After the release of the first Eraserheads documentary Combo On The Run last March, OPM artist Ely Buendia will be seen back again on the big screen. This time, he makes his acting debut in a period drama called Padamlágan (Night Light).
The film is one of the 10 official entries to this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival which will be held this October at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City and in other venues in Metro Manila.
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The film, revisits the 1972 Colgante Bridge Tragedy which claimed the lives of 138 devotees and injured many others during the Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession in Naga. Directed by Bicol filmmaker Jenn Romano, it features an all-Bicolano cast. The 54-year-old Eraserheads frontman was also born in Naga, Camarines Sur. The cast also includes Sue Prado, Floyd Teña, and Esteban Mara.
According to Cinemalaya’s official website, the film takes place five days before the declaration of Martial Law and its storyline focuses on a father’s search for his son.
“A few days before Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law across the country, a tragedy struck in the City of Naga. Just before the procession pagoda of Our Lady of Peñafrancia passed through, the Colgante Bridge collapsed, resulting in the death of more than 130 people. Amidst the veil of these two events is the story of Doring’s search for his missing son, Ivan.
"Along this search, there is a gradual and slow recounting of the small narratives of family, society, politics, idealogy, religion, personal dreams, and aspirations that defined the connections of that time. In Doring’s search for her son, there is discovery, recognition, understanding, acceptance, and oblation.”
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Prior to accepting his role in Padamlágan, Ely had already dabbled in some minor roles in the films by award-winning Lav Diaz. They collaborated on the eight-hour film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis in 2016 and the science fiction thriller Ang Hupa (The Halt) which was released in 2019 and held its world premiere at the Cannes film festival's Director's Fortnight that same year.