Ilonggo Film ‘Cande’ Highlights Devotion, Community

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The upcoming Ilonggo feature film Cande, centered on Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles), the patroness of Jaro district in Iloilo City, will tell a heartfelt story from the perspective of the devoted community.

The film’s title, a contraction of “Candelaria,” refers to the Jaro Fiesta, celebrated annually in honor of the patroness.

Written and directed by University of the Philippines Visayas professor Kevin Piamonte, Cande was produced by Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida and his wife, Rhea, who are devotees of Nuestra Señora.

A Story Rooted in Tradition

Piamonte revealed that the idea for the film began even before the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by the Peñafloridas.

However, the research process took time as he revisited the festival’s history and his own memories of Jaro’s iconic celebration.

The film draws on a local myth from the late 1950s to early 1960s about a woman bathing her child at a spring in the plaza, believed to be the Virgin Mary descending from Jaro Cathedral.

“This took a long time because I couldn’t recall much about the Candelaria from my childhood. Fiestas made me nervous as a kid—I’d enjoy the perya (fair), but the heavy traffic and being stuck in Jaro wasn’t fun anymore,” Piamonte shared during an interview on Daily Guardian on Air last weeek.

Starring Sunshine Teodoro and JC Santos, Cande tells a coming-of-age story of two children whose lives and friendship are shaped by the festival and their devotion to the patroness.

The film is dedicated to Piamonte’s childhood friends who have since passed away.

“When the Peñafloridas asked me what I remembered about Jaro as a kid, I dreamed of the story that night. It reminded me of my two childhood friends in Jaro,” he recalled.

Faith Beyond Religion

While the film heavily features the Virgin Mary, Piamonte aimed for a narrative that resonates with a broader audience, ensuring it portrays faith’s many facets.

The movie was shot during the actual days of the Jaro Fiesta to capture its authenticity.

“Faith can transcend religion and has many dimensions,” Piamonte explained.

“This story required extensive research about the Candelaria and the community, as it needed to encompass not only devotion to the Virgin but also the lives and stories of the people of Jaro.”

He added personal touches to the narrative, reflecting on his father’s involvement as a cockfighting patron during fiestas and his own experiences as a child chasing fair rides and games.

Soundtrack and Ilonggo Identity

Ilonggo musician Emman Abatayo, a former finalist of Pinoy Dream Academy, composed the film’s main soundtrack, “Ari Lang Ako” (I Am Just Here).

Abatayo admitted that writing a Hiligaynon-language song was a challenge, as he aimed to avoid making it sound outdated.

“Our natural language is a bit baduy (less trendy) when compared to Bisaya […] or Tagalog. I felt pressured on how I should deliver because it is difficult to write a song in Hiligaynon,” Abatayo said.

“[Writing a song] in Tagalog is a bit easier, [but] in Hiligaynon, you need to choose the words so that it doesn’t sound baduy and not just matching the melody,” he added.