A uniquely Silaynon slice-of-life story is making its way to the screen with the short comedy film “Hoy! Pili Ka Na!”, directed and produced by Banjo Hinolan.
The film will premiere at the Cine Kahirup: Silay City Film Festival 2025, with screenings on May 23 and 24, from 5-7 p.m., at the city public plaza covered court.
Starring local talents Tex Romero and Roger Joshua Venzal, the film centers around a seemingly simple but hilariously drawn-out situation: Junjun, a soft-spoken and indecisive young man, struggles to choose from a variety of native kakanin (rice delicacies) sold by the sharp-tongued vendor Tiya’y Clara. As minutes turn into an eternity, Tiya’y Clara’s patience wears thin – resulting in a clash of personalities over sticky rice and sweet toppings.
What makes “Hoy! Pili Ka Na!” stand out is its devised theater approach. Shot without a complete script, the film was born out of live collaboration between the director and actors.
“I gave the actors character profiles and story flow,” said Hinolan, “but the dialogues were crafted just moments before the camera rolled. It’s a technique often used in theater, and it gave the scenes an authentic, improvised energy that reflects real Silaynon humor and interaction.”
The film also pays tribute to Silay’s rich culinary heritage, with kakanin serving not just as a backdrop, but a symbol of Filipino patience, nostalgia, and cultural pride, its press release said.
“Hoy! Pili Ka Na!” is a comedic tribute to the small but meaningful choices we make every day—and the people who wait for us to make them, it added. ||
