MANILA -- It is “rare” that a trailer of a local film lands on the YouTube trending list. And the trailer of Viva Films’ genre-bending offering, “Tililing,” did just that.

Yet, director Darryl Yap refuses to categorize his latest film, following the recent “Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar,” that kicked off 2021 for the film production outfit.

“Ito ay isang pelikulang hindi maika-kahon sa ano mang kategorya,” Yap told ABS-CBN News.

Even before the showing of the film on March 5, “Tililing” created a stir for its controversial theme that tackles mental health. The poster was slammed by netizens, got flak and criticized for treating mental health as a joke.

“Ang baliw, baliw,” said Cai Cortez in the trailer. “May sayad, may sapak, may topak. May tililing.”

By this time, Yap has gotten used to being constantly panned for his film projects. “I don’t really handle haters or critics, as some people claim they are,” Yap reasoned out. “Napaka-gasgas na to say, ‘Even bad publicity is still publicity.’ Good or bad, it still helps promote the movie. I look at it more as a blessing.

“How do you handle blessing? I just share them. Every item that’s being thrown at ‘Tililing,’ I share them on my page. The controversy comes maybe from me, but more from the people.”

Yap is thankful how “Tililing” evidently connects to his personality. “Ang pelikulang ito ay naka-connect sa aking pagkatao dahil ako po ay isang baliw in it’s very essence,” the director admitted.

“Naniniwala ako na ang bawat isa sa atin ay may kabaliwan, subalit may mga kapatid tayo at kapwa na hindi na nakaka-recover mula dito. Ang pelikulang ito ay isang patunay na ang lahat ng tao ay may pinagdadaanan.”

Yap pointed out how the public embraced his crazy side that easily connected his personal self to his latest film project. “Hindi kumukupas na suporta and understanding ang aking kabaliwan literally and metaphorically,” he said.

“Kaplastikan na lang ang magsasabi na kahit minsan hindi tayo nawala sa ating mga sarili kahit gaano tayo ka-successful or mabuting tao, mabait, maganda or mayaman. Dumadating tayo sa punto ng ating buhay na parang sa palagay natin, napapagod tayo, nauubos tayo or nararating na natin ang dulo ng ating mitsa.

“Para po sa akin, walang espesyal na tao ang nakaranas na sa buong buhay ng kanyang existence ay hindi man lang siya naitulak sa gilid ng bangin, hindi man lang nakaranas ng pag-traydor ng kapwa, panloloko ng pagmamahal o mabansagan ng kung anu-ano.”

The director explained how “Tililing” aims to tackle mental health. “Ang pelikulang ito ay para sa dating depressed, ‘yung mga depressed pa rin or nade-depressed. ‘Yung mga dumaan sa chemical abuses o pang-huhusga ng lipunan. Isa itong testament na pantay-pantay tayong lahat hindi lang sa social status na may mayaman o mahirap na konteksto, kung hindi sa mga pinagdadaanan.

“Ang lahat ng tao ay naiiwan kung saan sila dumadaan, ngunit may mga mabubuting tao na umaalalay sa kanila. Kumakarga at humihila palabas kung saan man sila nagdaraan ngayon.

“Ang problema ng isa, maaring hindi mo problema, pero kanya-kanya tayo kung paano magkaroon ng problema. ‘Yan ang gustong talakayin ng ‘Tililing.’”

The film stars Baron Geisler, Candy Pangilinan, Yumi Lacsamana, Donnalyn Bartolome, Chad Kinis and veteran actress Gina Pareño.

“Viva has always been listening to my requests,” Yap insisted. “All the cast members in ‘Tililing’ were first choice. I never had a backup plan. Lahat po ng ni-request ko binigay. Masayang-masaya po ako sa cast na ito.

“I will never imagine ‘Tililing’ kung may maiiba sa cast. Ito ang mga artista na hindi kasikatan ang kanilang puhunan kung hindi ang kanilang talent at kung ano ang maibibigay nila sa manonood na Pilipino.

“I talk to them every step of the way because I had their trust. They prepared, but what they gave was for the audience to prepare what the cast will show us.”

Yap, who made his directorial debut in “Jowable” (2019), clarified that “Tililing” is actually the second film that he wrapped up before the lockdown was declared last year. However, “Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar” was released ahead and was shown early this year.

Before Yap became a director, he first started as a writer. “Sa aking puso, nandiyan ang mga aral na natutunan ko sa pagbabasa ng libro mula kay Tatay Ricky Lee, sa pag-idolize ko sa mga nakaraang director at maging sa mga directors natin ngayon, tulad nila Direk Erik Matti at Joey Reyes.

“Bagamat hindi ako tumatahak sa mga landas na kanilang pinupuntahan, ako po ay sumusubok na gumawa ng mga pelikula na mas malapit sa katotohanan para sa aking mga ka-edad.”

Yap’s mission is to put people in their inconvenience and through great artists. “Kung tatanungin ako kung ano ang misyon ko, ito po ay ilagay ang lahat ng mga manonood sa mga posisyon na alanganin ang kanilang pakiramdam

“Simula po ng magtrabaho ako sa Viva, ang akin hinihiling ay maka-trabaho ang mga artistang pinaniniwalaan ko na kayang maging instrument sa kung ano mang maging script o kwento na meron ako.

“I always want to say my films are new. Because people in the industry always promise something new. But then, not to be very mayabang, their new is not new enough. These films, kaya sila maingay or controversial, siguro dahil bago. Siguro dahil hindi pa natatalakay at dahil masyadong magaspang at malakas ang dating.

“Ang vision ko ay maging normal sa ating kultura na talakayin ang katotohanan pagdating sa pinilakang tabing.”

As the writer-director of “Tililing,” Yap also thought about the controversial title for his latest project. “Maraming ibig sabihin ang title,” he disclosed. “Pero matapang kong saabihin na ‘yung ‘Tililing’ na ‘yan, may tatlong ibig sabihin.

“Una, ‘yung tililing na tunog ng maliit na kampana. Pangalawa ‘yung tililing na tumutukoy sa panlalait ng ibang tao sa mga may nararamdaman sa pag-iisip. Pangatlo ay tungkol sa trigger o ‘yung 'pag narinig nila, may naaalala.

“So it’s like ringing a bell, it’s for a bell for people who are being humiliated because of their mental state of mind.”

That probably explains why Celeste Legaspi’s “Mamang Sorbetero” was used as the theme song of the film. The OPM hit was re-imagined by ska-jazz band, Zcentido, for “Tililing.”