In the Philippines, public health discussions surrounding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and mental health often remain shrouded in silence and stigma. Seeking to break through these societal taboos, writer and director Lawrence Roxas spearheaded Behind the Smile—a feature-length advocacy film designed to inform, educate, and offer hope to audiences across the country.
The Origin: Addressing a Growing Public Health Crisis
The inspiration for Behind the Smile stems directly from alarming regional health data. With the Philippines recording a significant rise in HIV cases, Roxas felt a pressing urgency to bring these numbers into human focus, specifically targeting his home region.
“Ito kasi ay patungkol sa kumakalat na HIV. Dito sa atin sa Pilipinas, we have more than 55,000 cases and ginawa namin ito sa Calapan City just because doon ang aming town at sa MIMAROPA Region 4B, pinakamataas ang kaso sa Mindoro, at ang Calapan City ang may pinakamataas sa Mindoro,” Roxas explains.
(“This is about the spread of HIV. Here in the Philippines, we have over 55,000 cases, and we shot this in Calapan City because it’s our hometown, and in MIMAROPA Region 4B, Mindoro holds the highest case count, with Calapan City having the highest in Mindoro.”)
For Roxas, creating the film was driven by a responsibility to provide accurate information backed by medical professionals rather than sensationalized drama.
“So, nainspire ako na gawan ng pelikula ito sapagkat napapanahon at magandang ipakita ito hindi lang sa mga kabataan, kundi sa lahat na maging aware about this,” Roxas adds. “Pinakita din sa film ang information na nanggaling sa ating mga doctors and nag-research talaga ako para mabigyan ng hustisya at maipahayag sa mga tao, because this film is an advocacy and awareness film.”
He also emphasizes that the narrative extends beyond a single diagnosis: “Hindi lang HIV ang tina-tackle dito, kasama ang mental health and depression, and of course, bullying na problema sa ating mga eskwelahan.”
The Narrative: Carrying Unseen Battles
Behind the Smile centers on Elijah (played by BJ Forbes), a brilliant and hardworking student secretly living with HIV. Beyond managing his condition, Elijah navigates severe domestic hardships—working tirelessly to finance the education of his younger sister, Ella, while living in a household divided by an addicted mother trapped in online gambling and a father who drives a tricycle round-the-clock to keep the family afloat.
Elijah’s life intersects with Nikki (introducing Dana Alexa Cada), an academically stellar student suffocating under intense parental pressure. Overwhelmed by anxiety and standing on the verge of taking her own life on their school’s rooftop, Nikki finds a lifeline in an unexpected friendship with Elijah.
Their support circle expands when they meet Mia (Jennica Garcia), a woman grappling with severe depression after contracting HIV through a blood transfusion—a diagnosis that ultimately led to the loss of her infant child to the same illness and desertion by her husband, Jeric (EJ Falcon). Bound by shared trauma, the trio embarks on a collective path toward recovery through medical treatment, therapy, and mutual compassion.
Ultimately, Elijah graduates cum laude and Nikki summa cum laude, with both deciding to become social workers dedicated to assisting others who hide their pain behind a smile.
On Set: Cast Reactions and Personal Connections
The cast—which also features veteran actors Jennica Garcia and EJ Falcon—found deep personal and professional resonance in the project.
For former child star BJ Forbes, stepping into the lead role of Elijah was a profound responsibility.
“Napakalaking pasasalamat ko kay direk dahil sa akin pinagkatiwala ang character ni Elijah,” Forbes shares. “Sobrang overwhelmed ako, kaya I tried my best na ibigay ‘yung justice sa character para maka-relate din ‘yung may pinagdadaanan at maibigay sa kanila ‘yung katotohanan at reality about HIV. Sobrang gaan lang nung shooting, nag-enjoy ako.”
For newcomer Dana Alexa Cada, Behind the Smile served as both her feature film debut and a deeply personal milestone.
“Eto ‘yung first film ko. It was very challenging for me, especially nung nakita ko ‘yung script—pure Tagalog,” Cada admits. “But with the cast direk has chosen, they made me feel very comfortable. I’m really happy because, as someone who has struggled with mental health before, it’s going to be put in a film that will raise awareness, especially for the youth, alongside addressing the stigma around HIV. It’s an advocacy film that will create a positive impact in the community.”
Outreach and Impact
Co-produced by Yellow Brick Road Production, GO Films, and ETVR Construction, Behind the Smile is designed to move beyond traditional commercial cinema runs. The production team is organizing a series of nationwide campus and school screenings, bringing the film directly to students, educators, and local communities to spark meaningful dialogue surrounding HIV awareness, mental health support, and anti-bullying measures.
Watch our interview with director Lawrence Roxas, BJ Forbes and Dana Alexa Cada below: