Why ‘Alumahan’ could be Puregold CinePanalo’s breakout short

Set by the sea, this haunting student film on grief, belonging, and survival may leave the deepest mark at CinePanalo.

The sea is often portrayed as a place of freedom and adventure. In “Alumahan,” however, it also becomes a witness to grief, loneliness, and the difficult choices that come with growing up.

One of the student short film entries in the upcoming Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, “Alumahan” follows 13-year-old Unyok, a fish port helper struggling to cope with the loss of his parents in a small provincial fishing town. Bullied by his peers and desperate to belong, he turns to a shoreline gang led by his friend Klayd, only to discover that acceptance comes at a painful price.

To prove himself worthy, Unyok must endure a brutal initiation rite that includes skinning fish and holding his breath underwater for two minutes—an ordeal that forces him to confront the true cost of finding a place in the world.

Behind the film is a young filmmaker already making waves in the student film scene. “Alumahan” director Christian Melvin Arejola is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Journalism student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Communication.

The screenplay was written by Khert Dharryl Gabayeron, an alumnus of PUP’s Department of Broadcasting, with Aaron Castro serving as producer.

For Arejola, the project is deeply personal.

“As a child, I always wanted to be at the sea. Once I got there, I never wanted to leave,” the director shared in his statement. “Like Unyok, I also found a home and love in the sea. But as I grew older, I realized it was not only a source of joy—it also carried fear, sadness, and struggles that had to be faced.”

“Together with Unyok, I want to return to the sea not just as a place of memories, but as a space for growth, healing, and finding courage,” he added.

That emotional connection is reflected in the film’s visual approach. Shot in Legazpi City, Albay, “Alumahan” takes advantage of the region’s fishing communities and coastal landscapes to create a world that feels both intimate and expansive. The production design favors authenticity over spectacle, relying on real fish ports, modest homes, and weathered textures that mirror the characters’ lives.

Even ordinary objects carry deeper meaning. An aquarium reflects Unyok’s emotional state, a knife symbolizes forced maturity, and a home altar serves as a reminder of memory and loss. The film’s muted, sun-faded palette further reinforces its grounded and emotionally restrained storytelling.

Produced by Chaoseum (The Chaos Museum), a collective that describes itself as creating stories that “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed,” the film appears poised to tackle difficult emotions while remaining rooted in everyday Filipino realities.

Young actor Don Rishmond Cerbito leads the cast as Unyok, joined by Jeremy Mayores as Imay, Christina Simon as Mamang, and Zoey Madison Lim as Klay.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival has become one of the country’s most exciting platforms for emerging filmmakers, providing production grants and a national stage for student and professional storytellers alike. 

For audiences eager to discover the next generation of Filipino filmmaking talent, “Alumahan” offers an intriguing glimpse into a young director’s vision—one that explores grief, friendship, and survival against the backdrop of the sea.

With its emotionally charged story, authentic coastal setting, and a protagonist searching for a place to belong, “Alumahan” may well be one of the 20 student shorts that festival audiences will remember long after the screenings end.

READ: