During the run of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), one the of the films that stood out was Chito Roño’s “Signal Rock”. It bagged the Critic’s Choice Award and lead actor Christian Bables won a Special Jury Award for his performance in the film at the 2018 PPP Gabi ng Pasasalamat.
Signal Rock illustrates the way of life in a small community in the island of Biri, Samar, where people only have cellular access atop huge rock formations. Intoy Abakan (portrayed by Bables) always have to climb his way up these rock formations to contact his sister Vicky (voiced by Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo) who lives in Finland with her daughter and foreign husband.
The film depicts what it’s like living in a small town in the Philippines where everyone seems to be an extended family member of each other. When Vicky told Intoy that her husband beats her and tries to take her daughter away from her, he gets the help of the whole town so Vicky would get the custody of her kid. The “Bayanihan” spirit flourishes in the island as almost everyone, including local government officials, are even willing to help fake documents just to help Intoy and Vicky.
Signal Rock also mirrors the unfortunate reality in some far-off towns where most “women are raised to leave their homes,” either by working abroad or marrying off a foreigner, to provide better lives for their family. Their dreams and destiny were already laid out for them.
At its core, Signal Rock is about the lengths people would go for those they love and the solidarity that strengthens a community. Instead of dwelling on the hardships of OFWs abroad, the film focuses on the lives of those they left behind back home. It is about how the distance between family members and loved ones can somehow bring them more together and how unity in society can surpass the unimaginable.
Signal Rock is a relatable and quality Pinoy family drama that needs to be seen and deserve more nationwide screenings.
You can still catch Signal Rock in select theaters.
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