Music icon Ely Buendia stars in Padamlagan, a Cinemalaya 2025 entry that revisits the 1972 Colgante Bridge tragedy in Naga City, alongside Sue Prado and Esteban Mara.
The film, directed by Jenn Romano in her debut, explores a father’s desperate search for his missing son amid the chaos preceding Martial Law.
Romano said the film aims to highlight the regional experience of history, often overshadowed by Manila-centered narratives.
Buendia, a Naga native, said the project felt like a “homecoming” and a tribute to his roots, while cast members noted the film’s relevance amid modern-day issues of infrastructure failures and corruption.
Padamlagan, co-produced by Giya Studios and 901 Studios, will hold its gala night tomorrow at Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 1 as part of Cinemalaya screenings nationwide until October 12.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 10, 2025
