The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains optimistic that the documentary “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” will be featured in other film festivals after it was pulled out from the second edition of Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.
Directed by award-winning documentarist Baby Ruth Villarama, Food Delivery tells of the territorial conflict between the Philippines and China in the WPS. It captures the struggles of Filipino fishermen who risk their lives in the WPS to feed their families, as well as Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who deliver supplies to the troops guarding the features occupied by the Philippines in the disputed waters during rotation and reprovision (Rore) missions.
“Of course, we are saddened by the pullout. We want it to be released publicly because it shows the reality of what’s happening in the West Philippine Sea,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a chance interview with the Manila Bulletin on Tuesday, March 18.
Padilla begged off to comment as to the reason for the pullout, saying it’s between the filmmaker and the organizers of the film festival.
However, she believes that the documentary will be a powerful tool to educate Filipinos about the country’s fight for sovereignty in the WPS against foreign aggressors, especially at a time when public opinion is in danger of being shaped by misinformation and disinformation being peddled online.
“We really hope that the film will be showcased to the Filipino people because, underneath all these things, it’s an issue about our sovereignty,” Padilla said.
In a joint statement released by Villarama and Mr. Chris Cahilig, festival director of CinePanalo Film Festival, they expressed regret for the pullout of the documentary. The festival cited “external factors” beyond its control as to the reason for the withdrawal. The festival runs from March 14 to 25 at the Gateway Cineplex 18 in Cubao, Quezon City.
Villarama, director of the 2016 documentary Sunday Beauty Queen which won Best Picture at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, thanked the AFP for its continued support of her latest film.
“I truly appreciate the AFP’s support and their recognition of Food Delivery’s importance. The film was made to shed light on the realities in the West Philippine Sea, and it’s disheartening that it has been pulled out. However, their encouragement reinforces why this story needs to be told,” she told the Manila Bulletin.
Like the AFP, Villarama was hopeful that Food Delivery will find other platforms where “it can reach people who need to see it.” So far, the filmmaker has yet to find new avenues where the film can be shown.
“None so far—still praying for it! We’re actively searching for other festivals that will take the film and will keep you posted. Hoping for good news soon!” she said.
“The support of institutions like the AFP… gives us the strength to push forward despite the challenges,” she added.