Siargao gets a starring role in the romance ‘Unconditional’

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A dreamy scene of the island waves of Siargao opens Adolfo Alix Jr.’s film “Unconditional,” setting the tone for a tender love story that explores not just romantic love, but also the bonds of friendship and of the parent-child relationship.

In this film, Siargao becomes more than just a backdrop — it emerges as a character in itself, a “silent witness” to the growing connection between the central characters portrayed by Rhian Ramos, as the heartbroken social media manager Anna, and Allen Dizon, as the local named Greg who helps run a café while taking care of his ailing mother.

Early in the story, it is revealed that Allen’s character is a transman, and the island seemingly offers a kind of comforting anonymity — a space where he can live quietly, away from his past, until Rhian’s character arrives.

As their connection deepens, so does the need to reveal the truth — not just “flaws and imperfections,” but the honest, authentic self.

Produced by BR Film Productions (owned by US-based former actor Brandon Ramirez), “Unconditional” opens in cinemas on June 25. The screenplay was written by Jerry Gracio, based on a concept developed by direk Adolf five years ago.

“I also wanted to make a love story. But with so many out there, I thought, ‘What about other kinds of stories?’ I asked myself, ‘What if the situation involves a transman, but it’s not something you hide?’ Because before, it’s treated as a twist. Before, it was always revealed like, ‘Oh, she used to be a woman,’” the director explained.

“But now, in this day and age, we’re more open to all possibilities. So it’s better if you already know from the start.”

For someone who hasn’t been to Siargao, the film can serve as a teaser or primer on the island.

“There were definitely challenges,” Rhian said about filming in Siargao. “But for me, as an actor on the shooting side, I wouldn’t consider it difficult. We were shooting every day with one day off.

“Direk was super easy to work with. Right before the scene, he made everything clear about what he wanted. But he also left space for multiple options — like we would shoot two versions of a certain scene, one with more of this feeling, or another with a different one.”

It was the weather, however, that posed the biggest challenge. “It was more of a directing challenge and Sir Dennis (Evangelista, the line producer). It was rainy at that time.”

When the director was told that watching the film would make audiences want to travel to Siargao, he said that it was a goal.

But Adolf was also aware of the cost of traveling there.

“Well, it’s one of the aims. Pero sabi nga daw (the tickets going to Siargao are expensive). It’s not naman a statement but I think it’s best also to discover the Philippines,” he said.

“Ako rin, first time ko doon. While they (the actors in their characters) were discovering the place, na-discover din namin (we were also discovering it as well). The place is beautiful. The environment is different. It’s worth visiting and mare-realize mo yung closeness ng mga locals and foreigners already living there. Iba rin yung dynamics nila.”

The production also tapped foreigners as actors for some scenes. “We have (a talent) coordinator there, who is a friend to many because he’s a surfing instructor also. (The foreign actors) mababait sila. Tinuruan namin yung isa na taga-bar (in a scene with Rhian) because it was his first time to act.

“We just taught him to act because he also wanted to learn how. They would do around two to three takes but they were willing. Minsan dito hirap kumuha ng willing, but there, they were willing to do it and didn’t mind the waiting (in between takes).”

Given the inspired visuals, the director was asked if he managed to squeeze in some vacation time during the shoot. But the aesthetic was intentional, and perhaps a subtle homage to his debut film, “Donsol” (2006), a romance also set in a coastal town that became the Philippines’ official entry to the 2007 Oscars in the Foreign Language Film category.

“It’s like full circle because my first film was ‘Donsol.’ So now, it’s Siargao. But the idea rin naman is to show not only a travelogue but also to capture the characters. Kaya maganda rin yung close-ups… Well, if you’re in that space, isolation — kasi nag-iisip si Rhian, pareho sila ni (Allen) na ganun — so makita lang yun sa film (that’s what we hoped for).”

The place added to the uniqueness of the project for Allen, who used to play serious, dramatic roles, often in social realist or indie films. But while portraying a transman in a romantic narrative is a departure, it plays to his strengths in conveying complex emotions and inner conflict.

Rhian, who’s been portraying notable kontrabida roles on TV, including as the main villain Mitena in the primetime GMA series “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, finds herself in a refreshing romantic turn.

She also shared that “Unconditional” marked her second time in Siargao. “The first time, I only went to shoot a magazine cover. This was at a time when there was still no direct flight to Siargao. So you have to fly to Cebu, to here, to there, take a boat, things like that.

“So with the film shoot, it was much more enjoyable because I had more time to really see the beauty of it. I was able to see more. As an island, it’s such a complete experience — there’s a river, there’s a lagoon, there’s a lot to see there. It’s really worth exploring.”

“And we ate a lot! We ate a lot of delicious food,” she added.

The film also features a special appearance from Andi Eigenmann, who Rhian tagged as the “ultimate endorser of Siargao.” Since 2018, Andi has retreated from showbiz to build a life on the island with her partner, champion surfer Philmar Alipayo, and their children.

On how the cameo came about, direk Adolf shared: “Of course, we became friends because of Miss Jane (the late Jaclyn Jose, Andi’s mother). I visited her and joked, ‘Gusto mo ba (Do you want to do it)?’

“And then she visited us at the shoot. When she was there, I said, ‘You have no way out now, you’re already here.’ And she enjoyed it, too. She even said it felt like it was her first time again to be fitted with a lapel mic and to wear a microphone. She got a little bit emotional. Sabi niya, ‘Ang tagal ko nang hindi naramdaman ‘to, na may lapel ulit.’ Natuwa rin siya. And we just told her, ‘You just have to play as yourself.’”

“Unconditional” also stars Joel Lamangan, Elizabeth Oropesa, Lotlot de Leon, Paolo Gumabao and Rico Barrera.