By Maridol Ranoa-Bismark
Not a cloud seems to appear on LA Santos and Kira Balinger’s sky these days. Both recently bagged Best Actor and Best Actress nominations respectively for Maple Leaf Dreams. They belong to the ranks of today’s young serious actors.
But what will make them do the unthinkable and kiss the good life in the Philippines goodbye? It’s their respective families.
“I will go where my family is. I don’t care if it’s that’s in the Philippines or elsewhere. What’s important is we are not far from each other,” he said at the advanced screening and media conference of Maple Leaf Dreams.
Kira feels the same way.
“Family is everything,” she explains. Kira admits she’ll have a hard time if her significant other asks her to leave the Philippines. But since her family is here, Kira is here to stay.
LA and Kira are lucky they have a good job that lets them earn more than enough. But those who aren’t as blessed as they are must leave family behind and work abroad. These OFWs are the modern-day heroes Maple Leaf Dreams salutes through the characters of Macky (LA) and Molly (Kira). They leave their respective families behind in search of the good life in Canada.
Bea Rose Santiago, who is part of the cast, knows the struggles Macky and Molly go through, not because she’s an OFW herself. It’s because she’s a product OFW parents.
The beauty queen felt the pain of losing her grandfather in the Philippines while she was in Canada. But she had to endure the pain of not being able to pay her last respects to her grandfather.
It was just as hard to see her family in the Philippines celebrating special events without her. But again, she had to suffer because she lived so far away.
“Our OFWs are not money machines,” she points out. “They’re having a hard time.”
LA himself hates to see families torn apart because one member must work abroad to support a loved one. That’s why he has the highest respect for OFWS, whose bravery and patience he admires.
Kira feels just as touched.
“I know how hard it is,” she reveals. “But you have these dreams. You deserve to achieve them. When you feel like giving up, that’s when the breakthrough is almost about to happen. The Lord is trying you, Just carry on. Be strong. Keep going for your family. And always pray.”
The OFWs were always in LA’s mind while playing Macky, who left his job a comfortable job in the Philippines, to support girlfriend Molly’s dreams to go to Canada.
“I portrayed Macky because I want to give OFWs a voice. I want to let them know they’re appreciated.”
This strong empathy showed in the way he clenched his fist when a foreigner insulted him for being Filipino. It showed in his eyes as he cried after finally landing a job, albeit menial, in Canada.
This made him feel so blessed in being with his family in the Philippines.
“I don’t wish that kind of life for anyone,” he states. Playing Macky taught LA to cherish moments with his family in the Philippines. He vows never to take these precious moments for granted.
It is for OFWs that he wants people to know that “the more we support films like this, the more we support our loved ones abroad.”
Maple Leaf Dreams, he points out, is their story.
(Maple Leaf Dreams opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 25, and in major cities in Canada on Sept. 27. It is directed by Benedict Santos and written by Benedict Mique and Hannah Cruz. It also stars Joey Marquez, Snooky Serna, Ricky Davao, Malou Crisologo, Jong Cuenco, Jeff Gaitan, Hannah Thalia Vito, Luke Alford and Kanishia Santos).
