Rock idol Ely Buendia makes his full-length acting debut in Jenn Romano’s Cinemalaya 2025 entry ‘Padamlagan.’ Set just days before the declaration of Martial Law in September 1972, the film follows the desperate search of Doring (Ely) for his son Ivan (Esteban Mara), who goes missing after the collapse of the Colgante Bridge during the Peñafrancia festival.
Ely Buendia leads all-Bicolano cast in Cinemalaya entry ‘Padamlagan’
MANILA, Philippines — Ely Buendia, Sue Prado and Esteban Mara lead the cast of the Cinemalaya 2025 entry “Padamlagan,” a co-production of Giya Studios and 901 Studios that revisits the 1972 Colgante Bridge tragedy in Naga.
“Padamlagan” (which means “night light” or “overnight vigil” in Bicolano) marks the directorial debut of Jenn Romano. Set just days before the declaration of Martial Law on Sept. 21, 1972, the film follows the desperate search of Doring (Ely) for his son Ivan (Esteban), who goes missing after the collapse of the Colgante Bridge during the fluvial procession of the Peñafrancia festival.
Jenn told The STAR in an interview at 901 Studios, “I was doing archival research for my thesis at UP when I encountered the 1972 issue in local newspapers in Naga. The last headline was in September 1972 — the Colgante Bridge tragedy and the declaration of Martial Law. After that, media blackout na. As someone who didn’t experience that period, it really sparked my curiosity in what really happened there, and from there, the exploration of the film started.”
Ely describes his role in ‘Padamlagan’ as ‘very emotional.’
She added, “The biggest objective of this film is to commemorate the tragedy, as well as show the regional counterpart of Martial Law. Because even today, when it comes to our history, it’s always conflated with the bigger, national Manila-centric history.”
Since “Padamlagan” is a period film, recreating the era was one of the production’s most challenging parts. According to the director, they were able to find some archival materials that became their basis for the period details — from how Naga looked in 1972 to what the people wore and how the bridge appeared before it collapsed.
Director Jenn Romano (left) and producer Kristine de Leon.
The bridge scene, in particular, was the most difficult to pull off. “The (budget) limitations pushed us to think of different forms — paano kaya ang lenggwahe namin for this, para to push through with the tragedy? (What we did here was) somewhat experimental in a way. It’s a new, distinct form of film,” Jenn teased.
As for the casting, she said it was a very collaborative process that took time. One thing in common among the main cast is that they all trace their roots to Bicol. Ely, for one, is from Naga; Sue is from Libmanan in Camarines Sur; and Esteban is from Sorsogon.
From left: Ely, Sue Prado and Esteban at the intimate interview held at the headquarters of 901 Studios, the film’s co-producer.
They first spotted Esteban in the stage production “Para Kay B” — he impressed the team when he came to his “Padamlagan” audition already in character. Sue, who is recognized as one of the faces of Cinemalaya, having appeared in multiple entries through the years, was their first choice. When it came to tapping Ely for the role of Doring — his first full-length and lead acting role — the production went with their gut feel.
“We were very nervous when we pitched (the project to him),” said the producer Kristine de Leon. “But we just tried. Ang laki ng tulong ni Sir Ely (with this film). I feel like if you watch the film, you won’t see Ely Buendia of the Eraserheads. As an actor, awang-awa ako sa kanya.”
“It’s something I don’t want to happen in real life,” Ely said of his character’s situation, which also resonated with him being a father himself.
“But being a father to a son, and the dynamics between those two characters, I definitely pulled some of those emotions for the scenes with Esteban.”
Esteban, for his part, shared the scene with Ely that audiences should watch out for.
“There was one scene in a room where he was supposedly going to scold me, but he saw something I was doing that he connected with — maybe it reminded him of his baby boy. But that scene was very quiet, very tender, and nakakatuwa because you could really feel the love of Doring, Ely’s character, for his son,” the showbiz newcomer added.
Ely was, likewise, quick to confirm that “it’s a very emotional role — there’s hardly any ray of sunlight.”
Still, it wasn’t hard to say yes to this project. He admitted, “This is the only project I got since acting in bit parts in other movies in the past. Also, the story really got me. They gave me a pitch and I read through it — parang thesis nga eh (laughs).
“I really got to know the director, her objectives, and passions, which I shared. Yun pa lang, parang meron na kaming community. Obviously, it’s a Bicolano project, I just had to be part of it.”
He continued, “Personally, it’s going back to my roots. And I was there when it happened. I was two years old. I knew all these people — they’re my parents, my uncles, my aunties — I knew exactly the world they lived in. So, it’s like my offering to them — to relive their experiences through this movie.
“(The goal is also) to remind, I guess, the Bicolanos of their past. But at the same time, I hope this resonates with the entire country. It’s just a language difference, but the experiences are the same.”
Speaking of “same experiences,” the film’s timing feels especially relevant amid recent reports of DPWH corruption issues — from substandard infrastructure to so-called ghost projects.
Sue, who dedicated the film to her own Bicolana mother, said, “The collapse of the bridge — this story never gets old. What’s our current political issue? DPWH and everything. (The film is) about the second collapse of the bridge, so yun (substandard). So naging bahagi tayo sa kwento ng iba’t ibang segment ng history natin, and as an artist, it’s one of my duties to the audience.”
Esteban, as a Gen Z actor, reflected on the story’s timing: “The tragedy of the Colgante Bridge is about infrastructure — and in our current landscape, maraming infrastructure projects that are not finished or are missing (ghost projects).
“I think, if you’re a Gen Z and you watch this film, ito yung top takeaway mo: you’ll realize that history just repeats itself. That’s why we need these kinds of films and these kinds of conversations. Because if we don’t continue talking about it, it will be forgotten again — until someone makes another film about it in 30 or 40 years. For something to change, kelangan may mangyari and may managot sa mga proyektong kagaya sa Colgante Bridge.”
As for Ely, he said, “It could be just a coincidence, but then I don’t believe in coincidences. I think just because this problem or issue has been deep-seated in our culture for decades now, and that direk Jenn was drawn to the story, it just means that it hasn’t really been told.”
Cinemalaya 2025 runs until Oct. 12 with screenings happening at Shangri-La Plaza cinemas, as well as select Ayala Malls cinemas and Gateway Mall. “Padamlagan” will hold its gala night tomorrow, 8 p.m., at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 1.