Jon Cuyson

Set in the present, the film tells the story of Mutya, a shy young transgender woman who works as a gardener at a resort south of Manila. She takes care of the blind mother of her OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) seafarer boyfriend, Kerel. The film is anchored in their phone conversation, which may or may not be real, and becomes a catalyst for the manifestation of their individual anxieties and desires reflected in a dream like visual journey.

A visually impaired Babaylan—or pre-colonial Filipino shaman—has a vision of her seafarer son in danger, and so summons her ancient power to try to save him.

Trapped in a cargo ship during the lockdown, Kerel, a gay Filipino seafarer escapes through his memory, and recalls his complicated past, present, and future self. The hybrid experimental documentary fiction film is an evocation of the complexities of personal and national identity prescribed by one’s memory. The film mixes archival images with texts, filmed and found footage to weave the complex narrative from the perspective of a seafarer stranded at sea, confronted by Chinese ships while recalling his relationship with himself, his lover, his family, and his country.

Set in the present, the film tells the story of Mutya, a shy young transgender woman who works as a gardener at a resort south of Manila. She takes care of the blind mother of her OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) seafarer boyfriend, Kerel. The film is anchored in their phone conversation, which may or may not be real, and becomes a catalyst for the manifestation of their individual anxieties and desires reflected in a dream like visual journey.

A visually impaired Babaylan—or pre-colonial Filipino shaman—has a vision of her seafarer son in danger, and so summons her ancient power to try to save him.

Trapped in a cargo ship during the lockdown, Kerel, a gay Filipino seafarer escapes through his memory, and recalls his complicated past, present, and future self. The hybrid experimental documentary fiction film is an evocation of the complexities of personal and national identity prescribed by one’s memory. The film mixes archival images with texts, filmed and found footage to weave the complex narrative from the perspective of a seafarer stranded at sea, confronted by Chinese ships while recalling his relationship with himself, his lover, his family, and his country.