Private Project

Kauyagan (Way of life)

Piyo refuses to accept the responsibilities of being the only son of a Datu from the
Talaandig Tribe. He defies his destiny and runs away from home to pursue his dreams of freedom only to find himself behind bars when he is mistaken as a rebel.

He finds contentment in anonymity in prison, no matter that the calls of his ancestors echo in his dreams. But when the authorities discover he is falsely accused, he is set free. He goes home to bid his aged parents goodbye, before embarking for Manila.

Back with his people, he discovers certain realities. Will he still be able to deny the destiny of his bloodline?

  • Julienne Anne R. Ilagan
    Director
  • Julienne Anne R. Ilagan
    Writer
  • Dr. Milagros How
    Producer
  • TOFARM Film Festival
    Producer
  • Jefferson Bringas
    Key Cast
  • Perry Dizon
    Key Cast
  • Bayang Barrios
    Key Cast
  • Waway Saway
    Key Cast
  • Salima Saway
    Key Cast
  • Melardz Sumi-og
    Key Cast
  • Armanklyde Rodriguez
    Key Cast
  • Oliver Saway
    Key Cast
  • Earle Galindo
    Key Cast
  • Albert Fudotan
    Key Cast
  • Jeffsey Occlarit
    Key Cast
  • Alex Guiritan
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 4, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    28,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Julienne Anne R. Ilagan

Julienne Anne R. Ilagan, is based in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao, Philippines.

An award-winning short filmmaker for her “Balot, Penoy, Asin” in the last Cinemagis Digital Short Film Festival in Northern Mindanao, “KAUYAGAN” is her first feature film.

She was recently taken into the Talaandig tribe as the adopted daughter of Datu Makapukaw, and is set to be baptized as a member of the tribe as Julienne “Makabugwas” or Morning Star.

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Director Statement

KAUYAGAN is based on issues faced by members of Bukidnon’s Seven Tribes as well as the other tribes of Mindanao.

The narrative is a combination of stories of members of the Indigenous People’s community whom I met last year while working as crew for a music video that featured IP artists from the island. My experiences during that immersion into the community inspired me to come up with material that would help promote awareness for the IP communities as they continue to fight for their rights to their ancestral domain and civilization.

I want to show that our Indigenous People deserve to be respected for upholding their beliefs and continuing the legacy of what I believe should be our real culture as Filipinos—one that is unique, pure and untainted by the long history of colonialism that strangles the nation to this very day.