MANILA, Philippines—Bona Fajardo’s historical drama “Iliw” chronicles how a Japanese soldier’s affections for a Filipino maiden saved Vigan from certain destruction in World War II.

It’s a little-known aspect of our history, said Fajardo, whose film debuted at the Cinemanila last year and opens today at the IndieSine in Robinsons Galleria.

“Every town has a story and Vigan is no exception,” he related. “Who knew that a 400-year-old ancestral architecture of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, was preserved because of the romance between a Japanese Kempeitai officer and a local girl?” It was a love that flourished in a time “fraught with danger, suspicion and prejudice,” he said.

For the world

In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) declared Vigan as a World Heritage Site.

“Vigan does not belong only to the Ilocanos; it’s a source of identity and pride for all Filipinos, a treasure for all mankind,” Fajardo said.

Shooting in picturesque Vigan proved to be the big challenge. Fajardo’s toughest hurdle was “to make an independently produced ‘period film’ with a limited budget within a limited time frame in a beautiful place like Vigan. Any director would’ve been tempted to linger and experiment… to capture the beauty of the place. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of time.”

Three scripts

Using a Panasonic HVX 200A with PS Teknik Adapter, Fajardo had taken the cast, led by Kaye Abad and Hiroyuki Takashima, to Vigan and Baguio where they worked for 15 days.

“We chose this type of camera because it’s full HD (High-Definition). PS Teknik allowed us to use various film lenses to achieve a 35mm look,” he explained.

Working with Japanese actors also proved tricky. “Hiroyuki, doesn’t speak Filipino. I needed an interpreter. We had two scripts—Niponggo for the Japanese actors Hiroyuki, Hiro Sakoda and Kazu Yoshida, and Tagalog for the Filipinos. We also had one in Ilocano. We somehow pulled it off.”

Fajardo said he was awed working with the cast. “I felt fortunate to direct a versatile actress like Kaye. Hiroyuki, Hiro and Kazu were dedicated to their craft as well.”

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