Senator Loren Legarda and 2009 Cannes best director Brillante Mendoza's latest collaboration to promote disaster risk reduction (DRR) is included in this year's Cannes film festival.
Taklub, a feature film starring Ms. Nora Aunor, is part of the official selection under the Un Certain Regard section of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, which will be held from May 13 to 24, 2015.
Legarda and Mendoza have worked together for the past years to come up with documentaries on environmental protection, climate change adaptation and DRR.
"Following the disaster caused by Supertyphoon Yolanda, I thought we had to do something to further raise awareness on the need to be prepared for disasters and build resilience," said Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific
After producing several documentaries (Buhos, Ligtas, Philippine Marine Biodiversity, and Antique: Coral Restoration Program) together, Legarda and Mendoza thought that a full-length film could be an effective medium to mainstream disaster prevention and preparedness.
"Sometimes you have to ignite emotions so that people would remember a lesson in life. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in the tragedy that was caused by Supertyphoon Yolanda and that is what Direk Brillante shows in Taklub,"said Legarda.
"What amazes me is his brilliance, his creativity. I am impressed with the way Direk Brillante combined drama and DRR. In fact, the film features DRR measures such as early warning systems, mangrove reforestation, preemptive evacuation, and designating no-build zones. We are bringing not only our best director and artists in Cannes, but also these lessons on preparedness and resilience, which hopefully would be heeded," she added.
Taklub tackles stories of Yolanda survivors and how they try to cope with the tragedy through faith, hope and letting go.
The film was produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in cooperation with the Presidential Communications Operations Office-Philippine Information Agency (PCOO-PIA).