Pisay will be shown February 20 –27 exclusively at the following SM theaters:
SM North Edsa Cinema 8, SM Megamall Cinema 9, SM Manila Cinema 4, SM Southmall, SM Fairview Cinema 6 and SM San Lazaro Cinema 6.
Daily screening: 10:30am; 1:00pm; 3:30pm; 6:00pm and 8:30pm. A premiere will be held on February 20.
Arrangements for Block Sales can be made through the Philippine Science High School Foundation, Inc. at the 2nd flr. Science and Humanities Bldg., PSHS, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City, 063-9240655 (telefax), and 0922-8558420, at special discounted rates of P100.00 per person.
SYNOPSIS
“PISAY”, directed by Auraeus Solito PSHS ’86, with the script written by Henry Grageda, PSHS ’86, a finalist at the 2007 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, is a story about eight students who makes it to the premier science high school during the politically volatile 80’s in the Philippines as they come of age in a time filled with excitement, conflict and change.
These students find the world outside, with the chaos of the end of the Marcos dictatorship erupting into the People Power revolution in 1986, being replicated within the school as they struggle to graduate, contend with teachers, classmates, family, school officials, and a new classification system to segregate students into two groups based on their academic ranking. It chronicles their journey of self discovery as they go through the joys and pains of adolescence.
Adapted from real stories of Batch ’86, It tells of Rom, brilliant son of a fish vendor and an overseas contract worker; Wena, daughter of the landowning Ledesmas; Mat, the pudgy, amorous provincial champion who has trouble in math; friendly Minggoy, who always seems to get himself involved with everything; Liway, daughter of anti-dictatorship activists; Andy, the listless cadet military trainee; Daki, the science genius; and Euri, the boy with artistic flair trapped in a Science High School.
They were among the top two hundred students from all over the Philippines who passed the examination for the Philippine Science High School, which was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in the Sciences and Mathematics to exceptionally gifted Filipino children. “Pisay” is the nickname created by the students to their school; an abbreviation of Philippine Science or Phil Sci. Selected from the best and brightest from all the Philippines, they endure college-level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Those who can make it are hailed as the future science and technology leaders of the country, those who don't are deemed unfortunate victims of natural selection. Their stories are woven around the four years of veritably the most advanced curriculum in the country at the time - and their relationships with each other, their teachers, and ultimately, the school and its social milieu and the country. It speaks of choices the students have to make, priorities they opt to undertake and the realities of life they have to contend with.
DIRECTOR'S BIO
AURAEUS SOLITO'S first feature film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" won 15 international awards including 3 awards at the Berlinale (The Teddy award, International Jury Prize at the Kinderfest and Special Mention from the Children's Jury of the Kinderfest). It is also the first Philippine film nominated for Best Foreign film at the Independents' Spirit Awards in the US. It has been shown in more than 50 film festivals around the world.
“Tuli”, his second feature film, won Best Picture and Best Director at the Digital Competition at the 2005 CineManila Film Festival and recently won the NETPAC Jury Prize at the the Berlinale, International Forum for New Cinema; 2nd Prize for Best Feature Film at the Montreal Film Festival. It is at present making the rounds in film festivals in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. He is the first Filipino to make it to the premiere independent film festival in the world, the SUNDANCE Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA; two years in a row for both “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros” and “Tuli”.
“PISAY (Philippine Science)” is his 3rd dramatic feature film.
LAURELS
PISAY won the “Best Director,” “Best Production Design,” and “Audience Choice” awards in the 2007 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in July.
So far, PISAY has been part of the official selection in the following international film festivals: Toronto International Film Festival (2007, Canada), Pusan International Film Festival (2007, S.Korea), and Festival International des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul (2008, France).
The CAST
Gamy Lopez as Rom Meneses
Annicka Dolonius as Wena Ledesma
Carl John Barrameda as Mateo Markado
Elijah Castillo as Miggoy Lamasan
Shayne Fajutagana as Liway Claver
Jonathan Neri as Andy Gallardo
Alfred Alain Labatos as Daki Lim
EJ Jallorina as Euri Calo
Eugene Domingo as Ms. Casas, the Physics teacher
Arnold Reyes as Mr. G, the Biology teacher
Wena Basco as Ms. Fanny, the Humanities teacher
Glecy Atienza as Mrs. Claver, Liway’s mother
Claudine Najera as Ms. Pasilio, the Geometry teacher
Carina Evangelista as Ms. Valenzuela, the Social Science teacher
Rebecca Padilla as Mrs. Meneses, Rom’s mother
Mary Racelis as Doktora, the school Director
Amable Quiambao as Minggoy’s grandmother
Bernardo Bernardo as the Quiz Bee host
THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION, INC.
The Philippine Science High School Foundation, Inc was incorporated in February 1978, primarily to bridge the gap between government funding and the needs of the PSHS. It engages in active fund raising and solicitation in pursuit of its Vision: A SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STANDARDS THAT NURTURES THE COUNTRY’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL its Mission: TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SCHOLARS AND MENTORS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE.
Its flagship programs are the Faculty Assistance and Development Program, the Godparent Program, and the Infrastructure Program. It also provides varied forms of assistance to the students and support to the activities of the school.
It is duly registered with the SEC and the BIR, is an accredited member of the PCNC and is affiliated with the Ayala Foundation.
FUN PISAY FACTS
Gamy Lopez, who plays the character of Rom, is the twin brother of Nathan Lopez, the lead star of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros.”
Rebecca Padilla, who plays the mother of Rom, is actor Robin Padilla’s half-sister, and mother of Annicka Dolonius who plays Wena, Rom’s love interest.
Annicka Dolonius is half-Filipina, half-Swede.
Elijah Castillo, who plays Minggoy in Pisay, is the lead star of Pepot Artista, for which he won Best Actor. Pepot Artista also won Best Film in the 2005 Cinemalaya Film Festival.
Carl John Barrameda, Alfred Labatos and EJ Jallorina are from the “Going Bulilit” television program.
Shayne Fajutagana (Liway Claver) was a graduating honor student of Philippine Science High School when she auditioned and got the role of Liway. She is now an INTARMED student in U.P. Manila.
Auraeus Solito is the director of the award-winning music video of “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads.
Actors doing behind-the-camera roles at the same time: Carina Evangelista wrote songs in soundtrack, Claudine Najera did the film’s title design and produced the soundtrack album, Wena Basco heads the marketing efforts for the film’s nationwide release in February 2008.
