Indie team, family unite to bring late Dwight Gaston’s final script to screen

Family, filmmakers unite for Hiligaynon horror tribute shot in writer’s hometown Silay.

Independent filmmakers and family members are coming together to honor the legacy of late veteran screenwriter and artist Dwight Gaston by bringing his final script to life.

The project, an independent Hiligaynon horror short film titled “Isa ka gab-i sa Prusisyon sang San Roque” (A Night at the Procession), aims to serve as a fitting tribute to the renowned writer.

Gaston, who fell ill in 2022, continued writing between dialysis sessions and hospital visits, completing one final story before his passing.

He is widely known for his prolific 30-year career, having written some of Philippine cinema’s most iconic horror and comedy titles. His credits include entries in “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” the hit comedy “Gagamboy,” and the groundbreaking mockumentary horror series “Kagat ng Dilim,” which he co-created with Erik Matti.

In a video documenting the grassroots production, Ryan Racela, a content creator and Gaston’s nephew, shared how the project came to be. According to the video, a producer named Don met with Gaston just six days before his death and was entrusted with the script.

Unlike his previous commercial films shot in Manila, Gaston’s final story is deeply personal and departs from mainstream formulas.

The film is set in Gaston’s hometown of Silay, Negros—the place where he grew up and is now laid to rest. The story unfolds during a real, century-old religious procession in local sugarcane fields. It follows a young boy hunting for spiders who suddenly becomes the hunted, weaving elements of local folklore and Catholicism.

Directed by Kent Caduhada and produced by Ilawod Films, the project is moving forward without major studio backing.

“This film isn’t like the commercial movies that Tito Dwight made in Manila,” Racela said in the campaign video. “There’s no big studio bankrolling the project—just passionate filmmakers who want to give his career the send-off it deserves.”

As the team prepares to shoot in Negros, they are calling on fans and supporters of Philippine cinema to help fund the film. Proceeds will go toward visual effects, camera equipment, and other production needs.

Those who wish to support the 2026 project and help bring Dwight Gaston’s final story to the screen can follow the film’s official social media pages or donate directly to the production.

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