Description

Long before text-message and Facebook courtships, young men in the Philippines stood earnestly beneath the windows of the women they loved to profess their devotion. Backed by supportive friends and accompanied by the town’s finest guitarist, these young suitors crooned the night away until finally invited inside (or ultimately rejected). This long-abandoned art of harana (serenade) is brought to light in this award-winning feature documentary.

When Florante Aguilar, a classically trained guitarist, returns to the Philippines for the first time in twelve years, he discovers three of the last remaining harana masters: a farmer, a fisherman, and a tricycle driver. Untrained and self-taught, these men astound Aguilar with their deeply rich, trembling voices. In a sincere effort to capture and preserve their melodies and stories, Aguilar asks them to travel with him to perform and record these unheralded songs. As Aguilar and the three haranistas captivate audiences in small villages and prestigious concert halls, the men connect deeply with the past and with one another.

Co-presented by: Kularts, Oakland Asian Cultural Center

Credits

Executive Producer: Florante Aguilar, Valeria Cavestany, Vincent de Vera, Sonia Delen, Norma Edar, Fides Enriquez, Jean Maliksi, Jim Maliksi, Sol Manaay, Iraida Que de Vera, Barbara SyCip
Producer: Florante Aguilar, Fides Enriquez
Cinematographer: Peggy Peralta
Writer: Florante Aguilar, Benito Bautista
Editor: Chuck Gutierrez
Sound: Jason Galindez, Rafael Magsaysay
Music: Aguilar

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