Ruru Madrid and Romnick Sarmenta lead Los Salvajes Bravos, a historical drama about Filipinos who were displayed as “human exhibits” in Spain more than a century ago.
Three years after the success of “GomBurZa,” the most-awarded film at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), JesCom Films returns to the festival with “Los Salvajes Bravos,” an official entry to the 52nd MMFF that brings another overlooked chapter of Philippine history to light. This historical drama tells the story of Filipinos who journeyed to Spain for the 1887 Philippine Exposition, only to be stripped of their dignity and humanity as they were treated as “human displays.”
The film stars Romnick Sarmenta as Ismael Alzate, an Igorot veteran who leads a group of indigenous Filipinos to Madrid alongside Purganan, played by Ruru Madrid. Driven by dreams of a better future for their families, they traveled to Spain, only to find themselves displayed as “primitive people” at El Retiro Park alongside animals, plants, and other Philippine products. It was a dehumanizing spectacle so appalling that it drew the outrage of national hero José Rizal in 1887, who condemned the degrading treatment of his fellow Filipinos.
Directed by Paolo Dy, who previously helmed the award-winning historical film Ignacio de Loyola, and co-written with Juan Ekis, “Los Salvajes Bravos” revisits a painful yet often-overlooked chapter of Philippine history. To bring the story to life, the film was shot largely on location in Spain, with Spanish actors joining the Filipino cast to recreate the exposition. During filming, the cast even endured Spain’s cold weather while wearing traditional Filipino attire, offering a glimpse of the physical hardships their historical counterparts may have experienced far from home.
Beyond historical injustice, “Los Salvajes Bravos” tells a story of dreams, sacrifice, hope, and resilience that echoes the experiences of generations of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who leave home in pursuit of a better life for their loved ones. More than a retelling of the past, the film also invites audiences to draw lessons from history and reexamine who they are as human beings, especially in difficult times when their choices, values, and treatment of others are put to the test.
“We are proud to bring this story to the big screen because it is an important part of our history that deserves to be remembered. Beyond revisiting the past, we hope it encourages Filipinos today to reflect on our own humanity and how we treat one another despite our differences,” said executive producer Fr. Emmanuel “Nono” Alfonso, SJ.
Also starring in the film are Andreas Muñoz, Michael De Mesa, Christian Vasquez, Jojit Lorenzo, Arnold Reyes, Elora Españo, Paolo O’Hara, and Javier Godino, with Aya Sarmiento, Miguel Vasquez, Michael Roy Jornales, JM Salvado, Roven Alejandro, Shagem Sumayag, and Aaron Kaiser Garcia.
“Through this film, we seek to bring a forgotten chapter of our history back to life for the new generation. This is a story not only about our past, but also about what it means to be Filipino and how our history continues to shape our identity today,” director Paolo Dy said.
Following GomBurZa, JesCom Films continues its commitment to bringing overlooked chapters of Philippine history to the big screen and reigniting the magic of historical cinema at the MMFF.
A Grand Media Conference was held on October 29, a day before the 139th anniversary of the closing of the Philippine Exposition in Madrid, Spain, which ran from June 30 to October 30, 1887. According to the producers, the event took on greater significance as October is also National Indigenous Peoples Month, making it a fitting time for the film to shed light on the experiences of indigenous Filipinos who traveled to Spain for the exposition and to honor their stories as part of the nation’s history.
“Los Salvajes Bravos” opens exclusively in cinemas nationwide on December 25 as part of the 52nd MMFF. Follow the film’s official social media accounts for more updates.
— press release
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