Grade A for “Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia” by the Cinema Evaluation Board!♥ =]

“Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia,” the Philippines’ first all-digital, full-length animated film entry to the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), has received a grade of A from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) when it was reviewed yesterday (Dec. 18), a day prior to its red carpet premiere at SM Megamall Cinema 10. This merits a 100 percent rebate on amusement tax for the animated feature produced by Cutting Edge Productions.

The CEB, which operates under the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), grants tax rebates to well-crafted local films.

“Dayo,” which is also being endorsed by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), follows the adventure of Bubuy (voiced by Nash Aguas), an 11-year-old boy from Antipolo, who takes on a journey to save his beloved grandparents abducted into Elementalia—a fantasy land thriving with strange flora and fauna and home to several enchanted creatures of Philippine mythology.

Bubuy meets Anna (voiced by Katrina Legaspi), a young and energetic manananggal (a winged creature that can separate her torso from her lower body) with a special fondness for all things human, except to eat them. The two live out an adventure full of wild, will-testing and comical experiences all over Elementalia—from an enormous lake heaving with gravity-defying merfolk to the breathtaking crystal cave dwelled by colorful alitubi (a cross between a firefly and dragonfly) to a magnificent old tree that is home to a motherly kapre (a sort of big ogre who lives on trees and smokes cigars) and finally to a majestic mountain protected by a big pack of hungry aswangs (shape-shifting creatures).

"Dayo" is a hybrid product of combining 2D and 3D animation, powered by Toon Boom using Macintosh and Linux platforms. 2D animation is used for the characters while 3D animation is used for the backgrounds especially for the big scenes.

At an estimated production budget of USD 1.3 million, “Dayo” is produced in Dolby 7.1 surround sound. The team behind “Dayo,” led by its executive producer Jessie Lasaten and director Robert Quilao, has collaborated with Technicolor in Thailand for its post- production.

The soundtrack of “Dayo” highlights the world-renowned Filipino performer Lea Salonga of her rendition of the movie theme song “Lipad.” Her performance and the entire musical score by Lasaten were recorded together with the FILharmoniKA under the baton of Gerard Salonga.

Apart from Aguas and Legaspi, the film features the voices of Pokwang (Vicky), Michael V (Narsi), Noel Trinidad (Lolo Meong), Nova Villa (Lola Nita), Johnny Delgado (Carpio), Peque Gallaga (Nano), Laurice Guillen (Diwata/Bruha), Gabe Mercado (Jo) and Pocholo Gonzales (Toti). Temi Abad, Jr. and Eric Cabahug team up for its screenplay.

The film is rated G or GP (General Patronage) by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

“Dayo” supports the Cancer Warrior Foundation as its beneficiary.

For more information, log on to www.dayomovie.com

“Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia,” an official entry to the 34th MMFF, is co-presented by Frootees, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog and Mister Donut. The film is also supported by Ascorbic Acid Ceelin, Crispy Fry Breading Mix, Enervon Bright Brand, Timezone, FUJI YKL, Inquirer.net, Yehey.com, ClicktheCity.com, MTV Philippines, Animation Council of the Philippines, Toon Boom, Wacom, Woodpecker Studio, iAcademy and New Media.