When I first stepped onto the set at Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School, I knew I was witnessing something historic. No, I wasn't watching McGwire's record-breaking 70th home run. It was something more, a cultural milestone for Filipino-Americans. Yes, it can be argued that other Fil-Am films have already been made in the independent scene. But this production was the first ever to blend the best talent from both the U.S. and the Philippines. On set I regularly saw Dante Basco and Tirso Cruz III chilling together. Dante was probably the first ever Filipino actor I saw onscreen, in Steven Spielberg's "Hook." And Tirso? I didn't know who he was until my aunt screamed out "TIRSO!!! He was the Leonardo DeCaprio of the Philippines!" Indeed.

From then on, I never looked upon my internship as a job, but a gift, a chance to be part of one of the first ever films to celebrate the best of both Filipino and American cultures. Of course, not everything was as exciting as I make it out to be. Shooting a scene could sometimes take forever and there was a lot of kick-back time. So many of my hours on set were spent chatting with the cast and crew. This was actually one of the best parts, for in addition to Dante, I got to meet the rest of the Basco Brothers Derek, Dion, and Darion, as well as their gorgeous female co-stars, Joy Bisco and Bernadette Balagtas. But what truly set this internship apart from the others were the friendly people involved in the crew. Whether it was the production manager Gloria Perretti or line producer Pia Clemente, they did everything with a smile and truly made me feel at home. And seeing all the Filipinos both on and off the set made it seem like this was my own family's debut party.

So two years later, when Gene invited me to come back on board and help out in post-production and promotions, I jumped at the opportunity. In just the last three months we've set up promotional booths at the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Cabrillo Beach, Friendship Games at Cal State Fullerton, and most recently UCSD's Magkasama cultural festival. Our team was even able to organize booths at Fil-Am community events in New York and Virginia Beach. In the meantime, I got to know director Gene Cajayon a lot more. His experiences and seven years of hardship and headache in getting "The Debut" made have been inspiring to me as a fellow filmmaker. You never really do it for the money (though it would be great to get some income) - you do it for the passion. 

From my experience on "The Debut," I've learned a lot of the pros and cons of promoting a unique film like this. With all the love and support we have gained from fellow Kababayans anxiously waiting to see the movie, we have also had those who refuse to see just how significant this film is. People complain of the lack of minorities on movies and TV. They complain that Filipino Americans are just too assimilated into other cultures. I am one of them. That is why I'm on this team. I like to see it as a door leading to new opportunities for the average Filipino. 

For anyone who's always wanted to do something out of the ordinary, who dreams of actually making a difference and being a part of history, this is the time and place to do it. It is never too late to join our team and help out on "The Debut," especially if you live in the Greater Los Angeles area. So please consider joining our effort, and tell your friends, too. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping out as an intern or volunteer, contact us at debutfilm@pinoynet.com. The time has come for Filipinos to stop being invisible in the media. How supportive you are will determine how successful the film is, and how much our community has truly progressed.

Patricio Ginelsa, Jr. is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker fighting for better minority exposure in films, and plans to open up a "Debut" fan club in the near future. He can be contacted at pginelsa@hotmail.com.

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