Lino Cayetano on “Salvageland”: Who are we when no one is watching?

The filmmaker-turned-politician dives into themes of morality, lawlessness, and conscience in his newest neo-western thriller.

For filmmaker-turned-politician Lino Cayetano, film has always been a medium for social commentary—an avenue to explore the gravity of real situations in a raw and artistic manner.

With the country’s political climate heating up, morality takes the lead—especially as some may experience lawlessness and injustice—central themes of his upcoming film “Salvageland.”

“I was in government. I felt the need to have a platform as a congressman, as a mayor, but being a storyteller lends you a different platform,” Cayetano shared in an interview with radar Entertainment during a recent influencer screening of “Salvageland.”

“As we said in this movie, if no one is watching, will you still do the right thing? I think that’s what’s beautiful about making movies, telling stories. You’re able to ask that question to people. So this is our small contribution to answering it.”

Cayetano has been vocal on his personal social media pages about the ongoing corruption in the flood control project, even going so far as to call for “no Cayetanos” in politics for the 2028 national elections—directly challenging the senatorial bids of his elder siblings, Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano.

Neo-western thrill

When asked why he chose to do a Filipino ‘neo-western thriller,’ Cayetano remarked, “When you watch westerns—and now neo-westerns are popular—they always talk about morality. What’s good? What’s bad? Who’s the hero? Who’s the villain? But they particularly discuss who we follow when there’s no law.”

Among the few Filipino action flicks released in cinemas this year, “Salvageland” tells the story of a father-and-son cop duo grappling between duty and conscience as they stitch lost limbs to a crime syndicate along a lahar-wasted highway.

Beyond this contemporary western, Cayetano hinted at another upcoming project: “We recently wrapped up filming Andrea Brillante’s solo film with us.” So we’re doing that first quarter of next year. It’s a beautiful story of forgiveness.”

“Salvageland,” starring Richard Gomez, Elijah Canlas, Mon Confiado, Cindy Miranda, McCoy De Leon, and Angela Morena, is set to release in Philippine cinemas on Nov. 26, in production with Rein Entertainment and Viva Communications, Inc.

 

 

Among the few Filipino action flicks released in cinemas this year, “Salvageland” tells the story of a father-and-son cop duo grappling between duty and conscience as they stitch lost limbs to a crime syndicate along a lahar-wasted highway.

 

 

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