‘Los Salvajes Bravos’ brings forgotten chapter of Philippine history to MMFF

November 6 ------ A little-known chapter of Philippine history comes to the big screen as “Los Salvajes Bravos,” a historical drama about indigenous Filipinos brought to Spain and displayed as human exhibits during the 1887 Philippine Exposition, joins the official lineup of the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Directed by Paolo Dy, the film revisits the experiences of Filipinos who traveled to Madrid in search of a better future but instead found themselves exhibited as so-called primitive people. More than a century later, the film seeks to give a voice to these ordinary Filipinos whose stories were largely left out of historical accounts. 

Dy said the project began two to three years ago when he and his collaborators discussed producing another historical film. They initially considered exploring the human exhibitions in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States, before discovering the earlier exposition in Madrid.

“We researched the story and found out what happened in Madrid during the exposition. It was a smaller event, but the story was particularly compelling because it was organized like an exhibition, with our plants, displays, arts, and crafts. In a way, it was like bringing the Philippines to their trade fair,” Dy said during the press conference.

What particularly drew the filmmakers to the subject was the lack of Filipino perspectives in the surviving historical records. According to Dy, most of the available documentation came from the Spaniards who organized the exhibition. The records contained basic information about the Filipinos, including their names, ages and places of origin, but offered little about their personal experiences.

“We wanted to give the Filipinos a voice and a story, to put flesh on the bones of these very dry records. We have many stories about our heroes and important figures in history, but this time, we wanted to tell the stories of ordinary people who came from the mountains and different communities across the Philippines,” he said.

The film stars Romnick Sarmenta as Ismael Alzate, an Igorot veteran who leads a group of indigenous Filipinos to Madrid, alongside Ruru Madrid as Burgana. For Sarmenta, returning to the MMFF after two years is an opportunity to bring an important historical narrative to a wider Filipino audience. “I am very grateful and blessed to be part of the MMFF again this year. It feels good to be included in the festival, but beyond that, I am happy that ‘Los Salvajes Bravos’ has the opportunity to reach more Filipinos because it gives the film a bigger platform and allows more people to see this story,” the actor said.

He added that the film’s historical subject remains relevant to present-day audiences, particularly younger Filipinos who may not be familiar with the events surrounding the exposition. “For me, history is a reflection of what we are experiencing today. Perhaps by looking at what happened to our fellow Filipinos back then, we can find hope for ourselves and ask whether we can still have a better future,” Sarmenta said.

The actor also described the project as one of the most meaningful films in his career, citing not only its subject but also the people he worked with throughout the production. “Some films have a personal value to you for many reasons. This is one of those films for me. It is not just about the story, but also the camaraderie, the people I worked with and the people I had the opportunity to meet. What matters to me is being part of a story that has purpose and meaning for all Filipinos,” he said.

Madrid, meanwhile, said his role underwent changes during the development of the film. Initially considered for a different character, he eventually took on the role of Burgana after discussions with the production team and revisions to the script. The actor recalled reading the historical screenplay several times to understand its context, particularly its dates and events. “Because it is a historical film, it was difficult to understand at first. You have to remember the dates and the events, so I had to read the script repeatedly to understand it better,” Madrid said.

He described Burgana as a character who could serve as the eyes of the younger generation, helping contemporary audiences understand what Filipinos experienced in Spain. Madrid also credited the production team for making the character-development process collaborative, from workshops and preparation to the actual filming.

Source: manilatimes.net