LAPIDA: The Book Launch 📖 | Miles Florendo & Direk Paolo Buera | MIBF 2026

Summary

At the LAPIDA book talk and signing, writer Miles Florendo and director Paolo Buera discussed how the book grew out of Buera’s original film story and screenplay. When production ran into difficulties, Buera suggested adapting the story as a novel so it could still reach an audience. Florendo wrote the book, adding and expanding material. She noted that a novel could include scenes and ideas that were cut or constrained in the film version by production considerations.

The story follows Mark, who grieves at his brother’s tomb and blames himself for his death. Memories of their closeness—and of the family’s hardships and sacrifices—frame a story about grief, family bonds, and love that persists through loss. Buera also described the tombstone as a reminder of mortality and connected the book’s message to Christian faith.

Florendo spoke about drawing on personal experiences, observations of students and relationships, and her interest in romance. She also described writing as a way to preserve feelings and imagine possibilities. Her other work includes educational books intended for teachers and students, as well as projects that encourage young writers.

Creative Processes and Advice Discussed

• Adapt a story across forms: Buera’s screenplay became the foundation for Florendo’s novel, with the book allowing for more detail than the film production could accommodate.
• Expand thoughtfully: Florendo added material and restored elements omitted from the film version while shaping them for prose.
• Work through revision: Florendo described facing rejection and making repeated changes to meet directors’ expectations.
• Write under constraints: She discussed drafting on a tight schedule alongside her teaching responsibilities, then editing and revising the manuscript.
• Draw from lived experience and observation: Florendo uses personal memories, relationships, and what she observes in school as inspiration.
• Begin despite the risk of rejection: The speakers advised writers to start, learn from setbacks, and improve through the process.
• Write with emotional purpose: Florendo encouraged expressing love and passion while recognizing that relationships depend on individual circumstances.

Florendo also mentioned possible children’s books, a longer version of a previously published short story, and other writing projects. Buera described a potential book about the culture of the Tagbanwa people of Palawan.

Creators and Contributors Featured

• Miles Florendo — writer of LAPIDA
• Paolo Buera — director and originator of the story
• Lester Timaran — introduced as a participating director
• Miss J of Filipino Honors — event host
• Kylie — audience member who asked a question during the discussion