAON PO KAYO NG MARAMING
TISSUE. #PauwiNa,” Soriano said.
“Pauwi Na” is directed by Paolo Villaluna and produced by Ellen Ramos.
Before PPP, “Pauwi Na” already received several awards.
In 2016, “Pauwi Na” won the major awards including Special Jury Prize (Outstanding Film), Best Story, Best Editing, and Best Production Design.
Roco and Picache won Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.
The film also received the Golden Goblet, the top prize during the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival in China last June 25, 2017.
“Pauwi Na” was also nominated for 2017 Gawad Urian for Best Director (Villaluna), Best Actor (Roco), Best Actress (Picache), Best Supporting Actress (Soriano), Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Music.