The Unyielding Spirit of Manila Punk: Arvin Belarmino’s Dramatizes Resistance and Community in Feature Debut 'RIA'

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino, who has previously established his reputation with dynamic short films such as Radicals and Agapito, is currently immersed in the final stages of production for his inaugural feature film, Ria. This project stands out as Belarmino’s most intensely personal work, deeply rooted in the political activism and real-life experiences of the punk community in Metro Manila.

Set over a condensed period of five days, Ria focuses on the last remaining household in a village slated for demolition. The home serves as a vital refuge for the members of a local punk collective who steadfastly refuse to abandon it. Within this claustrophobic and rapidly shrinking world, the narrative chronicles the rise of the title character, Ria. She begins the story as an assistant to the ailing matriarch of the house, Olga, who is suffering from a serious health condition. As external pressures—both corporate and political—intensify, Ria gradually steps into a leadership position, guided by a sense of deep solidarity rather than mere defiance.

Belarmino explains that the film’s narrative foundation was built upon his long-standing involvement with Food Not Bombs, a grassroots movement where artists, activists, and punk groups collaborate to directly distribute aid and food to displaced communities. The director's intention is not simply journalistic documentation but the dramatic portrayal of a pervasive struggle faced by many marginalized Filipinos: the systemic issues of land grabbing, forced evictions, and the erasure of informal communities for profit-driven commercial development.

The juxtaposition between Ria’s job at a nearby hotel and the threat to her home serves as a powerful symbolic reminder of the corporate forces driving the demolition. This scenario directly mirrors the realities the director has personally witnessed, where the dispossession of the poor occurs to make way for expansion that exclusively benefits commercial interests.

Authenticity has been a foundational pillar of the project. Many of the punk characters are played by non-actors who are real members of the communities Belarmino has been a part of for more than a decade. To ensure a grounded emotional core, lead actress Nour Hooshmand engaged in extensive preparation, which included performing with a punk band and participating in community outreach work prior to the shoot, thereby rooting her performance in lived experience.

The tragic death of punk artist Pong Spongtanyo during the pandemic further informs the work’s thematic urgency. With hospitals overwhelmed, Spongtanyo was reportedly left waiting outside an emergency room, a loss that reinforced Belarmino’s commitment to crafting a story focused on collective grief and systemic injustice.

Belarmino has ensured a collaborative process, working closely with co-writer Kyla Danelle Romero and producer Kristine De Leon, among a predominantly female creative team. Their presence is a deliberate reflection of the strength and leadership demonstrated by women within the director’s personal life and throughout the punk movement, shaping a narrative that emphasizes empathy as a potent act of resistance.

With principal photography nearing completion and only a few days of shooting remaining, Ria is now moving through the editing phase. The team is currently focused on securing the final portion of its production funds, with the ambitious goal of finalizing the project in early 2026 and successfully presenting the raw, unvarnished spirit of Philippine punk to an international audience.