2009 Cinema One Originals: Wanted: Border

Director and Writer: Ray Defante Gibraltar. Line Producer: Chits Jimenez. Cinematographer: Ogi Sugatan. Assistant Director: Karla Pambid. Production Designer: Alf Alacapa. Production Manager: Che Villanueva. Editor: Tara Illenberger. Art Director: Jeffrey Winston Lazaro. Sound: Allan Hilado. Wardrobe: Amanda Nava. Poetry: John Iremil Teodoro. BTS Director: Oscar M. Nava. Talent Coordinator: Kristoffer Rhys Grabato. Art Department: Ramon Montejo, Rey Laude, Rey Gico.
Cast: Rosanna Roces, Joy Louise Evidente, Kristoffer Grabato, Publio Briones, Raffy Tejada, Edward Divinagracia, Dante Amaguin, JP Libo-on, Edgardo Amar, Rheno Mar Soqueño, Boyet Zuluaga, Kukok Piconcillo, Nemia Guinabo, Sol Alquizar, Dennis Ascalon, Mona Pico, Pamela Falcis, AJ Aurelio, Faith Javellana, Edrelita Sebio, Audie Barbasa, Arnel Sumpay, Maria Esperanza Matea Sunshine Teodoro, Peter Paul Deocos, members of Teatro Busilak, University of Iloilo, and students from the Western Institute of Technology.

Synopsis

Mama Saleng is a religious fanatic who owns a boarding house and a canteen. As a child, Saleng was accused, along with her grandmother, of being an “aswang”. Her thirst for human flesh was quenched during the Martial Law years when she met Jessie Beltran, an undercover agent tasked with the brutal extermination of activists on Panay Island. Mama Saleng came to enjoy killing, becoming like the “aswang” she was accused of being.

She continues to indulge her monstrous appetites among her hapless lodgers.

Director’s Statement

“Every day for four years I passed a misspelled sign that said “Wanted: Border”. It was on the lamppost in front of the apartment I was renting. In 2001 I wrote a screenplay and called it “Wanted: Border”. At the time I was stressed-out from the fast pace of life in Manila. From all the stress I ended up creating some bizarre characters.

“This film is a sort of exorcism for me. All the characters are connected to me in some way. I used stories I heard from my friends, the experiences they told me about. The rest are figments of a hunger-driven imagination.”

About the Director

Ray Defante Gibraltar studied Philosophy at Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary, Jaro, Iloilo, and the University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod. He attended filmmaking workshops at Mowelfund Film Institute in 2001. His films When Timawa Meets Delgado, Syokoy, and Panudlak have been screened in international festivals.
He is based in Guimbal, Iloilo, Philippines where he delivers eggs, does organic farming for a living, and watches a lot of animation with his son, Ray Gerard.

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