The Philippine Star

Advocacy film Ang Araw sa Likod Mo coming soon

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Advocacy film Ang Araw sa Likod Mo, written and directed by Dominic Nuesa, is a gripping story of two brothers reunited despite being separated by conflictin­g beliefs. The movie also tackles the heroism of Filipino soldiers in the thick of a fourdecade old war against terrorism starring a talented cast that includes Ping Medina, Bong Cabrera and Mike Liwag.

Ang Araw sa Likod Mo is Nuesa’s full-length film debut and has been nominated in the upcoming prestigiou­s Nice Internatio­nal Awards (2017) in the most coveted categories such as Best Director (Nuesa), Best Lead Actor (Mike Liwag), Best Supporting Actor (Ping Medina), Best Editing (Javier Abola) and Best Sound (Greg Rodriguez III).

Produced by Nuesa’s An Earth Below Production­s, Ang Araw sa Likod

Mo has already won five internatio­nal awards: Best Film in Auckland Internatio­nal Film Festival, Global Award Winner at the Europe-based ARFF (Around Films Internatio­nal Film Festival), and Awards of Recognitio­n for Feature Length, Best Actor (Bong Cabrera) and Best Supporting Actor (Liwag) at the US-based Accolade Global Film Competitio­n.

Inspired by the real stories of special operations soldiers in the country known as the Philippine Scout Rangers, Ang Araw sa Likod Mo is an intense film filled with raw action that introduces brothers Jamiluddin (Cabrera) and Omar (Liwag) along with Sgt. Benjie Calayan (Medina) within the terrorist infested island in Southern Philippine­s.

Opening in local theaters nationwide on May 24, majority of the proceeds from the receipts of Ang Araw sa Likod Mo will be donated to Help Educate and Rear Orphans (HERO) Foundation, Inc. The foundation aims to uplift the families of soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippine­s who were killed or incapacita­ted in the line of duty by providing educationa­l assistance to their children to obtain a college degree or vocational course. In return, it will help them to have a wider range of opportunit­ies in their future and our society.

By taking care of their children, HERO Foundation salutes the Filipino soldiers for their sacrifices. Nuesa is also an avid supporter of HERO Foundation, Inc. His support to the foundation started when he directed a corporate video for the organizati­on. From the project, he met the scholars of HERO Foundation and was inspired to tell their stories into film. He was inspired by their stories and was compelled to help raise awareness. It then became his mission to tell fellow countrymen that the HERO Foundation needs the nation’s help, and that their fathers or mothers, both soldier and civilian, need to be honored.

Ang Araw sa Likod Mo is a testament to heroism and sacrifice, and challenges us to be more knowledgea­ble and understand­ing when trying to make sense of violence and national security. Fighting for a cause or making a stand, one eventually must sacrifice something and ultimately asks if it was worth it.

A pioneering fusion of filmmaking and advocacy at its best, Ang Araw sa Likod Mo is part of this generation’s must-see in an emerging genre of relevant films that aims to elevate the youth’s awareness about the complexiti­es of the Muslim conflict.

 ??  ?? Ping Medina as Sgt. Benjie Calayan
Ping Medina as Sgt. Benjie Calayan

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