For film director Quark Henares and co-writer Diego Castillo, making Rakenrol was an intense labor of love. Rakenrol, a comedy-drama that premiered 15 years ago, tells the story of Odie (Jason Abalos) and Irene (Glaiza De Castro), friends-turned-bandmates trying to make it in the local music scene. The film’s legacy was its ability to capture what the “underground scene” was like at the time. According to GMA News in 2014, Henares’ goal was to make it an “open and inviting film.” At the start of the film alone, Odie mentions seeing Sandwich at a school fair, The Camerawalls at Route 196, Peryodiko at Mag, Gorgoro at Cubao X, and most importantly, seeing Eraserheads’ first reunion in 2008, and Urbandub at Mayric’s.
Part of what makes Rakenrol feel different 15 years later is that some of the places and parts of the scene it documented no longer exist. Film critic Philbert Dy, who wrote about the film in 2011 and revisited it years later, noted how the disappearance of venues like radio station NU 107 and music venues like Mag:net High Street changed the way he saw the film. According to Dy, what once felt like a snapshot of a living scene eventually became a record of one that had already begun to disappear.
Older viewers remember it as part of their own lives, while younger musicians are finding it as a reference point for a scene they did not experience firsthand: One viewer who commented on the film’s online stream said they were watching it for the first time for inspiration as a band vocalist, while another recalled watching it in the cinemas with a girlfriend who is now their wife. The film’s relevance, then, is not only in preserving what the scene once was, but in giving new viewers a way to understand why that scene mattered. That feeling is always present in the way viewers continue to return to the film.
Rock n’ Roll Legacy
Rakenrol has undeniably left a lasting impression on its viewers, mostly attributed to the characters facing these internal struggles and issues that happen in real life, such as Ketchup Eusebio’s character Mo arguing with Yagit over how art does not pay the bills. Or another moment where Odie’s character famously encounters Ely Buendia, where Buendia pushes Odie to get back to his gig, learn to live a life without boredom and a 9-to-5 job, and enjoy with his bandmates just so he wouldn’t let anyone down.
The characters, scenes, and most importantly, the soundtrack form a “time capsule,” but the reaction to the 15th anniversary event shows more than just a nostalgia trip for those who grew up watching the film in 2011. With the 15th anniversary now sold out as of August 14, comments surrounding the show show how the film resonated with new and old attendees who are attending alternative and independent events all over Metro Manila, proving that it’s more than just a “love letter” of a specific time. Rather, the film was able to become timeless in its own right.
For viewers like Dy, the temporary nature of the scenes, bands, and venues that were once flourishing has become part of what makes Rakenrol significant. What once felt like a document of a scene that was slowly disappearing can now be viewed as a reminder that scenes, venues, bands, and relationships will inevitably change. Aside from its fictional characters embracing the inevitability of growing up, what remains is the impulse that brought those people together in the first place: the desire to make something, play a gig, form a band, and keep going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rakenrol was written and directed by Quark Henares, with Diego Castillo as co-writer.
The film stars Jason Abalos, Glaiza de Castro, Ketchup Eusebio, Diether Ocampo, Jun Sabayton, and Ramon Bautista.
The film features songs including TEETH’s “Shooting Star” and Cambio’s “Patlang,” alongside original songs from Diego Mapa, Mikey Amistoso, and Diego Castillo
The 15th anniversary event of Rakenrol will be held at Sari Sari Bar, Makati on August 26.
Rakenrol follows best friends Odie and Irene, who form a band with an unlikely group of musicians while navigating friendships, romance, and the Filipino underground music scene.
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