CHILD NO. 82

(SON OF BOY KANA)

CHILD NO. 82

(SON OF BOY KANA)

by Tim Rone Villanueva

110 MINUTES | Dramedy/Fantasy

CAST

JM Ibarra, Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap, Vhong Navarro, Irma
Adlawan, Inah Evans, Zairene Fernandez, Dexter Doria, Kai Montinola

PRODUCTION
DIRECTOR/SCREENPLAY/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Tim Rone Villanueva
SCREENPLAY – Herlyn Alegre
CINEMATOGRAPHER – Rap Ramirez
PRODUCTION DESIGN – Nestor Abrogena Jr., PDCP, Leojmhella An-Zyofhea Abalus
EDITOR – Vanessa Ubas de Leon
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE – Pepe Manikan
SOUND DESIGN – Alex Tomboc
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Johndel Tiri Tacata, Maria Rolinda B. Villanueva, Jacinto Victa, Rommel T. Labasan, Maynard Francis R. Bumanglag, Oli Laperal, Jr., Rafa Laperal, Marvin Jason Rodriguez
SUPERVISING PRODUCER – Joel Santos Jr.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS – Mavi Cercado, Camille Tan, Mark Gibson Aberion, Reniel Riñon
PRODUCERS – Arvin Belarmino, Johndel Tacata
LINE PRODUCER – Juvs Tesalona

LOGLINE
At a wake, a persevering high school student must prove that he is the 82nd child of the Philippines’ biggest action-fantasy movie star in the hopes of seeing his late father one last time.

SYNOPSIS
Maximo “Boy Kana” Maniego Sr., the biggest action-fantasy movie star of Philippine Cinema, has passed away. Max, a 17-year-old student rumored to be an illegitimate son of the late icon, has to prove that he is the 82nd child before the end of the public viewing hours. When proven, it can help Max claim his identity, inheritance, and showbiz dream to support his pregnant teenage girlfriend and their baby. Will Max reach the casket before the clock strikes if he needs to stand in line with hundreds of fans and villains who also claim their places in Boy Kana’s life?

FILMMAKER’S PROFILE

TIM RONE VILLANUEVA is an independent Filipino writer, director, and producer from Kawit, Cavite. He is known for his 2017 short film Santa Nena!, a Benilde film capstone project that won the 2018 CineFilipino Best Student Short Film. Working with his filmmaker friends, he produced acclaimed short films such as How to Dress a Mother-naked? (2018), My Mother’s Bicycle (2021), The Gossips of Cicadidae (2021), #bagets (2023), and The Longer I Wait (2024). His 10-minute theater play Mga Nakasusuyang Putahe was staged in the 2017 Short + Sweet Theatre Festival Manila and Shorts & Briefs 9 Theater Festival. It was lauded by Rappler as one of the Best Filipino Theater Plays of 2023. His upcoming films are the short film Santa Isabel!, which is part of his Santa Cinematic Universe, and Child No. 82, his full-length directorial debut premiering at Cinemalaya 2025. Currently, he is now a part-time faculty member at St. Dominic College of Asia, under the Communication and Multimedia Arts Program. Through his fellowship and work at North Luzon Cinema Guild, he supports filmmakers, storytellers, cultural workers, and human rights advocates in the diverse regions of the Philippines.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Child No. 82 was conceived when my filmmaker friend, Arvin Belarmino, gave me this concept as a gift on my 27th birthday. “What is it like to live as the illegitimate son of an action star who has many children?” With this premise, my inner child tightly connects with that son. But how? Perhaps it’s because I grew up with a father brimming with secrets, whom I hardly ever see or touch; despite his presence beside me, it feels as though he’s a world away, requiring me to fall in line to truly be with him. Up until he died five days after I graduated from college, all his secrets and untold stories erupted like an unsealed Pandora’s box. To cope with grief, should I listen to the bad stories that reflect the truth about him, or should I choose to only embrace his good legacy and live in a fantastical movie that only exists in my mind? This film courageously strives to tackle the sensitive themes of paternity, machismo, and impunity of men amongst Filipinos and gives a lens to see the repercussions of living as an illegitimate child and a child with an absent parent. After finishing this film, I have realized that my inner child is Max, the Child No. 82, who is longing for the father he dreamed of but never had. I thought this film was my love letter to my father, but I realized it was my love letter to my inner child.