Private Project

Little Manila

A Vancouver-based travel agent tries to recreate her ailing Filipino housemaid's childhood home before she dies.

Little Manila is the story of Ms. Castro, a Vancouver-based travel agent who, with the help of her son, struggles to recreate their ill Filipino housemaid’s childhood home before she dies. While the mother-son duo endeavor to fulfill her dying wish, Yaya (housekeeper) asks to see her sister, Angel, whom she hadn’t talk to since leaving the Philippines. Desperate to allow Yaya one last goodbye, Ms. Castro risks the whole facade by disguising herself as Yaya’s sister, but gets more than she bargains for.

  • Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan
    Director
  • Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan
    Writer
  • Wai Sun Chen
    Producer
  • Aileen Wu
    Producer
  • Sigrid Pareja
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Castro"
  • Lissa Neptuno
    Key Cast
    "Yaya"
  • Nolan Alonso
    Key Cast
    "JR"
  • Brian Hoskins
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Ross"
  • Austin Kwok
    Director of Photography
  • Chloe Bohonos
    Production Designer
  • Isabelle Barlow
    Art Director
  • Chris Berry
    Location Sound Mixer
  • Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan
    Editor
  • Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan
    Composer
  • Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan
    Post Sound Mixer/Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 17, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    8,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English, Tagalog
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 17th Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon (Vancouver Asian Film Festival)
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada
    August 26, 2022
    Premiere
    Best Screenplay and Best Performance
  • Vancouver Asian Film Festival
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada
    November 6, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan

Arthur Rodger 'Harley' Maranan is a film writer, director, and composer from Manila, Philippines. He moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2018 and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree for Film Production from the University of British Columbia in 2022.

Since then, Harley has assumed various crew positions for a variety of narrative and commercial projects, and specializes in location sound mixing. Harley currently works as a Video Producer for Authority Media (SoundGuys). He also continues to work on sets around Vancouver, with a primary focus on location sound mixing and composing.

In the future, Harley is eager to use his experiences in the industry to better inform his writing and directing. His storytelling focuses on defining—and redefining—the roles of Asians in the modern world, told through his unique Filipino blend of humor and drama.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Back in High School, circa 2017, my English teacher introduced us to the article “My Family’s Slave”, written by Alex Tizon, published for The Atlantic back in June 2017. The article tells the story of Lola Pulido, a yaya (nanny) who cared for the Tizon family all her life, against her wishes, and up until her death. From the moment I shed my first tear reading the accounts of her life, I’ve always wanted to find a way to share her story with the world, through my medium of self-expression.

Little Manila is by no means a complete picture of Lola’s life, nor is it meant as an autobiography. Instead, Little Manila was written to introduce foreigners to the concept of yayas, and the importance of these people in Filipino culture. Yayas aren’t just nanny’s or housekeepers; they’re a part of the family. And family can be complicated. That’s what I hope to share with you all.