THE cast of “Two Funerals”: (top, from left) Benjie Felipe, Zian Lim, Mon Confiado, (bottom) Princess Manzon, Epy Quizon and Ricardo Cepeda. Tessie Tomas, who replaces Tetchie Agbayani and Leo Mier, who replaces Kristopher King.

MANILA, Philippines—The Lenten Season will be busy for director Gil Portes.

For his new film, the black comedy “Two Funerals,” Portes is preparing to shoot two Holy Week rituals: the procession of Santo Señor Sepulcro (the Dead Christ) in Lucban, Quezon; and the blessing of the palm leaves in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

Both occasions serve as key settings to the film’s plot.

“Two Funerals” is about a grieving mother, Pilar (Tessie Tomas), who goes on a long journey to recover the body of her daughter Carmela (Princess Manzon), after a funeral mix-up. The mother travels from north to south during Holy Week in the heat of the election season.

The film is one of the five finalists competing in the first “Directors’ Showcase” category of the 6th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival scheduled in July.

Portes said some 2,000 devotees will be present on Palm Sunday in Gapan for the Mass and blessing. “My crew will be there as early as 5 a.m. to witness it,” Portes told Inquirer Entertainment. “We’ve already gotten the approval of the town mayor and priest.”

Powerful scene

Portes pointed out that the procession of the dead Christ on Good Friday in Lucban is similar to the ritual of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, where able-bodied men pull the ropes attached to the image. He said it will be “a beautiful and very powerful scene.”

Portes said he shot the initial scenes for “Two Funerals” on Feb. 28 with actors Bebong Osorio and Benjie Felipe near the Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal.

“That’s where the dead body of a character named Dodong (Osorio) is delivered to his only remaining relative, his younger brother Mulong (Felipe), who secretly wishes he could dump Dodong’s body in the river,” explained Portes. “But Mulong instead finds a woman in the casket. He decides to keep the body and proceeds to set up gambling tables to make money.”

Admittedly, Portes has a different kind of excitement for his first black comedy film. “I’m very confident that people will appreciate the film,” said the director, who thought of developing the story during a trip to his hometown in Quezon.

The real story of the funeral mix-up was published in a tabloid he was reading while riding the bus.

Portes said the character of Pilar was originally meant for Tetchie Agbayani. “I’ve worked with Tetchie in a teleserye (“Gapo”) on RPN 9 before. We’ve become good friends since,” said Portes. “We started shooting with her but she backed out. Her husband is due for surgery and she can’t concentrate on the film.”

Equally great

Portes, however, was quick to add that Tessie is equally great in her portrayal of the character. “I want an actress who will play the mother to have a strong personality. Tessie is all that and more,” he explained.

Also in the cast are Ricardo Cepeda, who plays Carmela’s father Cito; Xian Lim as Carmela’s fiance Gerry; Epy Quizon as the funeral agent Tommy, Kristofer King as the hearse driver Tonyo; and Althea Vega as Mulong’s wife Isay.

Portes said casting Lim was like a “breath of fresh air.” Xian, who at the time of the auditions was in the drama series “Katorse,” impressed Portes when he came fully prepared. “It was just a read-through, but he had memorized his lines. He really stood out,” said the director.

The five Cinemalaya finalists, including Mario O’Hara (“Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio”), Mark Meily (“Pirapirasong Pangarap”), Joel Lamangan (“Sigwa”) and Joselito Altarejos (“Pink Halo-Halo”), are entitled to a seed production grant of P500,000 and an additional P100,000 for post-production.