The Director’s Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) lamented the local film festival organizers’ decision to pull out Baby Ruth Villarama’s West Philippine Sea (WPS) documentary from its lineup, two days before the premiere.
In a statement on Saturday, March 22, the DGPI maintained the decision signals a “troubling trend in the suppression of artistic expression and the silencing of truth in our country.” Moreover, the documentary, “Food Delivery,” sheds light on the harassment faced by the Filipino fishermen at the hands of the Chinese Coast Guard.
“Rather than celebrating the courage of our filmmakers in exposing these critical realities, the festival has instead chosen to suppress the truth–seemingly to avoid disfavor from powerful foreign interests,” its statement read.
“This is not just an attack on one film but an alarming indication of how freedom of expression is being eroded in our society,” it added.
The organization pointed out that in less than a year, multiple documentary films have either been given an X-rating or pulled from public viewing, with some audiences even facing threats.
The Same Fate
In August 2024, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) gave the documentary film “Alipato at Muog” an X-rating, deeming it unfit for public viewing.
Its director, JL Burgos and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) appealed to the MTRCB to revoke the X rating. After much effort, the MTRCB reclassified the documentary film’s X rating to R-16 the following month.
The documentary follows the abduction and disappearance of Jonas Burgos in 2007, in a crowded mall. It entangles the painful truth behind the disappearance of the former, his family’s relentless search for him, and the testimonials from several figures throughout the years.
Meanwhile, the investigative documentary film “Lost Sabungeros” was also scrapped from a local film festival lineup in August due to security concerns. According to a statement by the network, reports of unidentified individuals were observing the team and case studies as they were filming the docu-film. Families of the missing sabungeros also expressed concern, as they feared the potential risks of being targeted for abduction.
“These actions reveal a growing pattern of intimidation that seeks to prevent Filipinos from engaging with narratives that expose injustice and challenge prevailing power structures,” the DGPI wrote.
The organization called on the entire artistic and storytelling community to remain vigilant.
“Now, more than ever, we must stand firm in our commitment to truth-telling. The power of cinema lies in its ability to shed light on realities that some would rather keep hidden. Tyranny fears storytelling because storytelling unearths the inconvenient truths that empower people,” it emphasized.
The DGPI stated they stand in solidarity with Baby Ruth Villarama and all filmmakers who “dare to confront uncomfortable truths.” They urged film institutions, festivals, and the greater public to protect the democratic rights and uphold the principles of free expression.
‘Sa Manlulupig Hindi Pasisiil’
Earlier this month, the film festival and Villarama announced through a joint statement that they documentary, “Food Deliver, Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” was pulled out from the lineup.
“While the decision was made jointly by the festival organizers and film creators, it is clear that external factors played a role in this outcome,” their statement read.
“We appreciate the continued support from those who believe in the film’s importance and will announce alternative screenings soon,” they said in closing.
The statement was shared on Instagram by fellow filmmaker Kip Oebanda and Villarama, adding the text, “Hindi kami susuko. Sa manlulupig hindi pasisiil.”
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