From Bohol to the World: The Heartfelt Journey of Song of the Fireflies
Four months after its world premiere at the Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, award-winning film Song of the Fireflies finally came home and opened in Philippine theaters last June 25. However, its second-week screening is limited to less than 10 malls in Metro Manila, one in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and one in Tagbilaran City. This is a reality that most local movies have to deal with, especially if they're contending for a slot against Hollywood flicks. And, like how Ang Larawan (from the same producers as Song of the Fireflies) succeeded due to public clamor, it is once again up to the audience to demand that this heartwarming tale, inspired by the globally renowned Loboc Children's Choir, be shown all over the archipelago. The film’s genesis and the monumental challenges to bring it to the big screen are as compelling and inspiring as the story it so beautifully tells.
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'Song of the Fireflies' tells the heartwarming origin story of the Loboc Children's Choir from Bohol
The Spark of an Idea: The Loboc Children Choir's Story
Palisoc recounted in an interview with Esquire Philippines how the entire project came from the producers of the acclaimed historical drama Ang Larawan—Celeste Legaspi, Girlie Rodis, and Rachel Alejandro. "It started with the producers, Culturtain Musicat Production, actually," he explained. "I think it was around the time that they were doing screenings of Ang Larawan in different provinces." During one such screening in Bohol, a performance by the Loboc Children's Choir profoundly moved the trio. This encounter ignited a curiosity that led to further research, revealing the deeply inspiring origins of the choir.
They discovered it was founded by a dedicated public school teacher named Alma Taldo, who believed passionately in her students' musical potential. "Na-inspire nga sila doon sa story na it was about this group of kids who were formed by a public school teacher, who had no classical training, choir performances, and so on," Palisoc shared, emphasizing the core belief that "these kids deserve the chance to perform and share their music."
The Loboc Children's Choir, founded in 1980, is composed of children aged nine to thirteen from the Loboc Central Elementary School. The Choir has garnered acclaim for its diverse repertoire that spans traditional Filipino folk songs, classical pieces, and contemporary music. After several attempts in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists, the group finally bagged the grand prize under the Children's Choir category in 1993, 1995, and 2001. In 2020, Ma'am Alma represented the Loboc Children's Choir and received the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining. This powerful narrative of grassroots talent and unwavering dedication became the bedrock upon which the film would be built.
The Loboc Children's Choir at NAMCYA 1995. The group went on to compete in the U.S.
Palisoc and co-writer Sarge Lacuesta were then brought on board to flesh out this idea, tasked with developing the story and "digging deeper into the origin of the choir." This involved multiple trips to Bohol, immersing themselves in the town's unique atmosphere and, crucially, conducting interviews with Ma'am Alma herself to capture the authentic spirit of their journey.
Initial plans were ambitious, with a full shoot slated for 2020 and a budget already in place. In fact, a significant step was taken in 2019 when some scenes were shot, not for the final film, but "to produce a trailer, just a sizzle reel para ma-excite 'yung mga tao and sort of capture already what feeling we wanted to have in the film." This early footage, released on January 1, 2020, offered a captivating glimpse into the film's visual style and hinted at the inherent musical heart of the story, notably featuring the presence of Morissette Amon in what marks her debut film role. "It's Morissette's first film. And it's a musical and it's set in Bohol, so there was some sort of interest in it," Palisoc noted.
Navigating a String of Bad Luck
However, fate had other plans. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 brought the entire industry, and Song of the Fireflies along with it, to a grinding halt. "Ang schedule namin was we were supposed to shoot the film in 2020, around May or April. And then the pandemic happened, so everything was put on hold," Palisoc recounted.
He detailed the long list of hurdles that continuously threatened the film's completion. As a coming-of-age youth film, "our cast was mainly comprised of kids." This presented a unique challenge: "We weren't sure when we could go back into production, but at the same time, kung makabalik kami sa production, we weren't sure if we were gonna be able to get the same cast kasi baka by that time tumanda na sila."
Beyond casting concerns, the logistical nightmare of transporting a full production crew to a distant province like Bohol during strict lockdowns proved immense. "It was the logistics of having to fly a production to Bohol that were difficult during the time of the pandemic." Compounding these issues, resources were depleting, exacerbated by the initial expenditure for the trailer shoot.
And as if a pandemic wasn't enough, nature itself seemed to conspire against them. "There were typhoons that happened, especially the big one that happened in Bohol, yung Odette. So, some of the locations that we had intended to shoot in were damaged." These obstacles pushed the project to the brink. "There was a time during the pandemic na 'di talaga namin alam kung matutuloy pa 'yung pelikula. It really got to a point, na really we thought that, it was not going to see the light of day," Palisoc admitted.
A Movie With Music as Narrative Driver
Despite these setbacks, the passion and vision for the project never wavered. Palisoc emphasized that Song of the Fireflies wasn't conceived as a typical musical in the vein of, say, La La Land, where characters spontaneously burst into elaborate song and dance numbers. Instead, they aimed for a more grounded and integrated approach. "Rather, it was going to be a film about music."
He drew comparisons to critically acclaimed films like Pitch Perfect, Once, or Begin Again. "Meaning there are going to be some performances, but it's not necessarily, magbe-break from the real world setting." This approach allowed them to weave the choir's performances naturally into a deeply human, grounded, and relatable narrative. Palisoc acknowledged the scarcity of such "films about music" in the Philippines, making their endeavor even more exciting. "If we're talking about musicals for film in the Philippines, there are musicals, pero not a lot of films about music." The challenge lay in "how to use music as a way to propel the story," ensuring that performances served the narrative rather than overshadowing it.
Rachel Alejandro (as Equet Butalid) and Morissette (as Ma'am Alma Taldo)
Song of the Fireflies' Symphony of Talents Behind the Scenes and On Screen
The film boasts an impressive musical team, reflecting the high caliber of talent involved. Palisoc proudly listed Filipino music legends Ryan Cayabyab and Louie Ocampo, who contributed original songs, alongside the contemporary rock sensibilities of Raimund Marasigan and Jaz Nicolas. Krina Cayabyab is also part of the musical production. He credited the producers' extensive network for securing these esteemed artists. "For Mister C in particular, it was really the producers who were able to tap him," he stated.
Beyond the music, working with the actual Loboc Children's Choir as a core part of the cast presented its own unique rewards and challenges. "We really wanted to have the Loboc Children's Choir as part of the cast." This meant preparing amateur child performers for the rigors of filming. To this end, workshops were conducted to acclimate them to the presence of cameras and the demands of acting. "In order to train them, we had to have some workshops. I think it was two or three days na immersive yung workshop namin."
The Loboc Children's Choir with Director King Palisoc, Morissette (as Ma'am Alma Taldo), and Rachel Alejandro (as Equet Butalid) during the filming of 'Song of the Fireflies'.
Palisoc was particularly impressed by their innate talent. "Sobrang swerte namin because the kids were really natural." He observed that good acting often stems from an "innate generosity" on screen. "The kids were able to do that naturally. Kumbaga hindi pilit, very open sila to laughing or crying or doing some lines and making jokes and performing." Their effortless performances, he noted, made it feel "like we were just with them in the real world. Di sila conscious about the cameras." The Loboc Children's Choir, after all, is no stranger to a huge crowd, having held concerts all over the country and other parts of the world.
The kids of the LCC were joined by musical theater artists Noel Comia Jr. and Krystal Brimner.
A Visual Ode to Loboc, Bohol
The visual language of Song of the Fireflies was meticulously crafted to underscore the narrative. When shooting the trailer in 2019, Palisoc and his cinematographer, Pong Ignacio (who is known for Heneral Luna, 2015; Goyo, 2018, and Liway, 2018), aimed to showcase the inherent beauty of Loboc while simultaneously establishing a visual contrast with the bustling metropolis of Manila. "[We] really wanted to show how beautiful Loboc is as a town, but also sort of find a way to contrast it to the big city, which is Manila." Even Lacuesta's script supports this contrast, where the capital is presented as both an aspiration (where the children hope to perform in) and a disappointment (with all the subplots).
Notably, the film is a "period film, set in 1980." This required careful attention to detail, though Palisoc noted, "shooting or making the province look like the '80s was not so difficult kasi wala naman masyadong structural." The provincial setting allowed them to capture a sense of timelessness and quaintness. "When we were shooting in Loboc, we wanted to capture the beauty of the town, but also capture that feeling of how quaint and relaxing and peaceful and serene it is. And also unassuming." This unassuming quality was key to highlighting the extraordinary talent emerging from an unexpected place.
Palisoc revealed his personal visual inspirations, drawing heavily from the works of Japanese animation director Makoto Shinkai. "How his films were able to capture the mundane everyday life of the locations that he filmed in." This translated into deliberate filmmaking choices, "using very wide lenses, and even sa editing, making sure that when we were editing the trailer, making sure na bababad yung shots as much as possible." Ignacio, in turn, drew inspiration from the impressionistic qualities of Monet's paintings, aiming for a "very impressionistic feeling" in the film's colors.
Morissette is joined by Cai Cortez, Via Antonio, and Chai Fonacier, who play the roles of Loboc Central Elementary School's teachers
The Soul of Loboc: Music, Community, and Personal Reflection
Beyond the technical aspects, Palisoc reflected on the deeper essence of Loboc and its unique musicality. He shared a fascinating historical tidbit discovered during research: "Yung Bohol, it was one of the areas na nag-settle 'yung mga religious groups from Spain. And I think, one of the things that they did to invite them was through music." This suggests a long-standing tradition of music ingrained in the very fabric of the community. A particularly interesting fact about the Loboc Children's Choir is their unique, inclusive audition policy: "They don't audition members. Gano'n sila ka-confident na kaya nilang makakuha ng kids who have that talent. No auditions sila, no eliminations."
'Song of the Fireflies' is set in Loboc, Bohol.
For Palisoc, the experience of filming in Loboc was transformative, almost spiritual. He described it as a "retreat," a period of personal enrichment. "As in three weeks in a remote town, with a beautiful river and a beautiful church and very kindhearted people. Sobra talaga siya, 'yung soul ko talaga, busog na busog doon sa three weeks namin." He fondly recalled a memorable day when the entire crew and staff took a break from filming, went to that part of the river where the kids would swim, and shared a meal. "Sobrang sarap ng tubig," Palisoc said about the Loboc river.
On a more personal note, the filming of Song of the Fireflies coincided with a significant turning point in his life. "My wife was pregnant also at that time." This personal milestone added another layer of meaning to the already emotionally resonant project. "Almost a religious experience, I would say, 'yung paggawa ng Song of the Fireflies."
From Brink of Abandonment to International Recognition
As if the plague of the pandemic and typhoon weren't enough during the film production, last-minute hurdles came even during the international premiere at the MIFF. The screening was almost derailed by the Los Angeles fires that affected the festival's nearby areas. Ultimately, the schedule was moved, and Song of the Fireflies premiered on March 6 in Hollywood.
The film subsequently garnered several awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Morissette), Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Alejandro), and Best Supporting Actor (Noel Comia Jr.). It was also recognized with a Special Award for promoting Philippine music, arts, and culture.
One of the most heartwarming and utterly unexpected moments during the LA premiere was the presence of some of the original members of the Loboc Children's Choir. "We found out that there were some original members of the Loboc Children's Choir who watched. Nandoon sa LA na," Palisoc exclaimed, recalling their emotional reunion and the joy expressed by these former choir members at seeing their story brought to life on the big screen. This served as a powerful testament to the lasting impact of the choir and the film's ability to connect across generations and continents.
A Call to Experience the Music
As Song of the Fireflies officially opened in local cinemas, Palisoc conveyed his earnest hopes for the audience. First and foremost, he wants moviegoers to recognize and support the real-life inspiration: "I hope they follow the Loboc Children's Choir. Yung choir kasi is globally known, famous, pero in our hometown here in the Philippines, medyo kulang pa sa push. I hope the Loboc Children's Choir gets a lot more supporters after this film."
The group that won the NAMCYA in 2003, photo taken at the steps of the Loboc Convent, where the Loboc Children's Choir would practice daily.
Secondly, he implored audiences to give the film itself a chance. "Sana bigyan nila ng pagkakataon itong pelikula about the choir, but also itong pelikula na 'to about music." He acknowledged the challenges of its genre in the local market – "Maraming odds against this film. It's not a very popular genre, especially dito sa Pilipinas." Yet, he believes its message and artistry will resonate deeply. "I'd like to think naman na mabubusog naman sila sa pelikula. I hope they, they give this film a chance. That's all."
Song of the Fireflies opened in cinemas nationwide last June 25, with limited venues. Ask the cinemas near you to give this film a chance.
