London- Filipino independent film “Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers)” has reaped awards and recognition as it toured Europe starting last month till the first week of December for some of Europe’s respected international film festivals.

It recently won the Chiaputti award in Torino, Italy for best portraying the “world of work.”

In the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, the film was also given a special mention for its screenplay and subject. “Bakal Boys” also won a special mention in the Vancouver International Film Festival last October.

On Thursday, the film premiered in London for the Asia House’s Pan-Asia Film Festival.

“The film is a great example of the new wave of independent Philippine films that is really doing well at the film festivals and garnering many awards - innovative film making on small resources, sharp scripts and refreshing stories from sections of Filipino society. ‘Bakal Boys’ opens up a window for us to view life and dreams of the child divers,” said documentary film maker and producer Richard Reyes.

Reyes watched the film during the London premiere.

Bakal Boys is the directorial debut of acclaimed screen writer and documentary maker Ralston Jover.

The story revolves around the children of Baseco in Tondo, who scavenge for iron metals in the waters of Manila Bay.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, Jover expressed his excitement over his recent awards and his gratitude for the Filipinos in Europe who supported the film.

“They really find the story unique because it involves children tapos mga working class pa. Ipu-pull out na sana niya yong award 2 days before kasi no Italian filmmaker was doing anything about that, until he (Chiaputti) found out about ‘Bakal Boys,’” said Jover.

The Chiapputi award was named after Italian comic artist and living legend Chiaputti.

“Masaya kahit mabigat siyang buhatin kasi almost 4 kilos siya. I’m really excited because a lot of Filipinos were happy for us,’ said Jover of the trophy he received in Torino.
Jover co-wrote the script for the film with Henry Burgos. Before “Bakal Boys,” he already gained a number of recognition for the internationally- acclaimed indie films he has penned such as “Kubrador,” “Tirador” and “Foster Child.”

“Ang Pilipinas nagpa-progess in terms of films at lumalabas ng bansa para makilala. Nirereklamo kasi [ng iba], it’s poverty film but it’s not just poverty. The poverty is just the surface. What the foreigners admire about us is the value of family. We are always together and we do something as a family,’ he said.

‘A call to action’

Jover said the success of “Bakal Boys” locally and internationally should not overshadow the fact that the film was made to be an eye opener - to influence those who can make a difference to act on the appalling conditions of the children of Baseco, who prefer to dive for scrap metals to make a living instead of attending classes.

“Dapat ang mga bata hindi na-aabuse at may batas na dapat i-implement. So it’s a call to action for government officials not just in Baseco pero sa buong Pilipinas that we should do something to stop the problem on child labor,’ said Jover.

“Ang pakay ko dito is just to really tell a story and yung award bonus na lang. And I think it’s really for the film, it’s more for Ralston Jover, and as a producer I’m glad that what I believe is really what they want to see and they enjoyed it,” said “Bakal Boys” producer executive Bessie Badilla.

A foundation for ‘Bakal Boys’

Connecticut-based International model Bessie Badilla, who produced the film with Albert Almendralejo, said she ventured into the project because she wanted to give back to the industry that she has owed so much.

“I wanted to get involved because I wanted to give back something, somehow. At that time, I was turning 50. So for me, what better way to give back than being involved in films because it kept me company since 3 years that I was a widow,” said Badilla.

Little did she know the film would also commit her to do more for the children of Baseco. Now she is hell bent on setting up an educational fund for the 15 metal divers who acted in the film.

She said she wanted a foundation that would support the children until they get a college degree.

“To keep them to school and out of water, we need to pay them P30 each day that they go to school to cover for the metal scraps that they might be able to sell as profit and buy food with,’ said Badilla.
At the onset of the film production, auditions were held at the Baseco compound to cast real-life children metal divers aged 6 to 16 for the key roles in the film.

The film’s protagonist is “Utoy,” a 10- year- old diver. He was looking for his diving buddy “Bungal,” who disappeared while they were diving for scrap metals. Gina Pareño leads the cast of Bakal Boys, as a Muslim woman in search of her missing 10-year-old grandson, “Bungal.”

The cast also includes Simon Ibarra, Jess Everdone, Cherry Malvar and Joe Gruta.

Ralston, who received 5,000 euros for winning the Chiaputti award, is planning to donate half the amount of the prize money for the “bakal boys” foundation.

“Huwag na kayong lumangoy mga anak. Tama na yung mga nawawalang bata sa Baseco. Balik na kayo sa eskuwelahan,” he said, addressing the “bakal boys.”