After all these years, Atty. Topacio’s love for film remains passionate in ‘Spring in Prague’

For Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, filmmaking is a passion — a heartfelt pursuit and a personal tribute to an industry he’s cherished since childhood.

“… It’s a passion, an avocation and it’s my small way of giving back to the film industry that I love. Kasi bata pa lang ako mahilig na ako sa pelikula,” he shared during the red carpet premiere of Spring in Prague on May 28 in Taguig City. The film is the latest production from his company, Borracho Productions.

Now on his third feature, Topacio revealed that filmmaking began as a simple dream — one he didn’t expect to grow into something more enduring. What once was a bucket-list goal has now become a meaningful body of work that he considers his legacy.

“Pangarap ko talaga na sabi ko, bago ako mamatay makagawa man lang ng isang pelikula. Pangatlo ko na actually ito, and pakonti-konti lang naman, hindi naman kailangan marami kasi at least nandiyan yan. It’s my legacy habang buhay nandiyan ang mga pelikula ko,” he said.

Spring in Prague follows the story of Alfonso, a resort owner in Puerto Galera portrayed by Paolo Gumabao, who forms an unexpected connection with Marie, a tourist from the Czech Republic played by European actress Sara Sandeva.

Shot in scenic locations across Puerto Galera and Prague, the film begins with a fleeting holiday romance that soon takes Alfonso on a deeper journey—both emotional and geographical—as he travels to Prague in hopes that their bond is genuine and lasting.

Reflecting on the project, Paolo Gumabao shared his gratitude. He said, “It was a great experience and it was an honor working with Sara [Sandeva] , and siyempre si Direk Lester [Dimaranan], and everyone on the team, si Atty. [Topacio], sa lahat ng mga cast, congrats po sa inyo. And it was a wonderful experience.”

Spring in Prague is being released to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic. The film’s world premiere is scheduled for September 5 at the ASEAN Plus Filmfest in Prague.

Directed by Lester Dimaranan and produced by Topacio’s Borracho Films in partnership with the Czech-based FilmFrame, Spring in Prague is scheduled for release in select cinemas in the Philippines, with plans to submit it to both local and international film festivals later this year.