Cover A behind-the-scenes shot from 'Song of the Fireflies' where the Loboc Children's Choir won at the Bohol Interschool Choral Competition
A behind-the-scenes shot from 'Song of the Fireflies' where the Loboc Children's Choir won at the Bohol Interschool Choral Competition
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Following the footsteps of the Loboc Children’s Choir’s founder, Alma Taldo, ‘Song of the Fireflies’ shows us their journey from Bohol to the world stage
Telling the story of the Loboc Children’s Choir (LCC) from Bohol, Song of the Fireflies is a heartwarming musical film themed around resilience, community, coming of age, and music. Founded in 1980 by grade school teacher Alma Taldo (played by Morissette), the group’s birth came to be after fielding an entry at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and placing in the finals. Today, the LCC is internationally acclaimed for their angelic voices and remarkable harmonisation.
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Above A behind-the-scenes shot of Morissette and Noel Comia, Jr.
A behind-the-scenes shot of Morissette and Noel Comia, Jr.
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Set between 1980 and 1993, writer Sarge Lacuesta and director King Palisoc did an exceptional job pacing the entire film. From the LCC’s founding to multiple competitions before finally culminating in their first NAMCYA National Championship win, it flowed smoothly while still having enough room to explore the inner turmoils of our main characters. Song of the Fireflies is also somewhat accurate to what happened—spotlighting some key people who worked behind the scenes to make the LCC a success. For instance, Enriqueta Butalid (played by Rachel Alejandro) is one of the few who invested heavily to fund the LCC’s endeavours.
Tatler Fact: The children in the cast are part of the current generation of the Loboc Children’s Choir.
Above Producer Girlie Rodis, director King Palisoc, Rachel Alejandro, cinematographer Pong Ignacio, Nor Domingo
Producer Girlie Rodis, director King Palisoc, Rachel Alejandro, cinematographer Pong Ignacio, Nor Domingo
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With the musical direction of Krina Cayabyab and songs composed by Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raymond Marasigan, and Jazz Nicolas, there is plenty to expect from the film’s soundtrack and they delivered with an awe-inspiring collection that evoked tears from the audience.
Above A behind-the-scenes shot of Krystal Brimner and Noel Comia, Jr.
A behind-the-scenes shot of Krystal Brimner and Noel Comia, Jr.
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While Song of the Fireflies is dedicated to the whole LCC, it also mixes themes of discovering oneself through Jackie (played by Krystal Brimner) and Herbert (played by Noel Comia Jr). The two’s portrayal of childhood was played perfectly—taking us right back to simpler times when we as kids would get jealous over our love interest interacting with someone else. Another instance of this is Herbert’s uncertainty about his place within the choir. As a young boy, his voice begins to break while singing due to puberty which leads him to believe that he’ll bring the entire group down. Jackie serves as a perfect foil to him, uplifting the both of them as they navigate the city.
“It’s a coming-of-age movie. Part of that coming of age is coming to terms with the city. So there's a lot of inner conflict when it comes to the kids and Alma Taldo especially. It's not a conflict against another person, it's an internal conflict,” says Lacuesta.
Above A behind-the-scenes shot of Morissette as Teacher Alma Taldo
A behind-the-scenes shot of Morissette as Teacher Alma Taldo
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Another thing to note is Brimner and Comia’s fluency in speaking Bisaya. In a quick Q&A with the cast, they revealed that they often spoke with the children to learn how to pronounce certain words. “We were always around the children of the choir and they’d teach us sentences and how to sound natural,” says Brimner.
Debuting in the medium of film, Morissette played teacher Alma beautifully. Aside from her showstopping vocals, she portrayed a loving mentor with grace. As a Cebuana herself, Morissette had no trouble adjusting to the movie’s Bisaya-heavy dialogue and lyrics.
Above A behind-the-scenes shot of Loboc Children's Choir founder Alma Taldo
A behind-the-scenes shot of Loboc Children's Choir founder Alma Taldo
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The musical’s final and most iconic song, Alitaptap was performed during the 1993 NAMCYA when they won first prize. An emotional score that willed the entire audience into tears not because of sadness, but because of the sheer passion every member of the LCC had for their craft. The film ends years later, with our initial cast all grown up revisiting their training grounds to see the new generation of singers. Here, the audience is introduced to the actual Alma Taldo alongside Babie Jala, Nerea Jimenez, and Felomina Varquez—a fitting homage to the teachers who helped raise the children to be cultural treasures.
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Credits
Images: Song of the Fireflies Production Team; Joyce Ambas, Yuuka Tanaka, Trixie Vertera
About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
