Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion to honor the Filipino family

LIFE, love, and family conflict fuel the nostalgic world of Home Along Da Riles, a television sitcom that was a staple in Filipino homes in the 1990s. The show ran on ABS-CBN from 1992 to 2003 and starred the late comedy icon Dolphy Quizon as Kevin Cosme, a widower raising a family in a community beside the railroad tracks.

This June, the family is set to re-enter the public’s consciousness through a brand-new movie.

Directed by Manuel “Boy2” Quizon II, who happens to be Dolphy’s grandson, the film is titled Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion. It is hitting cinemas on June 17, with the goal of bringing the story to modern audiences.

Key members of the original ensemble are back, namely the Cosme children Bill, Bob, Bing, Baldo, and Estong (played respectively by Smokey Manaloto, Gio Alvarez, Claudine Barretto, Vandolph Quizon, and Boy2 Quizon), along with their aunt and neighbor Aling Azon Madamba (played by Nova Villa).

GENESIS
At a media conference in San Juan City on June 8, the cast said that a series of unplanned gatherings, the photos and videos of which were shared on social media, sparked public interest. The first of these was when Boy2 and Vandolph Quizon (Dolphy’s son) filmed themselves along the railroad tracks in Sucat on a whim, resulting in a video that quickly went viral. After that was the baptism of Mr. Manaloto’s child, then eating out with some of the original cast members.

“We never thought that this would become a reality,” Boy2 Quizon said, adding that it all changed when Ms. Barretto took the idea of a reunion movie seriously. “Ready naman ako, sabi niya. Bakit hindi natin i-try?’ (I’m ready, she said. Why don’t we try?)”

Their Facebook page, Home Along Da Reels, documents all the reunion content they made during those impromptu gatherings. Fan reactions also pushed them to finally pursue production.

ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast, Cory Vidanes, was the next person they spoke to, in order to secure the blessing of Home Along Da Riles’ intellectual property rights holder, ABS-CBN.

“Who would play Dolphy? What about [the late comedian] Babalu?” said Boy2 Quizon, recalling the questions Ms. Vidanes asked them about the idea for the new movie. “Anong klaseng Home Along ang balak niyong gawin (What kind of Home Along are you planning to make)?”

His answer was simple. “Hindi naman namin kailangang gayahin (We don’t need to copy the original),” he said.

TODAY’S HOME
The sitcom focused on Kevin Cosme’s positive qualities as a father, neighbor, co-worker, and friend, and his resilience as he dealt with his struggles and successes alongside the community. The reunion movie will show how his children have grown and learned to live without him — a concept which still centers around the Filipino family.

Nova Villa, who eventually became Dolphy’s love interest on the sitcom, returns as the familiar aunt who is now serving as a mother figure to the grown children. For her, it was a no-brainer to come back and be part of the movie.

“Si Dolphy, nagbibigay talaga ng kasiyahan (Dolphy would really give people joy),” Ms. Villa said, remembering how beloved he was even among her senior citizen colleagues at church. “They would forget about their worries.”

The film will balance nostalgia with updated storytelling, as the characters navigate the modern setting. New audience members will also have the opportunity to be introduced to one of Philippine television’s most iconic fictional families.

Vandolph Quizon said that it’s possible to understand the movie without having watched the original series, though it will, of course, be extra enjoyable for longtime fans.

“Comedy is universal. It appeals to everyone,” he said.

As for Ms. Barretto, who referred to her Home Along Da Riles family as a sort of second family, she said that viewers will be able to feel the collective, resilient spirit that resonates with Filipinos.

“Ang gusto lang namin ipabatid sa mga tao ay, kahit anong problema ang haharapin natin, kapag magkasama ang pamilya, kaya ang lahat (What we want people to take away is that you can face whatever problems you may have when you are with family),” she said.

Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion opens in cinemas on June 17. — Brontë H. Lacsamana