SILENCED VOICES: a short film on

gender inequality
Written by: Lycan Perez and Nowa Hernandez

Summary: 2 weeks before their senior high school graduation, a group of 4 friends– Max,
Liane, Rosie, and Adriana encounter an unraveling of a series of unfortunate events that
forever alter their lives.

Characters:
Liane Deri- Alexa Ursua
Rosie Diaz- Melrose Enumerables
Adriana Laura- Ashley Magno
Max Gomez- Jenskie Valencia
Vincent Deri- Allen Mario
Liane’s Dad- Franz Orquiola
Liane’s Mom/Scriptwriter/Co-Director: Lycan Perez
Rosie’s Dad- Gab Cayari
Adriana’s Mom- Jenelyn Santiago
Adriana’s Dad- Zane Dionisio
Max’s Dad/Videographer- Justine Nacor
Teacher- Marie Fe Into
Leader/editor/co-videographer/co-writer/Director: Nowa Hernandez

TITLE CARD: SILENCED VOICES

SCENE 1:
INT. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - DAY

The teacher is announcing that the Card Giving will be held in the afternoon after classes
before she leaves the classroom.

TEACHER (O.S)
“OK class, bago ako umalis, remind ko lang po na mamaya na 2pm yung kuhaan ng cards
nyo and final meeting for your graduation that is set 2 weeks from now. Hopefully lahat na
parents and guardians ay makaka attend… So yun lang. Goodbye class. You may have your
break na.”

The students then stand up to greet the teacher Goodbye before they take their lunch break.
Before the teacher leaves the room, she suddenly calls on Max.

TEACHER
“Mr. Gomez meet me in my office pala. May kailangan ako idiscuss with you.”
CONTINUED:
MAX
“Ay ok po maam.”

Max then turns to his friends.

MAX (CONT’D)
“Mauna na kayo guys. Punta muna ako sa office ni Ma’am”

LIANE
“Sige.”

Liane replied to Max. She then turns to her friends.

LIANE (CONT’D)
“Tara na guys”

They all leave the classroom…

END SCENE

SCENE 2:
EXT. IN THE BACK OF THE GRADE 12 BUILDING- DAY

The friends are talking to each other while eating their lunch.

ADRIANA (O.S)
Grabe kuhaan na ng card mamaya, Tapos in 2 weeks graduatng na tayo.

ROSIE
Omg, kaya nga eh. Ang bilis lang ng panahon.

Adriana suddenly remembered about the parent's meeting later that afternoon

ADRIANA
Makaka punta parents nyo guys? Sakin kasi di ko sure kung makaka punta.

LIANE
I think so?? Di rin ako sure eh. Baka mas iprioritize nila pag kuha ng card ni vincent eh.

ROSIE
Luh top 1 anak nila tapos di nila kukunin card mo. grabe naman sila.

LIANE
Syempre bunso kasi si vincent. Pero ok lang naman kasi kinakabahan ako sa grades ko eh
parang bumaba ako sa iba ko na subjects.
CONTINUED:

ADRIANA
Beh di yan. Tali-talino mo tapos bababa grades mo.

ENTER MAX
Rosie notices Max
ROSIE
beh ang tagal mo. malapit na matapos yung break.

MAX
Sorry guys ah. May pina asikaso kasi si Ma’am.

ADRIANA
Teh lagi ka na lang kinakausap ni ma’am sa office nya ano problema nun.

MAX
Di ko alam dun (feigning confusion)

The Friends continue talking and joking around with each other when suddenly, Rosie
notices something on Max’s neck

ROSIE
”beh, ano yan”

Rosie quietly asked Max while pointing to his neck.

There was lipstick.

MAX
Ah, wala yan. Pabayaan mo lang. (max replied while covering his neck)

Liane then turned to Max

Liane
Ikaw, max? Makaka attend ba magulang mo mamaya?

Max
Ah kailan nga ulit yung kuhaan?

Rosie
Lutang ka Nanaman kanina no?

Max
Hindi ba pwedeng nawala lang sa isip ko.

The three of them started laughing at Max While max is look at his friends with a smile

Liane
 Hays Ikaw talaga Max, You're always spacing out during ma'ams discussion. Mamayang
2pm na Ang kuhaan ng card

Max
oh thanks Lia

Adriana
Guys Patapos na Ang break time, Let's go na sa classroom.

They leave the area and go back to their classroom

END SCENE

SCENE 3:
INT. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM- DAY

Liane is nervously waiting for her parents while the meeting is on going.

ROSIE
Lia makakapunta pa kaya ang parents mo? Malapit ng matapos ang meeting.

LIANE
im not sure, pero hinatayin ko nalang sila

ADRIANA
Ang galing din nyang magulang mo eh no, mas uunahin pa rin talaga nila yang si vincent

Liane’s friends are well aware of how biased her parents are

MAX
oh kalma baby kalma

Max jokingly said to adriana trying to light up the mood which seems to be working because
they all burst out laughing

The teacher suddenly cuts them off

TEACHER
i will now be announcing the rank of the students

The friends all look at each other

ADRIANA
for sure valedictorian yan si liane

CONTINUED:
ROSIE
 Syempree sa taas ba naman ng grades

LIANE (replied nervously)

Guys di nyo sure no

ADRIANA (CONT’D)
liane on top! (she cheered)

Max
top ka liane? ( he asked confused)

They all laughed at what max said

LIANE
“Susko ka max” (she said while shaking her head)

The teacher then starts to speak

TEACHER
Now, For our Valedictorian

ROSIE( CONT’D)
Ikaw na Yan Lia

LIANE
“Sana” (she said with a small smile)

The teacher finally announces

Teacher: Mr. James Fajardo!

Time seems to stop for Liane as another person's name was mentioned for Valedictorian
Whispers of disbelief flood the room

STUDENT 1
Hala hindi si liane yung valedictorian?
STUDENT 2
Akala ko ba matalino yang Liane?
STUDENT 3
Baka naging masyadong kampante?

The teacher then starts to speak again, announcing the next in rank

Teacher
And for the Salutatorian, Ms. Liane Deri!

Liane's Friend started clapping for her

While liane looked so lost because who is she without her achievements. Tears slowly filled
liane's eyes
END SCENE
Scene 4:
INT. INSIDE LIANE’S HOUSE- DAY

Liane’s parents are scolding Liane

Liane's Mom (O.S)

I thought you wanted to make our family proud Liane?

Liane
Ma, I'm sorry but I did my best Naman

Camera pans to Show a crying liane who was looking at her parents

Liane's Mom
What is the use of your best if hindi mo Naman kayang maging Valedictorian

Liane's Mother is very dissatisfied with her daughters academic performance

Liane's Dad
Alam mo simula ng pinanganak ka Wala ka ng dinala kung hindi kamalasan sa pamilya na
to.

Liane's father is a very strict man when it comes to her

Liane
I'm sorry ma, pa pero ginawa ko Naman po Ang lahat.

It then shows her little brother Vincent

Vincent: Ate Akala ko ba easy lang para sayo maging valedictorian

Vincent asked his older sister sarcastically, Liane was looking at Vincent with hatred

Liane's Dad:
Bakit pa nga ba kami umasa sayo? At the end of the day babae ka pa rin, sinayang mo lang
Ang pag papaaral namin sayo.

Liane's father then walked out with Vincent

Shows liane's Mom

CONTINUED:

Liane's Mom:
 Yung mga Kaibigan mo na yan Ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ka nakaka pag aral ng mabuti
liane.

Liane
Ma hindi po-

Liane's Mom
Hindi ka muna makikipagkita sa mga Yan

Liane wanted to disagree with her mom's words

While Liane's Mom started walking towards her

Liane's Mom
“I only want what's the best for you anak”(she said while caressing liane's cheeks)

Liane could not do anything but to submit to her mother

Liane
Opo Mama.

Liane's Mom
“that's good” (she said while standing up)

It then shows a lonely liane crying on the sofa

END SCENE

SCENE 5:
INT. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM-DAY

2 days after the card giving day, Liane tries her best to distance and ignore her friends.
Adriana and Rosie Notices this.

Adriana and Rosie are seated together while looking at Liane

Adriana
Nag aalala na ko Dyan Kay liane ah, Noong nakaraan pa nya tayo iniiwasan

Rosie
Baka may nasabi Nanaman yung mom nya?

Adriana
“ano pa nga ba”(she said stressfully)
Rosie
pati si Max din parang lagi nalang syang nakatulala
The camera then shows Rosie and Adriana looking at Liane and then at Max

END SCENE

SCENE 6
EXT. IN THE DIRTY KITCHEN OF ADRIANA’S HOUSE-DAY

Adriana walking to the back of the house, into their dirty kitchen, muffled voices of her
parents are heard

Adriana appears in the gate of their backyard

Her Dad notices her and then asks her angrily

Adriana's dad (O.S)

TIBO KABA!?

Adriana
HA? Hindi
Adriana is taken aback and replies quickly

Adriana's dad (CONT’D)

Ano tong naririnig ko sa mga marites Dyan sa labas na Nakita ka daw nilang may ka halikan
na babae.

Adriana's dad is seen walking towards her at an angry pace

Adriana:
Ha? Pa alam mo Naman na puro chismis lang Ang lumalabas sa bunganga ng mga Yan

Adriana's dad
"Wala ka talagang kwenta" he said
Then suddenly he slapped Adriana
Adriana’s mom gets in between them
Adriana's mom:
" Pwede ba tumigil kana" she shouted angrily at Adriana's dad while pulling his hand

Adriana's dad:
"Ikaw tumigil ka din wag mo akong pinipigilan"(he shouted while pointing at Adriana's mom)

Adriana:
"Pa dahil lang sa mga Yan sasaktan mo na ako"(she said shouting to her dad)

CONTINUED:
Adriana's dad:
"OO DAHIL WALA AKONG ANAK NA TIBO" (he shouted)
He then grabbed Adriana by the collar, slamed her on the ground and started beating her up
more
Adriana:
"Pa tama na" she plead to her dad

Adriana's mom:
maawa ka sa anak mo please lang, anak mo Yan wag mo syang saktan

Adriana's mom is also begging Adriana's dad to stop hurting their daughter
After a long beating Adriana's dad finally stopped

Adriana's dad
Pag katapos ng graduation mo doon kana sa
probinsya ng tita mo tutuloy, tandaan mo Wala akong anak na tibo

Adriana's mom is seen tending her daughter

Adriana's dad
“at isa pa makipag hiwalay ka Dyan sa babae na Yan” (he said as he walked out)

Adriana and her mom is seen hugging each other as her mom keeps on apologizing to her

END SCENE

SCENE 7:
INT. INSIDE ROSIE’S HOUSE-DAY

Rosie enters the house and comes across her father sitting in their dining table waiting
patiently for her

Tatay ni rosie
Ah mabuti naman at dumating ka na. How was grad practice?

Rosie goes to mano her father

Rosie
ok naman dad. It was really tiring kaya im gonna take a nap

Tatay ni rosie
Rosie, kailangan muna natin mag usap bago ka pumunta sa kwarto mo.

CONTINUED:
Rosie:
ano po yun dad?
 Tatay ni rosie:
Anak, tanda mo yung pinakilala ko sayo noong charity event noong nakaraan? Si Mr. Choi?

Rosie
Opo, dad. Bakit, ano po meron?

Tatay ni rosie:
well, nag meeting kami kanina ni mr.choi tungkol sa company nila. We decided na it would
be better if i bought their company in order to save them from bankruptcy. And since mag
reretire na kami ni mr.choi soon, his son will be taking over.

Rosie:
And? What does this have to do with me?

Tatay ni rosie:
papakasalanan mo anak ni mr.choi.

Rosie:
Huh? Dad? Ayoko!

Tatay ni rosie:
Im not asking rosie. Papakasalan mo anak ni mr.choi whether you like it or not. After your
graduation you two will be engaged and will start planning your wedding.

Rosie:
What? After my graduation? Edi pano pag aaral ko? Dad, alam mo namang gusto ko mag
aral pa sa unibersidad

Tatay ni rosie:
You dont have a choice, rosie. This is for the company. Tutal, mayaman naman na tayo at
mas yayaman pa after we buy their company. Wala kang magagawa. My decision is final.

rosie storms to her room angrily

END SCENE

SCENE 8
INT. INSIDE THE SCHOOL-DAY
Days pass and it’s a few days from graduation, liane starts to notice that max hasn’t been
going to their grad practice

Liane decides to ask her friends if they know what happened to him. She goes to ask rosie
CONTINUED:

Liane:
 Rosie, Alam mo ba kung nong nangyare kay max? Ilang araw na ng grad practice na miss
nya. We have 3 days left before graduation.

Rosie:
Wow, after ilang days ngayon ka lang mamamansin?

Liane:
Rosie, Sorry na. May nangyare kase sa bahay.

Rosie:
Si max? Ay oo nga noh, ilang araw na sya di pumapasok. Di ko alam eh. Di sya nag rereply
sa mga chat ko…

Liane:
Ask kaya natin si Adriana.

they approach adriana

there’s tension between Rosie and adriana

Liane
Beh, ilang araw na di pumapasok si max, alam mo ba nangyare sakanya?

Adriana
Si max? Di ko alam eh. Di sya nag ch-chat. Last nya na chat last 4 days ago pa. Mag rarant
nga sana sya sakin eh, may problema daw sya kaso tulog nako nung nag chat sya.

Liane:
I'm worried about him
Rosie:
if kaya mo pwede natin syang puntahan Mamaya

The three girls decided that they would visit Max's House

SCENE 9
EXT. OUTSIDE OF MAX’s HOUSE-DAY
The girls are seen knocking on a house door
The door opens to reveal Max's Dad who looked like he was crying

Adriana:
Tito nandyan po ba si max?
She asked looking at Max's Dad

Max's Dad:
Hindi nyo paba alam?
Liane:
Ang alin po Tito?
Max's Dad:
Wala na si Max(He said weeping)
Rosie:
“Tito ano pong sinasabi nyo”(she asked getting teary eyed)
Max's Dad: Halina kayo pumasok Muna kayo dito sa loob

He invited the three girls while wiping his tears

SCENE 10:
INT. INSIDE MAX’S HOUSE
Inside the house it shows the three girls sitting together

Max's Dad:
pag katapos ng card giving umuwi si max dito sa bahay pero parang may Mali sakanya,Ang
tamlay ng itsura nya

As Max's Dad narrate the story of how max died a memory of him appears

Max's Dad:
Pagkatapos non tinanong ko pa sya Kung may sakit ba sya. Ang Sabi nya Wala Naman
daw, sinabi pa nya na baka napagod lang siya at kailangan nya ng mag pahinga kaya
hinayaan ko lang sya, Pero Ngayon nagsisi na ako ng sobra

Max's Dad is now crying while breathing heavily

Rosie:
Pero Tito may nasabi po ba sya kung ano Ang dahilan kung bakit sya nag suicide?

The girls are crying because they've lost one of their best friend

Max's Dad:
Wala syang nabanggit sakin pero may iniwan syang letter para sa inyo, sandali kunin ko
lang.

The letter that max gave them contains the reason as to why he committed suicide

Max's Letter:

By the time that you read this siguro Wala na ako,and I'm sorry pero hindi ko na talaga kaya
Ang nangyayari masyado na akong nadidiri sa sarili ko.
Naaalala nyo ba yung time na may bagsak akong Isang subject at ng dahil don palagi na
akong pinatatawag ni ma'am pero hindi tungkol sa school Ang sinasabi nya saakin, hindi ko
alam kung bakit ako pumayag pero Ang alam ko lang ay natatakot ako na dumagdag pa sa
mga problema ni papa. Liane, Adriana, Rosie this past few months I've been assaulted by
our advisor. Di ko nasabi sainyo at lagi nya saakin sinasabi na lalake daw ako, wala
maniniwala saakin kung umamin man ako; that no one would care. Yun Ang dahilan kung
bakit hindi Kona makaya pa pasensya na kayo. Pero lagi nyong tatandaan na mahal ko
kayong tatlo na parang Kapatid ko.
END SCENE

SCENE 11:
EXT. SOMEWHERE-DAY
-After max’s funeral, the night before the graduation-
Liane:
Grabe, bukas na graduation guys.
Adriana:
aakyat tayo ng stage tapos di natin kasama si max
Rosie:
kaya nga eh…Ang bigat sa pakiramdam na wala na sya dito…
Kilala ko sya since elementary kaya for him to just- suddenly not be here feels empty…
Liane: I feel guilty na hindi tayo aware na nangyayare yun kay max
Rosie: Ako rin. Kung alam lang sana natin edi natulungan natin sya
Adriana: Eh wala na tayo magagawa. Wala na si Max at wala na tayo magagawa.

Adriana looks close to tears, Liane and Rosie look at her concerned, Adriana looks down
and suddenly starts crying
Liane and Rosie starts to try and comfort Adriana

Adriana screams: “Hindi ko tanggap! Kasalanan to ng putanginang teacher na yan!”

Rosie: Adriana tahan na. Tama na. Max wouldnt want you to be like this

Adriana: Pagod na pagod na ako! Lahat na lang na masama nangyayare kung kelan gra-
graduate na tayo. Alam nyo ba na ipapadala ako ni papa sa probinsya pagkatapos ng
graduation.
Rosie: Huh? Baket?
Adriana: Yung mga gagong marites sa may samin nakita tayo na nag haharutan! Tapos
binugbog ako ni papa dahil dun, porket tibo ako. Tapos maki pag break daw ako sayo.
Pagod na ako, nakaka inis na.
Liane: BEH HUH? Kayo ni Rosie??
Liane is really confused
rosie looks conflicted

Rosie: so, di na tayo mag kikita? Di na pwede maging tayo?

Adriana: hindi na
liane is looking between the two of them really confused while scratching her head

Rosie: May kailangan rin ako sabihin sainyo guys eh

CONTINUED:
Liane:
Ano yun?
 Rosie: Nag usap kami ni papa nung nakaraan. After graduation daw, im to be engaged daw
sa anak ng business partner nya
Adriana: HUH? Edi pano ka nyan?!

Rosie: Di nako makaka pag college. Gagawing housewife na lang ako. Di nako makaka
kontra sa utos ni papa… gusto ko sana maging doctor pero wala. Di ko matutupad pangarap
ko.
-the group falls silent for a while-

Adriana: Tumakas Kaya tayo

Rosie: Wag kang mag joke ng ganyan beh

Adriana: di ako nag bibiro. Pagod na pagod na ako na di tayo makapag desisyon sa sarili
nating buhay. Ginagawa lang tayong alpinin, na parang manika; sila lang makaka dikta kung
ano gagawin natin, sila ang makaka dikta kung kelan tayo kailangan. At kung kelan lang
tayo may silbe sakanila. Nakaka pagod na. Yung mga araw araw na sinasabi ni papa na
homophobic. Na para daw kaming hayop.

Liane: beh, di ko magagawa yan. Im sorry but i still don't have the courage to break apart
from my family.

Rosie: Hindi ko pa Rin kaya Ngayon pero when the time comes I'm sure kayo Ang una Kong
hahanapin.
Adriana: paano na tayo nyan” she questions the both of them

That seems to put the group in an awkward silence

Liane: Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan Ang mga alaala natin.

Adriana: pero paano na tayo nyan?
Rosie: I guess we just have to find out.
Adriana: paano natin malalaman yan
Rosie:
“when the time comes we would know” she said while smiling at them

The camera pans to show the three girls hugging

END SCENE

SCENE 12
INT. INSIDE ROSIE’s HOUSE-DAY
after the graduation the three of them continued on their own path until

A phone rings
It then shows Rosie mopping the floor

Rosie: Hello?
Person: Hello Rosie.

It then shows a shocked Rosie

Person: I want us to meet at the cafe we all used to hang out, is that ok with you

Rosie: Oo Naman, Teka kailan ba atsaka tayong dalawa lang?

Person: Hindi na contact ko na Rin si Adriana

Rosie: anong Oras ba?

Person: after lunch tomorrow

SCENE 13
INT. INSIDE THE CAFE

It shows a cafe
At the cafe there is a woman sitting alone when Rosie approached her

Rosie: Liane Ikaw na ba talaga Yan

Liane: “oo Naman” she said while chuckling

Another person then came into view

Liane: looks like Adriana is finally here, Hanggang Ngayon Ikaw pa Rin Ang hauling
dumadating

Adriana: “ Sorry na” she said with a smile while discreetly looking at Rosie

Liane: upo na tayo

The girls started on catching up about the happenings in their own lives

Liane: Well sa totoo lang kaya ko kayo na contact ay dahil miss na miss ko na kayo after the
graduation it was the hardest for me, Pina distansya ako sa inyo ng mom ko that's why hindi
ko kayo na contact until now.

Rosie: Eh? Ano namang nangyari at pinayagan ka na nilang I contact kami?

Liane:”Well” she said with a smile,After graduation nag simula akong mag hanap ng trabaho
Noong una kontra Sila mom pero dahil sa trabaho na yun naging successful na ako ngayon.

Adriana: Sabi na eh, magiging successful ka Kahit saan ka man mapunta

Liane: Eh kayo? Ano ng pinag kakaabalahan nyo Ngayon?

Rosie: I'm finally free from my parents, A few days after ng graduation natin hindi ko na
talaga kinaya so I decided na mag layas, Pero I'm doing well now.

Adriana: Sinunod ko pa Rin yung desisyon ni papa pumunta ako ng sa tita ko, Pero hind nya
alam na parehas kami ng tita ko

That made Adriana laugh

Adriana: Kaya mas naging Masaya ako sa pag aalaga saakin ni tita, at Ngayon isa na akong
nurse.