Loren and Brillante’s Taklub at Cannes Fest

The tandem of Sen. Loren Legarda and Brillante “Dante” Mendoza has amply proven to be a winner. The good news is that Taklub, one of their projects that promote Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR, part of Sen. Loren’s pro-environment advocacy), is competing in the Un Certain Regard Section of this year’s (68th) Cannes Film Festival, May 13 to 24, where Brillante won Best Director (for Kinatay) in 2009.

Starring Nora Aunor, Taklub chronicles stories about the victims of Typhoon Yolanda…how they try to cope with the tragedy through faith, hope and letting go.

Loren and Brillante have been producing documentaries on environmental protection, climate change adaptation and DRR, such as Buhos, Ligtas, Philippine Marine Biodiversity and Antique: Coral Restoration Program.

Moved by the devastation caused by Yolanda, Loren proposed the production of a full-length film about mainstream disaster prevention and preparedness. Brillante agreed and got Nora as lead star of the film.

“After producing several documentaries with direk Brillante, I thought it might be possible to have a feature film that would mainstream DRR,” said Loren, a United Nations champion for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific. “I am amazed with the work of Brillante, especially Taklub which touches the heart of the audience and at the same time focuses on DRR measures such as early warning systems, mangrove reforestation, preemptive evacuation, and designating no-build zones.”

Taklub was produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in cooperation with the Presidential Communications Operations Office/Philippine Information Agency (PCOO/PIA).

Source: Philstar