The Bakal Boys of Baseco

MANILA, Philippines - Even at an early stage in his life while studying at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), entrepreneur Albert Almendralejo had already dreamed of producing a full-length film.

The fact is, his graduate thesis at AIM was on Strategic Directions for the Philippine Movie Industry, believing that a new business model combining the best of mainstream and independent filmmaking is needed for the industry.

And so was born his full-length indie movie titled Baseco Bakal Boys. It tells the story of children metal divers who dive deep into the murky waters of Manila Bay for pieces of metal scraps they can sell for a living. Baseco Bakal Boys, starring real metal diver kids from Baseco, was a finalist in the Fifth Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival’s Netpac Premiere Awards.

Almendralejo admits that initially — aside from a dream come true for him and his Apogee Production — he was looking at the film as a business venture, not knowing that it would evolve into a full-blown advocacy program for him, in partnership with Unilever Philippines, Gawad Kalinga, Manila Observatory of the Ateneo de Manila University, Asian Institute of Management and SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise).

Now known as the Cooperator’s Group, one of its objectives is to provide education to the less privileged kids of Baseco through financial assistance, community development programs and services, medical assistance and school material assistance from elementary to college, hoping these kids will turn into responsible, self-reliant and successful individuals.

The Cooperator’s Group seeks to broaden further the stakeholder base by inviting other NGOs, private organizations and companies to undertake socio-economic programs in Baseco.