GANGGANG

GANGGANG

by JL Burgos

89:00 minutes | Coming-of-Age Drama | PG | MTRCB CLASSIFICATION: Strong Language, Violence

CAST

Raine Dela Cruz, Kenneth “Butchoy” Vincent Mendoza, Don Rishmond Cerbito, Prince España, Brian Arda, Don Melvin Boongaling, Katrish Aristoki, Elora Españo, Hershey Neri, Pau Benitez, Anton Nolasco, Francis Mata, Tabs Sumulong, Manuel Genabe, Pio Raphael Benedicto, Jers Guiwa, Rapahel Del Prado, Jhaniel Pellado, Rencel Bago, Gene Trillana, Dave Ignacio, Wesley “Budoy” San Sebastian, Marian Lavado, April Obnamia, Alicia Bea Obligado

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR – JL Burgos

SCREENPLAY – JL Burgos

EDITOR – Mona Nieva

CINEMATOGRAPHER – Mac Cosico

PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Jevie Conde Cabiling;

ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE – RJ Mabilin

SOUND DESIGNERS – Drew Milallos and Anna de Dios

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Mona Nieva

PRODUCERS – Cinemalaya, FDCP, Pulang Langgam

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS –Nessa S. Valdellon, Atty. Tony La Viña, E&H Productions

LINE PRODUCER – Juvz Tesalona

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Abdel Langit

LOGLINE

Three boys form an unlikely bond to find the best fighting spider (Ganggang) against the school bully’s spider, until their own search puts their friendship to a test.

SYNOPSIS

At the first clash of their fighting Ganggang (spiders), Ilay and Ten-ten knew they would go home as losers. Anton, the winner of the fight, will once again lord over their school. Mel, the newcomer from the city, watches the rowdy play in awe. He’s unaware that soon he will become an ally of the boys against the real neighborhood bully.

FILMMAKER’S PROFILE

JL BURGOS

JL Burgos is an independent filmmaker/visual artist based in the Philippines. Majority of his works center on human rights. His latest documentary, Alipato at Muog, won the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya Film Festival XX. It also received the Best Picture and Best Director awards at the FAMAS Awards 2025 and Best Documentary, Best Editing, and Best Film at the Gawad Urian 2025.

Prior to this, Burgos directed and produced two mid-length documentaries about press freedom and the right to self-determination – Portraits of Mosquito Press and Han-Ayan.

Over the course of 20 years, Burgos has worked on short films, experimental videos, public service announcements, web series, and a TV show either as a director, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter, producer, or combination of roles.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

A nation with no respect for human rights is a nation without a spine. Its progress is forever delayed. A nation can only achieve genuine peace and economic growth when the basic rights of its people are established, recognized, and protected.

The film Ganggang does not only wish to show the intricate web of human rights violations in the Philippines. It also aims to bring these issues to a broader public discourse. Basic human rights are often swept under the mantle of economic growth. Those who speak and protest are silenced or forced to obey. The implementers are given too much power to suppress and enforce obedience to ensure economic progress. But for whom?

Ganggang is set in the countryside where the most heinous human rights abuses are experienced. These don’t often get news coverage. When it does land on the news, the situation and the victims are reduced to statistics. This is the story Ganggang intends to tell – the narratives behind the news and the numbers from the innocent eyes of kids. It will also try to answer why conflict persists and why people continue to take a stand even when faced with intimidation and violence.