GMA’s Upcoming Film 58th Is A Tribute to the Families Left Behind by Tragedy
Sixteen years after the Maguindanao massacre, GMA’s new film tells the story of a father, a daughter, and the resilience of families facing injustice
Some stories are too big, too painful, and too important to forget. In 2009, the Philippines was rocked by a tragedy that left 57 men and women dead—32 of them journalists—in what would come to be known as the Maguindanao massacre. Families were left grieving, communities in shock, and a nation struggling to understand how such a horror could happen.
But behind every number was a life—a mother, a father, a sister, a brother. One was even reported to be pregnant. Sixteen years later, the wounds remain. And yet, even in the midst of heartbreak, there is a story that has not been fully told: the story of the 58th person.
GMA’s upcoming film, 58th, seeks to honor that story.
A poster that speaks volumes
On November 23, GMA released a teaser poster for the film. Against a stark red background, an excavator digs into the earth—the very site where the victims were found years ago. It’s a haunting image, one that reminds us that some truths, and some losses, remain buried if we do not remember.
The film stars Glaiza de Castro, beloved for her role as Sang’gre Pirena in Encantadia, and the late Ricky Davao as photojournalist Bebot Momay, the 58th person whose story has yet to be recognized.
At the heart of the story is Reynafe Castillo, Bebot’s daughter. Through her eyes, we follow a deeply human journey—a daughter seeking justice for her father and fighting for him to be acknowledged, finally, as one of the victims of this tragedy.
“It has been 16 years since the Maguindanao Massacre, the deadliest attack on journalists in history. Fifty-seven individuals, including 32 journalists, lost their lives. Yet for Reynafe Castillo, daughter of photojournalist Reynaldo ‘Bebot’ Momay, the story has never felt complete. With her father’s body never recovered, she continues her long fight for answers and for his recognition as the tragedy’s 58th victim,” reads the caption accompanying the film’s poster.
Carl Joseph Pena directs the film, which honors not only Momay but all those who lost their lives that day. While a release date has yet to be announced, a short teaser is already available, with Glaiza introducing herself as Reynafe—the daughter of the 58th victim.
The lingering impact on families
Even after 16 years, the tragedy casts a shadow over journalists and their families. The Maguindanao massacre is a stark reminder that the work of telling the truth can carry enormous risk. And for the families of those lost, the grief is ongoing.
Reynafe has been fighting in the courts for her father’s recognition, and her pain is raw and very real.
“It’s been 16 years, and until now, walang acknowledgment for my dad. Napakahirap sa amin ‘yun. We don’t have closure. We don’t have the body,” she said in a report from GMA News.
“The pain remains deep and unresolved for our family because justice remains incomplete…Our call is very simple…to recognize that my dad is a victim and to grant our family justice.”
As parents, it is hard not to imagine the weight of that grief—how it shapes children, how it lingers in family stories, and how it reminds us of our responsibility to protect, nurture, and guide our own.
Why this film matters to families
58 is more than a film. It is a tribute. A wake-up call. A reminder that behind every news story are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters—people whose lives ripple through families and communities.
It also asks parents a difficult but essential question: How do we talk to our children about the harsh realities of the world? How do we help them understand truth, justice, and courage?
As CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer reflected on World Press Freedom Day six years ago: “We are just like you. We are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, doing our duty to shine the light when there is darkness, always hoping to make it at home to our families at the end of the day, just like you.”
This film reminds us that even in the darkest moments, we can honor those we have lost, teach our children the value of truth, and hold onto hope for justice.
Because in the end, families are what endure. Stories, like 58, help us remember that.
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58th will delve into the point of view of Reynafe Castillo, Bebot Momay’s daughter. Bebot Momay was a journalist whose body has yet to be found as part of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
Glaiza de Castro will take on the role of Reynafe Castillo, while the late Ricky Davao will play the role of Bebot Momay. The film is one of Ricky’s last film projects before his passing last May 2025.
