PROTECTED HILL

"The saddest part of life is when the person who gave you the best memories becomes a memory." - Anonymous

A stubborn daughter MARJORIE portrayed by Genie Rose Mayugo Baylon arrives in Abra in search of a protected hill, encountering CHRISTIAN played by Gabriel Balitnang Javier who agrees to help her. However as the day progresses they begin to learn more about each other and the life changing significance behind Marjorie's journey.

  • DEXTER GALBAN MACARAEG
    Director
    BALITOK, AM-AMMA, TATA PILO, SALIDUMAY,
  • DEXTER GALBAN MACARAEG
    Writer
    BALITOK, AM-AMMA, TATA PILO, SALIDUMAY
  • LIA CARIÑO ALCANTARA
    Producer
  • JOEY MARTINEZ DELA CRUZ
    Producer
  • Genie Rose Mayugo Baylon
    Key Cast
    "Marjorie"
  • Gabriel Balitnang Javier
    Key Cast
    "Christian"
  • Dexter Galban Macaraeg
    Key Cast
    "Father"
  • Achein Domondon Beria
    Key Cast
  • Eljeen Figares Bayugo
    Key Cast
  • Abi Bisquera Beñas
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - DEXTER GALBAN MACARAEG

DEXTER MACARAEG is an actor, filmmaker and writer. A student of Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza's Film Workshop in 2016. His short film 'Balitok' (Gold) has been awarded Best Screenplay Bronze Award at the New York City Indie Film Awards (NYCIFA) in 2016.
His most recent documentary film 'Am-Amma' (Heirloom) has won the Independent Achievement Award at the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFMNYC), the Jury Award Movie of the Year (Advocacy/Documentary) at the 5th Urduja Film Festival Heritage Film Awards.
It was nominated as Best Documentary Film at the Sinag Maynila 2018 Independent Film Festival. It was officially selected at the Palawan International Film Festival 2018, and at the 25th Filipino, Arts & Cinema, International FACINE in San Francisco, USA.

In 2018, he made a documentary film TATA PILO about Teofilo Garcia, a National Living Treasure on Gourd Casque Making from San Quintin, Abra, Philippines, and has been invited to different film festivals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a short film SALIDUMAY that premiered at Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (Indie Nation Short Section) and has won at Roshani International Film Festival in Aurangabad, India.

He is regular actor of Brillante Mendoza's films. A former diplomat who has been assigned in Beirut, Frankfurt, Toronto and Havana. He is the founder of Sine Abreño and director of Abrenian Heritage Film Festival (AHFF) based in Bangued, Abra.

Mr. Macaraeg is currently an Executive Council Member of the National Committee on Cinema of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) until 2025.

He is currently taking his Master of Arts in English at University of Abra, and will soon attend his Master of Arts in Media Studies (Film) at University of the Philippines, College of Mass Communications, Graduate Studies Department.

His newest short film "PROTECTED HILL" is how he value his family as a way to "protect" his interests and how he shows his respect for the environment where he grew up.

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Director Statement

All of us has only now to live for. The past is gone and we cannot recapture it and tomorrow is yet to come. I always spend time with my loved ones because I do not know the day will surely be when I can no longer spend time with them.