Screenwriter Sarge Lacuesta talks about the award-winning Song of the Fireflies featuring the music of Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raimund Marasigan, and Jazz Nicolas
Rachel Alejandro as Equit Butalid and Morisette as Alma Taldo in ‘Song of the Fireflies’
The real choir’s founder Alma Taldo portrayed by Morisette in the film
After the good feedback from the 2025 Manila International Film fest in Los Angeles and good notices from another film mecca, one braced for a special screening of King Palisoc’s Song of the Fireflies more with curiosity than excitement.
This is the story of the Loboc Children’s Choir in Loboc town, Bohol, under its homegrown mentor, Alma Taldo.
The choir has logged more than 40 years since its founding in the early 1980s. In the ’90s, I heard the choir for the first time in the company of actor Cesar Montano, who shared the outstanding Boholano award with them.
A brief encounter with teacher Taldo gave me the impression that she was a gentle music teacher who wants to share her love for music with everyone, young and old.
Screenwriter Sarge Lacuesta on the set of ‘Song of the Fireflies’
From the screenplay of Sarge Lacuesta, one learned there were no strict auditions to select the best choristers. Everyone was welcome, provided they went through the rigorous rehearsals.
In the opening scene showing their last stint with the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Ms. Taldo (played by Morisette) is gently edged out as conductor in favor of the well-dressed, “classically trained” benefactor Madame Equet Butalid, played by Rachel Alejandro.
They placed only third in that national competition. For the provincial choristers and their teacher, it was a big letdown.
Madame Equet set out to boost the morale of the choir, reminding them that not winning first place is not the end of the world. But they can work hard to be the best by going through the strict regimen of choral discipline.
Indeed, the kids take rehearsals seriously, from breathing exercises to vocalizations.
Noel Comia, Jr. and Kristal Brimner in a scene from ‘Song of the Fireflies’
It’s the choristers’ lives outside of music that help you connect with the film. One chorister, played by Noel Comia Jr., was in search of his father while going through the vocal transition from kid to young adult. Then there are these two choristers in the early stages of young love.
Composer Ryan Cayabyab and producers Girlie Rodis and Celeste Legaspi
Musical scoring is minimal, but the songs of Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raimund Marasigan, and Jazz Nicolas tied the story together.
The choir was also an excellent acting ensemble, on top of having heavenly voices. Morisette portrayed the choir mentor Alma Taldo with quiet but commanding presence. The “classically trained” Ms. Pequet was essayed well by Rachel Alejandro. She provided a good contrast between homegrown and cosmopolitan musicians. The direction by Palisoc was competent.
Moreover, it is the screenplay of Sarge Lacuesta that humanized the story of young musicians and their mentor. It is their lives outside of music that gave the film a good connection between art and life.
Originally published on The Diarist.PH
