Golden Touch Productions in association with Panay News Media is proud to present the launching of Diamond Heart in Northern California, for a worthy cause on Saturday, October 25 at 5pm at Roberto’s Restaurant in Daly City.
Behind the film is the mother-and-son tandem, Perla and Prince Valencia. Diamond Heart is a heart-wrenching story of two sisters among twelve siblings who had to make sacrifices to support and help their family. Dalisay, portrayed by Sugar Ligaray, is a woman who only finished sixth grade and succumbed to cancer after a series of obstacles in life. The other compassionate sister, Perla, played by Trophs Generalao, who achieved higher education, became more successful, but her love for her family particularly for her sister Dalisay was never compromised. All of the cast members are Ilonggos, and the dialogues are delivered in Hiligaynon but with English subtitles.
Director-writer Perla Valencia could have just saved her money and wait for the economy to take a major upswing, but when she realized that her son, Prince, a filmmaking student, is excited to collaborate with her dream film project, the former caregiver and very hardworking mother from Iloilo bought her film camera equipment and pulled out her own script from her dusty baul. She then went home to Iloilo City and began her first film project in collaboration with the locals and her son as editor and director of photography.
The film’s technical elements are not flawless, but it is undeniably raw and honest when it comes to the core of the story, the relentless love of two sisters who utilize their resilience in order to help their family. This honesty was very evident in the scene when the father strikes Dalisay with a whip after the young Perla showed him a love letter from Dalisay’s suitor. A mixed emotion of guilt and sympathy of the younger sister as she caresses her older sister will all her welts and pains. The needed intensity in this scene was exhibited by these non-professional actors that the characters grown on you.
Although the film needs some tweaking in terms of editing some overstretched sequences, much of the scenes in this film flirts with melodrama but is still fascinating to watch the characters as they take their journey to what life and fate has to offer.
Some of the expected guests to grace this special event are Senator Leland Yee, Mayor Michael Greene of Union City with his beautiful wife, Mrs. Cora Greene, Milpitas Mayor Joe Esteves, Daly City Mayor Carol Klatt, Club Royale President Gil Navarro and his wife fashionable lady Jett Viray Navarro, State Commissioner for the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Ray Satorre and dashing candidate for Daly City Council Dave Canepa. Italian singer Lia Saballa, Jonathan Cayago, Angel Ventura and Putli Robles will perform as part of the entertainment part of the special occasion.
Part of the proceeds of this film launching will benefit the indigent streetchildren of Iloilo City, Philippines.
(Published October 24, 2008 p.SF5 NC)
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