“Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” a film inspired by the extraordinary stories of The Philippine Scout Rangers, will support the HERO Foundation, Inc., an organization that helps improve the lives of the families of fallen soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Majority of the proceeds from the box-office receipts of the movie will be donated to the foundation, which will then provide college educational assistance to the children of soldiers killed or incapacitated in the line of duty. HERO, which stands for “Help Educate and Rear Orphans,” aims to continue giving these children a better future, opening up a wider range of opportunities for them, which in turn can also benefit society.

“Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” which will be released in Philippine cinemas on May 24, takes viewers to the Southern Philippines to get a glimpse into the decades-old war of Philippine soldiers against insurgency and terrorism.  The tale revolves around two brothers separated by opposing beliefs, and stars Ping Medina, Bong Cabrera, and Mike Liwag.

The movie is also a tribute to Philippine heroism and was made to encourage wider understanding of the Muslim conflict and the various beliefs and principles that drive men to make a stand and make sacrifices—even their lives. It also illustrates the life of the Scout Rangers of the Philippines, recognized as one of the world’s best anti-guerilla combatants and experts in jungle warfare.

“Ang Araw sa Likod Mo” is written and directed by newcomer Dominic Nuesa, a passionate supporter of HERO Foundation.  Nuesa’s inspiration to tell the plight of the Scout Rangers and their families started when he was doing a corporate video for HERO Foundation, where he met with HERO scholars, listened to their tales, and was driven to make the movie.

“At the very least, I want the audience to express an interest in learning about the conflict in Mindanao—whether it’s a deeper respect for our soldiers or a more profound understanding of Islamic culture. These issues are important to fulfilling our hopes for peace and healing. The movie does not have all the answers regarding the conflict, but I do hope it inspires one to empathize and sympathize with the people involved,” says Nuesa in an interview with Concept News Central.

Nuesa adds: “On the film’s technical level, I hope that our viewers appreciate the great performances of Ping, Bong and Mike, all of whom bagged recognitions in film festivals abroad.”

When asked about the challenges in making a movie for the first time, Nuesa tells Concept News Central, “I was blessed with an amazing, experienced, passionate team and just an overwhelming support from people around me, so I never felt like a first-time filmmaker. All the challenges I faced are things that I’ll be facing my entire career, such as fleshing out characters in extreme human conditions, budget, post-production woes, etc. I’ve been truly fortunate in this regard, and I’ll forever cherish my cast, crew and all the people who truly committed to tell this story.”

The movie bagged the Best Film award in the Auckland International Film Festival, and also won the Global Award at the Europe-based ARFF (Around Films International Film Festival), plus Awards of Recognition for Feature Length, Best Actor (Bong Cabrera) and Best Supporting Actor (Mike Liwag) at the US-based Accolade Global Film Competition.

“Ang Araw sa Likod Mo” has also been nominated in the upcoming prestigious Nice International Awards (2017) in the most coveted categories: Best Director for Nuesa, Best Lead Actor for Liwag, Best Supporting Actor for Medina, Best Editing for Javier Abola, and Best Sound for Greg Rodriguez III.

Catch “Ang Araw sa Likod Mo” on May 24, 2017, in Philippine cinemas.

Check out the movie’s trailer:  https://www.facebook.com/AngArawSaLikodMo/videos/252284628564649/

SOURCE: http://conceptnewscentral.com/index.php/2017/05/17/ang-araw-sa-likod-mo-aid-families-fallen-soldiers/