kung paano kakalas (never been there, never)
kung paano kakalas
(never been there, never)
by Joseph Vitali
19:40 minutes | Slice of Life | PG | Strong Language, Drugs logos
FILM SCHEDULE
SUBJECTS
Edison Conocido AKA Chris Brown, Buknoy
PRODUCTION
DIRECTOR – Joseph Vitali
EDITOR – Joseph Vitali
CINEMATOGRAPHERS – Carl Angelo Salva, Macky Esquibel
ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE – Cole Matthew Navarro
SOUND DESIGNERS – Charlene Habla, Tristan Icban
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Henry Lu, Rita Lea, Ferdinand Balanag
PRODUCERS – Joseph Vitali, Larz Salas
LOGLINE
A street vendor races to sell his last sherbet before Christmas ends, chasing the simple chance to finally go home and rest.
SYNOPSIS
Edison, a street vendor in Manila, must sell all his remaining sherbet products before he can go home and celebrate Christmas. When his usual stall has no customers, he must find a way to look for buyers, chasing the chance to finally rest. Set against the holiday cheer, this documentary portrays the humanized persona of a young adult working hard to earn his right to celebrate.
FILMMAKER’S PROFILE
Joseph Vitali is an emerging Filipino filmmaker from Manila, shaped by a working-class upbringing in informal communities. His work focuses on quiet realities of everyday life, turning lived experiences into stories rooted in the streets he grew up in. Themes of safe spaces and social injustice remain central to his works, drawn from firsthand encounters growing up. He continues to develop his voice through observation-driven and socially grounded storytelling.
He began filmmaking in 2023, first working as a camera operator before moving into cinematography and eventually directing his own films. He was recently selected as a participant in Batch 30 of the Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop conducted by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee. In the workshop, he further developed his storytelling practice under the guidance of one of the Philippines’ most respected screenwriters.
His debut film, sa likod ng salamin (reflections of the end, 2024), gained recognition in local festival circuits and received multiple awards and nominations in the Philippine independent film scene. His succeeding work, kung paano kakalas (never been there, never, 2026), has already premiered, continuing his exploration of working-class realities in Metro Manila. He is currently completing his third film, nakalimutan ko na kung paano (2026), which is in post-production.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As a filmmaker and an individual, I hold a deep belief in the importance of safe spaces – where one can breathe and simply be. This is not a new concern in my work. Across my previous films, I find myself returning to the same questions: Where are we safe? And what happens when these spaces disappear?
This documentary was not my original plan. I initially set out to create a film about how people in Manila celebrate New Year for a story of renewal and hope. But the direction of the film shifted when I met Edison. A young street vendor who grew up in Quiapo and now lives in Tondo, Edison became more than just a subject, he became a guide. He led me toward a quieter, more intimate understanding of the city.
I filmed Edison throughout most of December, at a time when he was still unknown to the wider public. There were no other cameras following him, no audiences waiting for his every move. It was just the two of us and the long, endless days of selling.
But this is not only Edison’s story. It is also the story of countless Filipino workers who, every day, attempt to break away from a system that confines them. My hope for this film is that it will not only show how they live, but to make audiences feel how even resting, something so fundamental, becomes a privilege. For Edison and for all Filipino workers – this film is for you. I hope it reaches people not just to see, but to truly understand.
FILM STILLS
BEHIND THE SCENES