MANILA– For University of the Philippines-Diliman film student Vrian Pamatmat, creating Doce de Pebrero is more than a thesis requirement—it’s a personal mission to immortalize the forgotten tragedy of the Calamba massacre, where Japanese soldiers killed 2,000 men on February 12, 1945.
His 20-minute narrative-musical film, inspired by a local commemorative play written by the late Dr. Eulogio T. Tañala Jr., imagines a fictional survivor named Lino, who wrestles with trauma decades after the massacre. The story, Pamatmat says, is a reflection of collective Filipino pain and the importance of remembering wartime atrocities.
“History never becomes irrelevant,” he said, adding that the silence around the massacre—even among his own family—motivated him to share it with a new generation.
Pamatmat aims to spark discussion, especially as fewer Calambeños pass the story down. His film includes original songs by Rafiel Talatala and performances by notable Filipino actors such as DMs Boongaling.
While Doce de Pebrero will premiere at UP’s Likha Adarna Festival on May 20-21, Pamatmat hopes to bring the film home to Calamba, saying, “That’s where this story belongs.”
Crowdfunding for the project continues, as student filmmakers push forward despite financial hurdles, fueled by their love for storytelling and preserving Filipino heritage.
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