The Debut (2001)

An award-winning English language film for the whole family, "the Debut" revolves around Ben Mercado (Dante Basco), a talented high school senior who has rejected his Filipino heritage. The long-simmering feud between Ben and his immigrant father Roland (Tirso Cruz III) threatens to boil over and ruin the 18th birthday party of Ben's sister Rose (Bernadette Balagtas). But to Ben's surprise, his sister's celebration challenges his sense of misplaced identity, and the way he regards his father and grandfather (Filipino film legend Eddie Garcia). In one night, Ben faces the true nature of his relationships with his family, his friends, and himself.

Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Mercado) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film.

my daughter loves this movie

I bought this not for me, but for my daughter. She just loves this movie. I haven't watched it myself, but I gave it 5 stars since that's how much my daughter likes it. August 27, 2008

A good Filipino Film

When I watched it I wasn't expecting much but did see a lot of filipino stereotypes in this movie and most of them were true. It did a good job of representing filipino culture and could see my relationship in the movie so it did hit home and this was a breakthrough in american cinema. I'm glad this film was made and it made me appreciate more of my culture and hopefull in the future to get back to my roots that I have neglected. August 8, 2007

Great Debut film for Cajayon & best actor Derek Mercado

Recommended esp. for teenagers and
parents of Fil-Ams. Mix of WB & Filipino melodrama in style.

Derek Mercado was wonderful as the Filipino "Malcolm X" - type
character of THE DEBUT film. He's very talented and I hope we get to
see him in future roles that allows him to shine as an actor. His
radical speeches balanced out the fluffy romance scenes. I loved the
well written, passionated rants of the character telling of the past oppressions put upon the Filipino people, that many Fil-Ams and other Americans seemed to have forgotten.

THE DEBUT film showed Fil-Ams & Fils. as flawed, three-dimensional and redeeming characters instead of your typical stereotypical Filipinos. Many Fil/FilAm audience members seemed to be uncomfortable about this. I
understand why: nobody likes to see people of their culture being
portrayed as less than glamorous, like many of my relatives. However,
as characters in a drama, i found them compelling. The two most
interesting characters being the FOB (someone help me with his name &
the actor's) and Edwin Mercado (played by Derek Basco).

Other highlights of THE DEBUT are the amazing performances by Filipino traditional dancers and musicians. These are first class performers in the community with high quality costume design. What rare and unexpected treat!

It's wonderful to Fil & Fil-Ams represented on film and inspiring to
see the just as engaging behind-the-scenes special feature on the DVD.
It shows how some Filipinos really do not support the arts
because of the stigma artists have in the Phils. (just like in the
Philippines). It was disappointing that none of the hundred or so fine
physicians of the Fil. community did not respond to his letters
requesting financial support for the film. On the other hand the DVD
special feature highlights the wonderful support from angels from the
Filipino community such as blue collar workers to the Sony pictures
exec. F. Friedman, as well as the audiences who attended screenings all
over America during the film's tour.

I encourage Fil-Am doctors & nurses (like my relatives) to share the
love and support the film arts! I will buy this for my mother for
Christmas, and show my children when they are teens. Also, the
accomplished Fil & Fil-Am artists should get the recognition they
deserve just as the fine doctors of the same community do, ESPECIALLY
since the Phil Am film wave is a young one. These filmmakers need to be
nurtured and supported to thrive, grow and improve the quality of their
pictures.

Hope to see more from Cajayon & Castro. Support Fil-Am & Fil film
artists! Good luck to the filmmakers. We hope to see more from you in
the future.

- R. Brillantes September 23, 2006

The Debut

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie - as part of the Philippine diaspora, I was delighted to rediscover parts of myself in the story and in the characters of the movie. It certainly made me more conscious of how much my Filipino background informs who I am today. How refreshing to see "Us" on the screen for a change, and to see what an imperfectly beautiful and beautifully imperfect people we Filipinos are.

And the rousing "Singkil" dance suite alone was worth the price of admission.

A thoroughly commendable effort on the part of the director, screenwriters and actors. January 3, 2006

John Manal Castro's voice commentary about FOBs is the same as the White racism that they were against with in the movie

Writer John Manal Castro's voice commentary with Jean Cajayon about FOBs (Fresh Of the Boat) shows his hypocrisy. In the movie they tried to show that they are against White racism when they had this one scene where a white girl called Dante Basco's character a "chink" and gave her a script instructing her to throw-up out of intoxication. They tried to show in this one scene that a person who exhibits racist and prejudicial behavior ends up humiliating themselves, thats the message I got from that one scene. But when I listened to John Manal Castro and Jean Cajayon's voice commentary I was disgusted to hear John Manal Castro calling newly arrived Filipino-immigrant kids, watching this movie at a certain movie theater, as FOBs. If he thinks calling people FOBs is acceptable then they shouldn't portray White racism as unacceptable, for the two situations are just the same condescending behavior. I hate Filipino-Americans who complains about White racism, when they themselves exhibit the same condescending attitude towards Filipinos who they consider as "boaters" or "Fresh Of the Boat." September 8, 2005

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