ILOILO CITY – “Tumandok,” a film about the struggles of Indigenous Peoples in Iloilo province, won four major awards at the recent 48th Gawad Urian which coincided with National Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Month.
Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay, who won Best Director for the movie, stressed the movie’s significance.
“This recognition also reminds us of what is missing. Recently, corruption has made headlines – stolen billions that could have built roads and schools and secured land titles for indigenous peoples. Instead, they are forced to walk miles to learn while they deserve the dignity of dreaming and learning in their own land,” noted Saldavico.
“Let us all use our platforms and privileges to help build a future where fear no longer exists, and where more indigenous peoples are given a chance not just to survive, but to live and to dream,” added Sumagaysay.
Felipe Ganancial, a full-blooded Ati who never acted prior to this film, was awarded the Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actor. He died last May.
Tumandok also won Best Screenplay for Arden Rod Condez and Sumagaysay as well as Best Music for Paulo Almaden.
Tumandok is a fictionalized story of the fight of the Ati people in reclaiming their ancestral land.
The Ilonggo film tapped real Ati IPs from Sitio Kabarangkalan in Barotac Viejo town acting and using their own native language known as Inati.
The film juxtaposed the fictionalized story of the deaths of Panay Bukidnon IPs who were killed in a December 2020 raid by State forces who accused them as New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
Tumandok was produced by Southern Lantern Studios, Terminal Six Post, and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc.
Tumandok won Best Film in Cinemalaya 2024.