ORO is about the lives of simple folk caught between the crossfire of Kapitana (Idlawan) accused of political patronage, and Patrol Kalikasan using the environment as a front for their own political and economic interests on the small mining community. As the provincial government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) fight over the jurisdiction over small-scale mining operations, Elmer (Bascom) and Linda (Cabral) suffer the devastating consequences of the legacy of violence and corruption of the country’s turbulent political and ideological history.
All these events actually happened in real life, these events are based on the “Gata 4 Massacre” in Gata, Caramoan, Camarines Sur that happened March 22, 2014.
Like a family, there’s a mother, a single individual who tries to unify the members of the family, its people. That’s the role of Kapitana in Barangay Gata, Caramoan, Camarines Sur. She’s the one people are looking up to, people are running to when they’re in need in their village. She manages the village and makes sure that no one is taking advantage of anyone. It’s like being the president in a small scale, but still, it’s a big responsibility.
When armed men arrived pretending to be Patrol Kalikasan, using their stand as protecting the environment a way to take control of the ball mill used for gild mining, the people of Gata counted on Kapitana to have one of their way of earning back. Things get more intense as these armed men aren’t really there to protect the environment but also take advantage of the ball mill for themselves.
Can Kapitana retrieve the ball mill and give it back to her people? Can the people of Gata, Caramoan survive the mayhem these suspicious armed men are giving them?
Oro stars Irma Adlawan, Joem Bascon, Mercedes Cabral and Sandino Martin with Sue Prado, Biboy Ramirez, Arrian Labios, Ceddrick Juan, Ronal Regala, Timothy Castillo, Tracy Quila, Acey Aguilar and Sunshine Teodoro.
“Oro” opens December 25, 2016, directed by Alvin Yapan from Felizfilm Productions, distributed by Solar Pictures. Rated PG by the MTRCB.