Private Project

Journey to Love

The film opens with Typhoon Haiyan, the worst storm to hit the world and the Philippines, juxtaposed with French-Filipina videographer Lianne’s own devastation from a break-up. Assigned to do a video feature on biking, Lianne crosses paths with Jay-R, a forester whose life seems to be worlds apart from Lianne’s own reality, but unknowingly and unexpectedly affects the course of her journey.

  • Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
    Director
    Boses (Voices), Pusang Gala (Stray Cats), Angels, Walang Bakas (Desaparecidos)
  • Elle Marfil
    Writer
  • Layeta Bucoy
    Writer
  • Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
    Producer
    Boses (Voices), Pusang Gala (Stray Cats)
  • Boy Siojo
    Producer
  • Dennis Trillo
    Key Cast
    Felix Manalo
  • Solenn Heussaff
    Key Cast
    Mumbai Love
  • Kit Thompson
    Key Cast
    #Y
  • Vanz Lavado
    Directors of photography
  • JT Pandy
    Directors of photography
    Mga Ligaw na Paro-Paro (Lost Butterflies)
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Lakbay2Love
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Romance, Adventure, Coming of Age
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 44 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 3, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mainstream Theatrical Screening
    Philippines
    February 3, 2016
  • Greenpeace Philippines: AdvocaSine
    Quezon City
    Philippines
    July 30, 2016
  • 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival

    Philippines
    August 13, 2016
Director Biography - Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil

An award-winning writer, producer and director for TV and film, Ellen Ongkeko Marfil, self-produced and directed two very accomplished films, Mga Pusang Gala (Stray Cats) and Boses (Voices). Mga Pusang Gala (Stray Cats) won the Docker’s First Feature award at the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival. Her second project, Boses (Voices), a story on how music enables a young mute boy to reclaim his voice, has participated in international film festivals, managed a successful limited run in mainstream cinemas, won more than a dozen awards locally and continues to screen locally and abroad on its 8th year.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“There is a scientific consensus that we only have thirty years, when all the life support system of our earth starts integrating. Then the earth will end as we shall know the sum of our fears. All because of greed that led to human-induced global warming.”

Taking care of the environment has to go beyond lip service. Our consciousness has to be developed on a daily basis. Though we are bombarded with environmental concerns in schools, through the media, government and NGO projects, there is still a need to incorporate activities gearing towards the preservation of the environment in our individual routines.

Lakbay2Love (Journey to Love) is our attempt to tap the power of film, not so much as to bring messages of doom but to provide the inspiration for people to take even just a small action. In this particular case, to take a look at the bicycle once again: for exercise, hobby, sport, alternative mode of transportation, a chance to contemplate on the rivers and the mountains. To focus not only on the destination but the journey where human beings get to appreciate the beauty of nature once again vis-a-vis its destruction. We are hopeful that humans will then find the will to save it.

Through a romantic comedy that could draw young and old to fall in love with each other, the film is a celebration of a collective life of travelling together and appreciating land, water, sky. That love is not just between two people but also with oneself. That love is about respecting each other’s path at the same time finding the strength to follow one’s own.

May Lakbay2Love (Journey to Love) be the start for many to go back to the basics of living.