Cast (Voices): Nash Aguas, Katrina “Hopia” Legaspi, Michale V., Pokwang, Peque Gallaga, Johnny Delgado, Laurice Guillen, Nova Villa, Noel Trinidad ; Director: Robert Quilao; Producers: ; Screenwriters: Artemio Abad, Eric Cabahug; Music: Jesse Lasaten; Genre: Cartoon Movie/ Family; Running Time: 90 min,;Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers of all ages
Eleven-year old, not yet in his teens, Bubuy (Nash Aguas) is the favorite target of the three teenage boys who find it fun in bullying him. He tries to avoid them, but they manage to get to him. This time they catch him and order that he build a fire for them. He does so but suddenly the flames grow and spread, making the living forest trees to go after the boy for having caused the fire and heat to intensify, putting their territory, the forest and life in peril. Bubuy manages to escape and get home safe. The empty house however, makes him feel that his grandparents (Nova Villa and Noel Trinidad) are gone missing, he does not know where they are. Some time after, he is surprised to spot a young, lively and smiling girl looking in at him from an open window. She is Anna (Katrina “Hopia” Legaspi) offering to help him find his “Lolo’ and “Lola” who had been kidnapped- according to her- for the scare he gave the forest dwellers. Anna says they have been taken to the land of Elementalia. She shows Bubuy that she is a “Manananggal”, a creature that could separate her upper body from the lower portion when needed. With his eager consent, in a sweep she has him held securely in her hands and flying on their way to his grandparents.
They enter into what for him is a strange place inhabited by enchanted creatures. On their arrival the first thing Anna does is to bring Bubuy to the kind and helpful Lolo Nano (Peque Gallaga) who could tell them what to do, and also concoct a potion that could free the grandparents from their captors. Right away, Anna and Bubuy set to work. Joining them is Narsi (Michael V.), a vain, funny but helpful “Tikbalang”- a half human and half horse creature- who volunteered taking them to the places they have to go.
Dayo is a well laid out story that will interest and entertain not only young viewers, but also the adults. That it is a locally produced film about our own stories of fantasy and mystery could serve as an added reason for potential viewers to watch it. This has also been endorsed by DepEd (the Department of Education) which could lead to elders and parents accompany their young children to see a worthwhile and pleasing Filipino cartoon feature.
Instead of the usual presentation of Philippine folklore and fantasy characters and creatures as frightening, evil, revengeful and the like. Dayo has shown them to be, except for the rare few, naturally normal beings, friendly, ready to help and among others deeds, to go a long way for someone even a stranger like Bubuy and his grandparents. Another plus for this movie fantasy story is that the Filipino artists could come up with cartoons, GCIs and handle Digitals almost as well as their American counterpart.
Though still quite young, timid and reserved, Bubuy is shown as a kid, when confronted with the loss of his grandparents, being alone, hurt by bullies and not knowing what to do; but when given the opportunity to become appositive person, with the help of Anna, he quickly grows up. In place of helplessness, fear, a feeling of loss, he and his world turn positive. His grandparents are back with him and Bubuy is no longer the child, he has grown. He is shown as a prayerful boy.
