Three-time Best Supporting Actor winner LA Santos gives another remarkable performance in his newest film, “Maple Leaf Dreams,” a heartfelt family drama about a couple who goes to Canada to seek a better life for their respective families. 

LA portrays the role of Macky, a restaurant manager who willingly goes with his girlfriend’s plan to migrate to Canada where they struggle with fitting in but continue to work hard for the fulfillment of their dreams.

Playing Molly, the girlfriend of Macky, is Kira Balinger. Also in the cast are Joey Marquez, Snooky Serna, Ricky Davao, Malou Crisologo, Jong Cuenco, Jeff Gaitan, Hannah Thalia Vito, Luke Alford, Kanishia Santos, Benito Mique, Wilson Martinito and Canada-based beauty queen Bea Rose Santiago.

“Maple Leaf Dreams” is written and directed by Benedict Mique; produced by 7K Entertainment, Lonewolf Films and Star Magic; and distributed by Quantum Films.

“Maple Leaf Dreams” was one of the finalists in the Sinag Maynila Film Festival. It will have a nationwide commercial run beginning September 25. Screenings of “Maple Leaf Dreams” are also scheduled in Canada.

The project is just LA’s fifth movie, yet he is already making a mark as an award-winning actor.  

For his previous film, “In His Mother’s Eyes,” LA played an autistic boy who his gay uncle raised because his mother left him when he was young. In “In His Mother’s Eyes”, LA was praised for his moving characterization and for holding his own vis-à-vis veterans Maricel Soriano and Roderick Paulate, who played his mother and uncle, respectively. For this, LA was bestowed Best Supporting Actor awards by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), FAMAS and Star Awards for Movies.

LA’s impressive work in “In His Mother’s Eyes” was largely because the singer-actor had a lot of immersion and practice in “Maple Leaf Dreams”. As writer-director Benedict Mique revealed,  “‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ was filmed before ‘In His Mother’s Eyes.’”

To be convincing in their roles as blue-collar employees, LA, as well as Kira, actually worked for some time in lower-class establishments.  “Si LA, one week siyang nagtrabaho sa carinderia sa Barangay Comembo sa Guadalupe, naghuhugas ng pinggan at nagpupunas ng lamesa,” said Benedict.

In interviews, LA said that he viewed the role of Macky as a symbol of all Filipinos working abroad for the sake of their families. Moreover, he said that meeting OFWs motivated him to give justice to the role of Macky.  “Hindi natin na-realize kung gaano tayo kasuwerte na may inuuwian tayo at may nakakain tayo sa araw-araw,” he shared. 

LA does not only act in “Maple Leave Dreams”, he also sings the theme song “Tayo Lang” which is one of his hit songs that has gotten almost one million streams on Spotify.

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