People behind "Love Child" - now showing in Cinemalaya 2024 - find it meaningful for several reasons. It is the last film to be produced and released by Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde before her death. It is the first time for the lead stars (and real-life showbiz couple)  RK Bagatsing and Jane Oineza to join the annual independent film festival, and it is also the first time for UP Prof. Jonathan Jurilla to direct a mainstream movie.

Prof. Jurilla first penned "Love Child" as an entry to the Dulaang Pampelikula category of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, where he eventually won first prize in 2023. He speaks from the heart, being the parent of a child  (now 16) suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

"Love Child" chronicles the struggles of Pao and Ayla, an unmarried young couple who discover their son Kali is a child in the spectrum. They go to Silay City, Negros Occidental, for a better environment for their family and do everything in their power to provide for Kali's therapy despite dealing with the stresses of their respective jobs.

Prof. Jurilla admits that the whole narrative of the movie has similarities  to the reality that he and his wife had to deal with as parents of someone with ASD. 

"Naiba lang yung character ni Pao and Ayla. Mas bata sila. Iniba namin yung personality and yung economic circumstances nila. Mas iba sa totoong buhay namin. Pero yung lahat ng mga pinagdaanan nila, napagdaanan din naming mag-asawa," the director revealed

(We sought to make Pao and Ayla's character, personality and economic circumstances different. They're younger. They're distinct from our reality, but everything they had to go through, we experienced as well.)

The movie shows Pao and Ayla's relationship being tested by everyday situations that challenge their character. The financial hurdle of paying for Kali's therapy appears to be the biggest one. They even open a coffee business to supplement their income. "Love Child" depicts the  mental and emotional anguish faced by parents raising a child with autism. At one point, Ayla questions their choice to have a baby and compares herself to her other friends who opted to take care of pets and plants.What is remarkable is that Pao and Ayla choose to stay together and unite in their adversity, although the ending of the movie has Pao choosing to move abroad for the sake of his son's future.

Prof. Jurilla gives his take on the matter: "Normally, kasi once malaman natin na yung anak natin has autism, ibibigay natin yung lahat para sa kanya. Kasi tendency natin is tingnan na kulang yung development nila. Hindi sila typical persons. Usually, kinaaawaan natin sila. Pero actually, it's just a matter of perception. Tingnan lang sana natin na yung autism is a unique behavior lang na hindi kailangan ng medical intervention. Pagmamahal, pag-unawa, pasensya. Ito talaga for me ang pinaka-kailangan ng tao na may special needs."

(The tendency of parents - when they learn that their child has autism - is to give them everything. We pity persons with autism, but actually it's just a matter of perception. We should view the condition as a unique behavior that doesn't need medical intervention. Love, understanding, patience - these, for me, are most important  for someone with special needs.)

Real-life lovebirds RK and Jane, who seamlessly play the roles of Pao and Ayla in the film, chorused that it was such a "blessing" to be part of a meaningful project. "This is a message, a love letter to all the parents out there. Para sa kanila talaga ito, for their voices to be heard, for their stories to be viewed by more people. To empower  and highlight the unconditional love of all awesome moms and daddies, their strength, their sacrifices, and their will to fight for their child amid all the adversities."