Leona Calderon to premiere in London

LONDON—  It’s all systems go for the world premiere of the 80-minute film Leona Calderon, starring Pilar Pilapil and acclaimed British actress Virginia McKenna, at a film festival here in November, announced producer Andy Villalba recently.

Villalba, a Filipino community leader in the UK, is championing the cause of health care portability and has lobbied extensively for its acceptance in the British Parliament. The movie Leona Calderon is a platform for his advocacy, relating the story of a cancer-stricken Filipina overseas domestic worker faced with the choice of enjoying her health care benefits in London but living alone or foregoing the financial assistance to rejoin family and live the rest of her life in the Philippines.

“We studied the real-life experiences of five overseas workers from the Philippines, Mexico and Korea and created the character of Leona Calderon out of their stories,” explained Villalba who has lived in the UK for over 20 years and works as a paralegal with Charles Annon Solicitors. “Luckily, we were able to bring in a stellar cast with an outstanding director in Jowee Morel whose father is British. Jowee impressed his professors while studying film at the University of Greenwich and was available to direct the movie.”

The production of the film got off slowly as Villalba’s budget was shoestring. He passed the hat around during Filipino community gatherings and gradually, built up a kitty to move from a 35mm production to a digital film. Villalba, 44, didn’t pay the cast a fee but promised a share of the earnings if the movie brought in a profit.

The indie movie was filmed almost entirely in the UK except for a dream sequence in Malapascua island in Cebu where Pilapil is from. Pilapil was just recovering from a harrowing stabbing incident when she agreed to fly to London with her husband for a four-month visit. She arrived in April last year and saw through the shooting schedule that took 30 full days. Others in the cast include Junix Inocian, Irene Alano, Gabriela Belard, Greg Canestrari, Jacek Jazierzanski and Sarah Borges. Among those who invested in the film were Simon Luckin, Villalba’s sister Suzanne Smith and Angel Arando.

Villalba said a high point in producing the film was meeting McKenna, a member of the Order of the British Empire and a 1979 Olivier awardee as Best Actress in a British musical opposite Yul Brynner in West End’s The King and I. McKenna, 81, is best known for her role as Joy Adamson in the 1966 movie Born Free.

“She’s truly a remarkable lady, the ultimate professional,” said Villalba. “We didn’t pay her a penny. However, we’ll share the movie earnings with her. Her sequences took only two shooting days. In the movie, she befriends Leona and supports her efforts to help out the less fortunate. I remember when we were discussing the script, we suggested to take out an ambulance scene because of budget constraints. Right there and then, she insisted to keep the scene because it was vital and sent a 500-pound check the next day to cover the expenses to film the segment.”

With his first movie venture, Villalba said it was like planting rice. “We had a story to tell but didn’t know how to start,” he said. “We saw in Leona the perfect example of an overseas domestic worker faced with the dilemma of going home or staying abroad in her state of illness. Leona has worked almost 40 years in the UK and was close to retirement when she was diagnosed with cancer. Will she use up her life savings in paying for her treatment at home or will she stay in London and enjoy her health care benefits? In our advocacy, we’re hoping that health care benefits are transportable so that overseas workers like Leona can go home without losing her health care benefits.”

Villalba was in the Philippines last year to drum up support for his advocacy and explained his mission in meetings with senators Serge Osmeña, Koko Pimentel and Ping Lacson. Villalba is a Cagayan de Oro native who moved to London at the age of 19. He finished his hotel and restaurant management studies at the Cavendish School in London as a Rocca Forte scholar. After a stint in a hotel, Villalba worked with a telecommunications company before becoming a paralegal. His Spanish wife Victoria is an environmentalist who is employed by a civil engineering firm in London.

“You’ll fall in love with Leona,” said Villalba. “She’s a feisty character and full of life and love. She won’t stand to be discriminated against. Pilar was wonderful in portraying the role. We mobilized about 20 persons to appear in the movie and everyone raved about her professionalism. We hope the movie is able to deliver a strong message to those in government to consider health care portability especially for the benefit of overseas domestic workers.”