Ayaw Ko'g Sunda / Don't Follow Me

2017, 10 minutes

After a plan to escape their bleak way of existence is foiled by their oppressive aunt, a young boy must find a way to free his sister from the grips of prostitution.

Child beggar Jun is from a broken home in Cebu. His sister Jasmine is pimped out by their aunt Soledad, their legal guardian since their mother’s suicide. Jun stares at a family portrait and can hear his sister having sex with a client, Raymond. As Raymond approaches climax, Jasmine swipes a wad of notes from his wallet by the bed: a calculated plan. Raymond is oblivious. She stashes the cash in a picture frame while a suspicious Jun demands answers. Jasmine dismisses him, saying this is their route out of there. Soledad interrupts and orders Jun to fetch her cigarettes. In the shop, he sees news of extrajudicial drug-related killings. In a bar, Raymond realises the cash is missing and returns to confront Jasmine. A heated argument with Soledad ensues. He leaves, vowing revenge. Soledad ransacks the room, attacking Jasmine, who denies all. Jun flees angrily, but remembers the televised requests for info on drug pushers. He makes the call. He sleeps rough and the next day returns to a bloodbath: his aunt is dead, police are everywhere. He runs through the house looking for Jasmine but there’s no trace. Outside, he sees her talking to the police. As he gets closer, he realises it isn’t her. To his left, another pool of blood… Police restrain him as he rushes forward, screaming. Beyond the police barrier, blood-soaked cash and a cardboard sign that reads: I’m a drug pusher, don’t follow my footsteps.

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