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Kahapon May Dalawang Bata
(Yesterday Children)

It is the time of El Niño, a season ruled by superstition and fear. The rain is long in coming, the ground has cracked up dry. The ricestalks are thin and sickly. Villagers go hungry. And a boy dies from a snakebite. The adults splinter. Some pray. Others join a cult to appease earth spirits and wait for the ada, the ricefield spirit goddess of bountiful harvest who dances naked on moonlit nights and signals the need for a virgin’s sacrifice. There are fence sitters, equally pro-church and pro-cult. A landlord’s steward enforces his master’s usury on hapless farmers. A self-righteous priest says rain must first be deserved. Two young women fight for the right to do with their bodies as they please. A bastard boy and a blind girl come of age. Yesterday, they were children.

2nd Runner-up Audience Award at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival

Direction: Carlitos Siguion-Reyna
Screenplay: Bibeth Orteza
Cinematography: George Tutanes
Film Editing: Manet Dayrit
Music: Ryan Cayabyab
Production Design: Joey Luna
Cast: Tonton Gutierrez, Ara Mina, Pen Medina, Ray Ventura, Jennifer Sevilla, Eva darren, Carlo Aquino and Patricia Ann Roque.

1999 90 minutes Color 35mm print from Reyna Films

Shown on January 11, 2000.