Film director Darryl Yap shared a deeply personal story on social media, admitting to an act of “dishonesty” he committed at the famed Honesty Store in Ivana, Batanes in 2018—an incident he said he has since corrected eight years later.
The Honesty Store, a well-known tourist attraction in Batanes, operates without attendants and relies entirely on customers’ integrity. Goods such as biscuits and drinks are displayed openly, with buyers expected to leave payment in a box—an arrangement that reflects the Ivatan culture of trust and honesty.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, January 7, Yap recounted that he first visited Batanes in 2018 after his team won at the CLTV Sine Gitnang Luzon Originals Short Film Festival, which included a trip to the province as part of the prize. At the time, he said he was both financially struggling and emotionally distressed following the end of a long-term relationship, admitting he was dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts.
While staying in Batanes on a tight budget, Yap revealed that he took food and drinks from the Honesty Store without paying due to hunger and lack of money. Afterward, he said he went to the nearby St. Joseph of Ivana Church, where he prayed, asked for forgiveness, and made a promise to return someday to pay back what he took—“more than a hundredfold,” if he succeeded in life.
Yap linked the years that followed to major milestones in his career, including the rise of his production outfit VinCentiments, box-office successes, and partnerships with major studios and streaming platforms.
In 2026, eight years after the incident, Yap said he finally returned to Batanes to fulfill his promise. He paid for the items he took and revisited the church—not to ask for wealth, but to express gratitude and pray for personal happiness.
According to Yap, making amends was not only about honoring a vow but about doing what he believes is right.
