Morissette Amon, long celebrated for her powerhouse vocals, makes her acting debut as the leading lady in the internationally acclaimed film “The Song of the Fireflies.” The movie, which has already earned praise and multiple awards on the global film festival circuit, marks Morissette’s official foray into acting.
Directed by King Palisoc and inspired by the true story behind the internationally renowned Loboc Children’s Choir, “The Song of the Fireflies” sees Morissette stepping into the shoes of Ma’am Alma, a real-life figure whose life intertwined with that of the choir’s founder, Ma’am Iket, portrayed by theater veteran and singer Rachel Alejandro.
“Just starring in a film for the first time is already nerve-wracking,” Morissette shared during a recent press conference. “But what made it even more daunting was portraying an actual person. It’s one thing to create a character from scratch; it’s another to represent someone who truly exists, who has a real story.”
Despite the pressure, Morissette approached the role with sincerity and humility, drawing strength from her collaborators. “Rachelle was incredible to work with. She portrayed Ma’am Iket with such intention. You could see that everything her character did came from love for the children. That helped me understand how Alma — my character — fit into that world.”
The film features extensive dialogue in the Visayan dialect, a challenge for Morissette, who grew up speaking English. “It was my first time speaking a dialect on screen,” she admitted. “I’m so grateful for our dialect coach, but honestly, I learned the most from the kids. Being around them, listening to how they naturally spoke was the best immersion.”
And it paid off. Watching herself deliver lines in Visayan during the film’s premiere was a surreal experience for the singer-actress.
Shot on location for eighteen days in Bohol, the production gave Morissette more than just a professional milestone. It offered her a spiritual and cultural retreat. “Working with the choir kids was so refreshing. It didn’t feel like work. We jammed. We learned from each other. Even as a singer myself, being among the choir and seeing their discipline and passion was deeply inspiring.”
“Song of the Fireflies” is produced by Culturtain Musicat Productions and MQuest Ventures, in cooperation with the Quezon City Film Development Commission, CMB Film Services, and Hartman Communications. The ensemble cast includes Rachel Alejandro, Noel Comia Jr., Krystal Brimner, Chai Fonacier, Via Antonio, Cai Cortez and Alex Medina. The film also features original music by Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raimund Marasigan, Jazz Nicolas and Krina Cayabyab.
The real-life Loboc Children’s Choir has garnered accolades worldwide, including two top prizes at the European Folksongs Festival in Barcelona and a Gold Medal at a choral competition in 2001. Locally, they were honored with the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, the highest award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Following its successful US premiere in Hollywood and its Platinum Remi Award win at the 2025 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, “Song of the Fireflies” is poised to strike a chord with Filipino audiences nationwide starting June 25.
