Mapúa University School of Multimedia and Digital Arts (SoMDA) Dean David R. Corpuz returns to filmmaking with his latest full-length feature, Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam (Only Known to Us), which will premiere as part of the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Directed by Corpuz and co-written with Iar Arondaing, the 110-minute drama explores love, loss, forgiveness, and the complexities of family relationships.
The film follows long-time partners Neil (Martin del Rosario) and Bong (Miguel Odron), whose lives revolve around caring for Bong’s mother, Gloria (Yayo Aguila). Their quiet routine is disrupted when Bong is hospitalized with a life-threatening illness, leaving Neil to juggle work and caregiving while Gloria struggles to remain strong. The family’s emotional journey becomes even more complicated with the unexpected return of Bong’s estranged father, Benjie (Epy Quizon), who hopes to mend years of broken ties.
Completing the cast are Madeleine Nicolas, Bodjie Pascua, Bong Cabrera, Adrian Lindayag, and Nour Hooshmand.
Produced by Kristine Camille Sulit and Patricia Salic, the film is executive produced by David R. Corpuz and Adam Dumaguin. Dumaguin also serves as cinematographer, alongside editor Joris Fernandez, production designer David Esguerra, sound designer Elian Idioma, and composer Glenn Barit.
The production also highlights the talents of Mapúa Film alumni, with Dumaguin, Idioma, associate producer Angela Colada, and assistant director Mark Felix Ebreo playing key creative roles behind the camera.
Reflecting on the experience, Corpuz shared, “There is something magical about seeing a world I initially imagined in solitude become a vision shared by a team and, eventually, something that strangers can experience together.”
Taking on the project while serving as dean proved to be both challenging and rewarding after Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam was selected as a Cinemalaya finalist in October 2025.
“Someone told me I was crazy for joining a film festival while serving as the Dean of a school,” Corpuz recalled. “Perhaps they had a point. But at that moment, the desire to create mattered more to me than the pressure of being judged on the outcome.”
Corpuz also credited Mapúa University’s leadership for supporting the production while he balanced his responsibilities as an educator and filmmaker. During filming, Ms. Karen Rey served as Officer-in-Charge Dean, with the support of the SoMDA faculty, ensuring the school continued its operations while he completed the film.
For Corpuz, the experience demonstrates how academic leadership can go hand in hand with active artistic practice, inspiring students by creating work that contributes to Philippine cinema.
With the theme “Cinemalaya 22: Reel Reflections,” this year’s festival runs from August 6 to 18, showcasing nine full-length films and ten short films that explore identity, memory, justice, and family.
Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam is among the festival’s official full-length entries, bringing to the screen an intimate story about enduring love, family, and the hope of reconciliation.
