Loboc Children’s Choir: Song of the Fireflies soars in New York
New York - The Song of the Fireflies (King Palisoc, director; Sarge Lacuesta, writer) went sold-out on Saturday, October 11, 2025 on its US East Coast premiere at the Soho International Film Festival. The heartwarming film of the humble beginnings of the internationally acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir sent quiet tears to the audience too. It showed the gentle spirit and grit that allowed the magnificent voices of children to soar, portraying the enabling leadership of two Filipino women in the obscure town of Loboc in the province of Bohol.
Actress-singer-producer Rachel Alejandro
The movie, already a harvester of awards in the Philippines and Texas, before coming to New York stars singer-actress Rachel Alejandro (also a co-producer) as art patroness Equet Butalid, and Morisette as founder of the choir Alma Taldo. “The movie took too long to finish. We had to re-shoot as the kids grew. We had no idea how this movie would come out. We’re still in disbelief. But we do it because it’s a story that has to be told - a person who had little resources and she made it happen,”quipped an exhilarated Alejandro during the talk back.
Alejandro and Morisette
The story revolved on Taldo and Butalid who were truly the wind beneath the wings of the Loboc Children's Choir. They were the necessary combination of certainty and doubt, and of inspiration and courage to succeed, the quiet heroes of the most decorated children's choir in the Philippines.
Alejandro was all praises for the child actors who were also the 2025 batch of singers. “They were really disciplined. They were like marines,” she said.
Filipino entrepreneur Emma Luistro said she cried while watching the film and remarked that “confidence, not just talent,” brought the success of the children’s choir. “I was very touched by the humility and love given to the children by the teachers and by Mrs. Taldo, the choirmaster.”
The sweet and soulful original composition of Krina Cayabyab induced those tears too.
Award-winning Cebuano actress Chai Fonacier (Patay na si Hesus, Nocebo) brought the comedic life in this film which used three languages - Tagalog, English, and Bisaya/Boholano.
Set in the 1980s, the film was authentically portrayed in the tumultuous political times, the fashion, and spatial settings. The pristine rural life of Loboc was all too enchanting and joyful to watch.
The real Alma Taldo with some members of the Loboc Children’s Choir in a Christmas concert in New York at the Philippine Consulate on December 2024.
Taldo, in a social media chat, said she’s “very thankful to the people who took notice of the choir but I'm not comfortable with it.”
She went on to say that it never crossed her mind that the LCC would go this far. “What we did was not supposed to be made public because it was just enjoyment on our part, children and trainors.”
The call from the NAMCYA started it all. Taldo recalled, “It started with a call from NAMCYA thru our School Administrator and when we informed our pupils about organizing a legitimate school choir, they were so excited and showed much interest. The children’s positive attitude was our inspiration to do more.
"For as long as children sing, hope lives," said Taldo, quoting the Loboc Children’s Children slogan.
On Oct. 22, 2025, Song of the Fireflies, a Golden Globe entry, will be featured at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California. Alejandro encouraged the public to watch and support the film on the big screen before it goes streaming. #
