script
Scene 0 : MODERN HOUSE (INTRO)
Setting: A quiet evening. A young daughter (Liya) sits with her mother (Apo Dalin) inside their house. A woven blanket hangs in the
background.
Liya (curious): “Nanang, what was life like when you were my age?”
Mother (smiles softly, gazing outside): “Ah, anak… our life was different. Let me tell you a story. Not of strangers, but of us — of who
we are as Tingguians.”
(The camera slowly blurs and transitions into a younger version of the Mother — her POV begins. Sounds of gongs and laughter fade
in.)
Scene 1 – FLASHBACK VILLAGE (Harvest & Unity)
(Wide shot: bamboo houses on stilts, villagers in tapis and ba-al gather in a circle. Gongs stacked nearby, baskets of rice and sweet
potatoes carried in.)
Mother (Narration): “In Abra, we sealed peace through the Bodong — the pact between tribes. With the sipat, we exchanged gifts,
called on the spirits, and celebrated with chant, dance, and basi.”
Lakay (elder): “Children of our ili, Kabunian has blessed us with peace and harvest. Today, we honor him — and the guardians, Apadel
and Pudayen, who keep our village safe.”
(Mother places rice and sweet potatoes at the center.)
Mother: “This is our ammoyo — what we harvest, we share. For the land belongs to all.”
(A man from another tribe lifts a jar of basi.)
Man from Tribe B: “With this sipat, we renew our bond. May our tribes live as one.”
(A child tugs at Lakay’s arm.)
Child: “Lakay… how do we know the spirits accept our gifts?”
Lakay (smiling): “They answer in the gongs, in the wind, in the quiet of the night. Listen, and you will know.”
(Apo Baket, the Alpogan, steps forward with rice and coconut oil, raising her hands as the gongs begin to sound.)
Mother (Narration, closing): “And so, anak, our peace was not just in words, but in sharing, in ritual, and in unity.”
Scene 2 – SPIRITS IN THE STONES (Beliefs)
Mother (Narration)(clips of mountain in Abra as background): “Before every feast, we called on Kabunian, the Great Creator, and
guardians like Apadel in the stones, and Pudayen in our ili. We asked their blessing for peace and harvest.”
(Villagers form a circle, dancing the Tadek. Women chant the Uggayam.)
Women (chanting): “We sing of harvest, of life and peace, of Kabunian’s blessing.”
(Lakay lifts a jar of basi.)
Lakay: “To Kabunian, to peace, to life!”
All: “To peace, to harvest, to life!”
:
Mother (Narration, closing): “In dance, chant, and feast, our spirits lived on. These were the ways of the Tingguian.”
(The Tadek continues as gongs fade out.)
Scene 3 – DEATH IS NOT AN END (Pagpagada)
(Clips: a candle flame flickering, fire burning softly in the night, mountains of Abra at sunset, and the stars in the sky. No actors
needed — just symbolic visuals.)
Narration (Mother’s voice, solemn): “But anak… even in death, we were not alone. Among us Tingguians of Abra, we believed in the
Pagpagada — a farewell that was never truly the end. Families laid food, rice, and drink beside the departed, so their journey would
not be empty. We lit fire to guide them, so they would never be cold.”
(Clip of flame flickering gently, fading into stars.)
Narration (continues): “We believed they traveled to Maglalawa, the spirit world where life continues. Though our tears fell, we
knew death was not loss — it was passage. The flame, the mountains, the stars… they reminded us that the spirit always lives on.”
Scene 4 – STRUGGLES IN SCHOOL (Bullying + Education)
(Transition: fading fire morning sun. Young Mother walks to school with old books, wearing her traditional tapis.)
Mother (Narration): “As I grew older, anak, I carried our culture proudly… but the world outside our ili did not always understand.”
(Inside classroom. Kids whisper and laugh.)
Bully 1: “Probinsyana! Wala kang mararating.”
Bully 2: “Look at her clothes — parang galing bundok!”
Bully 3: “Hayy, bakit pa pumapasok? She won’t even finish school.”
(Young Mother grips her notebook tightly. Camera focuses on her face, drowning out laughter.)
Young Mother (whispering): “Balang araw, ipagmamalaki niyo rin ang kultura ko.”
(Scene shift: Awards Day. Teacher announces winners.)
Teacher: “Best in Science… [Mother’s Name]!”
(The bullies clap reluctantly, ashamed. Young Mother walks proudly with her medal, beads still around her neck.)
Mother (VO): “They mocked me, anak, but I endured. Education became my shield — and my voice.”
Scene 5: BACK TO THE PRESENT
Setting: Back inside the house. Mother finishes her story. Liya listens in awe.
Liya (softly): “Nanang… that story, it was about you?”
Mother (smiles sadly, nods): “Yes, anak. I was that girl. And you carry that blood, that spirit. Our tribe’s story… is yours now too.”
Liya: “your people are so beautiful. I want to see Abra one day… and join the tadek too.”
(Silence. The mother just smiles faintly. The camera slowly pans to the doorway, where the Grandmother (Apo Baket) enters.)
Grandmother: “Liya… who are you talking to, anak? ” (confused)
Liya (pointing to her mother): “Nanang, of course. She told me about the harvest…”
:
(Camera pans back to where the mother sat — the chair is empty. The woven blanket sways gently as if touched by wind.)
Grandmother (tears forming): “Your mother… has been with Kabunian for many years now.”
(Camera close-up on Liya’s shocked face. A gong sound echoes faintly. A whisper of the mother’s voice is heard:)
Mother’s voice (soft, fading): “Remember, anak… our culture lives in you.”
(Fade to black.) - insert voice over:
“The harvests may pass, generations may fade, but what we remember — peace, unity, and respect for both
the living and the spirits — is what makes us truly rich. A people is never lost, as long as their children carry
their stories.”
Scene 6 – CULTURAL MONTAGE (Closing)
(Visuals: real footage/photos of Tingguian dances, rituals, rivers, forests, and Indigenous youth.)
On-screen text:
“The Tinguian of Abra, like many Indigenous Peoples, continue to face discrimination and threats to their ancestral land. Their
heritage is our heritage. Protect it. Respect it. Pass it on.”
FINAL CALL TO ACTION (Voice Over):
“Kung saan nag-uugat ang ating kultura, doon sumisibol ang kinabukasan. Ingatan natin, at ito’y mamumunga magpakailanman.”
(Fade to black. Gong sound fades out.)
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