NUMBALIK DIWA
An ancient, macabre ritual where the
dead assumes the body of a living person.
Like cannibalism, it involves the ingestion
of the deceased’s ground meat and
bones as part of the ritual. With the help
of the Sasigloho, an ancient tribal deity,
the dead assumes the identity of the living
and continues to live his/her life accordingly,
granting near immortality to the one
who practices it.
SYNOPSIS
Out of nowhere, a speeding car blindsides Karissa (Meryll Soriano) and hurls her delicate body into the air. She feels herself being suddenly lifted into the air, floating, suspended, spinning… Then pain. Chaos. Darkness. Silence. She lays face down on the pavement. Dead.
Anton (Ping Medina), who always loved her in secret, holds her lifeless body in his arms. The loss and sadness unbearable. He reaches his threshold, this tragic event being the last thread to make his decision, to take the final leap. If only to save his beloved.
“Numbalikdiwa…”
Lola Nimia (Estrella Kuenzller) is the last of the clan with knowledge of the Numbalikdiwa. She is at her sunset years and has been bedridden for more than a decade. Anton, her grandson, she raised since he was a babe. And now, it is he who has been caring for her all these years. Also living with them is the beautiful and nimble Karissa, whom Lola Nimia adopted and brought her up like she was her own granddaughter.
Nimia is kind, unassuming, loving, and gentle. But her grand plan has always been to teach Anton this ancient ritual and have him perform it on Karissa upon her death, thereby making her immortal. The question whether it is evil or otherwise is not even an issue. But Anton is having second thoughts. He is secretly in love with Karissa. He is obsessed and totally enamoured by her, but keeps it to himself. He cannot face these powerful feelings and is unable to express it to her. After all, they are virtually brother and sister.
Unfortunately, Karissa is infatuated and has her heart set on Carlos (Albert Martinez), a successful professional who frequents their barbecue stall with his girlfriend Portia (Maricel Soriano). Tension evolves between Karissa and Anton as the former dreams of a life that is not hers to begin with and the latter wishing only happiness for his one true love. The frequent insistence of Lola Nimia to pass on the Numbalikdiwa legacy to Anton creates a whirlwind of conflict in the mind of her grandson. And fate always seems to take a turn for the worse…
Numablikdiwa. A different kind of love story between souls unfazed by life or death. Mystery surrounds all the characters and seemingly ordinary events become suspenseful and thrilling as the fate of two souls forever intertwined, affect destiny, change life… cause death.
Tila sa langis at tubig nga maihahalintulad ang relasyong Karissa at Carlos. Kahit ilang beses ipagsama, ang isa'y lagi na lang nakaangat, ang isa nama'y lugmok nang nasa ilalim.Kailanma'y hindi sila maaaring magkatuluyan kung kaya't kinakalinga na lamang ni Karissa ang bawat oras, minuto't segundong nasusulyapan niya ang kanyang matayog na pag-ibig.
Numbalikdiwa Team
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Roberto B. Bonifacio Jr.Director
Bobby received his first recognition as a director when he was awarded the 2004 Ateneo Dean's Awards for Screen Arts for his short digital film "Bulong sa Kawalan". His short romance parody "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" gained its own cult following when it was shown in the 2003 Makati Cinemanila Festival. After his stint as a professional video editor, Bobby is excited to be back doing what he loves, sharing his stories through his movies.
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Maria Kristina Salvador
Line Producer/Assistant Director
Tetz is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in AB Interdisciplinary Studies with tracks in AB Literature-English and a minor in AB Philosophy. She is currently a freelance Producer/Production Manager and Assistant Director and has been production manager for several corporate avps, short films and music video's such as "Walang Kadala-Dala" by Sandwich, "Beer" by the Itchyworms, "Jeepney", "Gemini" and "Una" by Spongecola, "Anino" by Imago and "First of Summer" and "Endless" by Urbandub among others.
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Dan Louie T. Villegas
Director of Photography
Dan Villegas graduated Bachelor of Arts Major in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he is a recipient of the Dean’s Awards for the Arts in the Screen Arts category. He studied cinematography at the MOWELFUND Institute and has been cinematographer in music videos for Cueshe, Sandwich, Nikki Gil, Imago, Dice and K9, among others as well as several corporate avps and short films. He recently won Best Cinematography during the recent Ateneo Video Open Festival.
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Jeck Cogama
Production Designer
Emmanuel Cogama also known as Jeck Cogama, studied Production Design at the Mowelfun Film Institute under the Digital Filmmaking Class batch 2003. Right now, he works as a freelance production designer/art director/stylist in tv, film, commercials, music videos and magazines. He's been a part of the multi-awarded digital films "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" and "BIGTIME." He is also a short-narrative and experimental film director. His recent work is a finalist in the 2006 Cinemalaya Film Festival.
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Jesson Yap
Editor
Jess is a graduate of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University with tracks in Computer Science and Communications. He is currently a freelance editor and animator. His work includes productions for Smart Telecom, Canon, and opening animations for ABS-CBN's recently concluded Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition
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Juan Miguel Sevilla
Co-writer
A recent graduate from the Ateneo de Manila, he has written received nominations from local video and film festivals. He is the recipient of the Loyola Schools’ Awards for the Arts in the Screen Arts category. He is currently in training as a commercial director under several production houses, while doing freelance work as editor, writer and director of music videos and short films.
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Mark Villena
Sound Designer
Mark Christian B. Villena is a filmmaker by training, a sound engineer by profession, and a musician by inclination. He's won acclaim as well as a couple of Gawad CCP's and a Special FAP Citation in 2004 for his short movie, "MANGGAng MATAmis!". Having thought of a brilliant follow-up to that brief success, he just hasn't gotten up the nerve to get it funded and rolling - partly because he wants to be producing music albums too in the nearer future. Who knows, you might hear it soon.
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Maui Mauricio
Colorist
Maui graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2005 with a degree in Communication Arts. He won an award for the screen arts during the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts. Currently he works as a freelance video editor, colorist, and director for music videos and AVPs. His past works include videos for bands such as Urbandub, Hale, Bamboo, Up Dharma Down, Spongecola, and many others.
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Adi Lopez
Production Manager
Adi is a fresh graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University where she majored in Communications. These communication skills has been put to amazing use, as she has been communicating left and right in various productions ever since freshman year. She has worked as Production Manager and Assistant Director in several short films and music videos. Currently, she whole-heartedly helps out in whatever way she can in whatever production she can be of service to
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Anna Go
Head of Finance
Anna recently graduated in the University of the Philippines, with a degree in Business Administration. She is primary in charge of the Financial Department of this production. She has also worked in various music video projects for the Akafellas and Sunflower Day Camp. She is currently taking up Law at the UP.
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King Palisoc
Script Continuity
King is a graduate with a degree in AB Communications from Ateneo de Manila University and is currently a freelance writer/director for music videos and short films. He has made various works such as "Island Lovin" by Nimbus Nine feat Cosmic Love (music video) and "Mahal ko Si Direk" (short film), which received the Juror's Choice for Best Film in the recently concluded 2006 Annual Ateneo Video Open. King has hopes of being a commercial director and to direct his own feature length film someday
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Emerzon Texon
Musical Scorer
Emerzon, Composer/Songwriter, has spent more than a decade performing professionally for various Pop groups. He is also an educated classical guitarist with a great passion for Jazz, whose works can be heard in Radio, Television and Film. He is currently a Music Arranger at Cutting Edge Productions, Inc.
