‘Wantawsan’ tackles corruption, fake news without losing the fun

“Bonus na lang siguro yung social relevance, bonus na lang yung lessons na tinuturo ng film,” Abello said in an interview with radar Entertainment.

The film stars Joross Gamboa, Rita Daniela, and Alwin Uytingco, actors known for comedy, but Abello asked them to tone down their usual comedic performances and bring their characters closer to real life. He described the adjustment as simply needing “konting hila lang pababa,” making their performances less theatrical and more grounded.

The approach reflects the film’s realistic subject matter, particularly its focus on corruption and fake news. Abello hopes “Wantawsan” encourages audiences to become more discerning about the information they encounter, especially on social media.

“Hindi lang tayo basta naniniwala. Dapat sinasala rin natin,” he said.

Abello wrote “Wantawsan” at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when his frustration over government actions and current events pushed him to explore the issues he wanted to discuss through film.

For Abello, however, those conversations begin with making a film people genuinely want to watch. If audiences can laugh, cry, and enjoy the experience before confronting the issues underneath, he considers that a success.

“Wantawsan” will premiere at the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival alongside six other full-length films, bringing Abello’s comedy-drama to the big screen as part of this year’s festival lineup.

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