In 2011, my childhood friend Isel Garcia and I took 2 days to write and shoot this little run-and-gun short film. This was in the days leading up to Isel’s departure from Manila to live in New York City.
The piece was intended to reflect the sentiments that we had towards the changes that were happening in our respective lives. For me, Honeycomb was still in its infant stages, and Nica was still pregnant with Summer. So I was preparing to become a dad for the first time. After shooting, I also found that it also ended up serving as a sort of visual love-letter to Manila and the people who we love in it. I really like it when I get to see an art piece evolve and take on a life of its own, and that’s what happened here.
Much is inspired by Donald Miller’s writings. Not unlike my day to day life.
Though all photography was completed in 2011, the footage was stored while Isel left, finished her course in SLC and graduated with pride. We have chosen to release it now — two and a half years later — in celebration of her journey, as she returns home to Manila for Christmas.
Welcome back, Isel. We are excited to hear the stories you have to tell.
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