Yanggaw, a horror drama spiced with Ilonggo humor, is written and directed by Negrense Richard Somes, with Dwight Gaston, also a native of Negros Occidental, as co-writer.

The story revolves around the family of patriarch Junior, or Ernesto (Ronnie Lazaro). in a farming community,  whose daughter Inday (Technie Agbayani) undergoes a transformation – as an aswang – after having been infected by a spirit.

Junior wants to save his daughter from the curse and does everything to keep her from danger.

Lazaro leads the predominantly Ilonggo-rooted cast which includes Joel Torre as Dulpo, Junior’s friend;  Monet Gaston (Erma) , wife of Dwight, their son, Leon as Leon, Eric Matti as Lazarus and Aleera Montalla (Amor), who spent her grade school days in Bacolod City. Keith Cabañez (Abner) has southern Philippine roots. The other cast member are stage thespian Gio Respall as Toto and Dr. Sandico (Lilit Reyes), who is also the film’s creative director.

An Ilonggo film, it reflects the character of the people, especially in the farms, with Inday and Toto, popular endearing names in the Ilonggo culture, among the major characters.  Apparently, the scriptwriter-director, connected his Negrense roots into the story by naming the main characters, Inday and Junior (Ernesto) after his grandparents on the maternal side.

The director said the horror-drama focuses on the human psyche and its issues in rural Philippines, which, he considers very interesting as he considers it the “closest facet of our cultural beliefs that has been brought upclose to the giant screen.”

Yanggaw, along with Imburnal, dominated the 2008 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival  by capturing six awards – Lazaro as co winner for best actor, Techie as best supporting actress, Joel as best supporting actor, Somes as best director, Borgie Torre as best editor, and the film itself as the “Audience Choice”.

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