Baby Ruth Villarama, the Filipino filmmaker best known for her award-winning documentary Sunday Beauty Queen, is having a difficult week.
Her latest work, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, was unexpectedly pulled from the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival two days before the festival opens. The documentary, which was set to screen on March 14, follows the Filipino fishermen, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Navy navigating the crowded West Philippine Sea to deliver desperately needed food to communities.
On March 12, Villarama released a joint statement with festival director Chris Cahilig to confirm the film’s pullout. “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,” the statement said. “We appreciate the continued support from those who believe in the film’s importance and will announce alternative screenings soon.”
Although the documentary delves into the politically charged issue of sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, Villarama argues that Food Delivery is ultimately about empathy. In an interview with BusinessWorld, Villarama pointed out how the film’s central topic — food — bridges the gap between viewers and the fisherfolk and communities affected by the region’s ongoing disputes. “When I did further research, I learned that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also having a hard time delivering food to the soldiers stationed in these shoals,” said Villarama.
While no concrete reasons behind the withdrawal have been publicly announced, Villarama expressed her frustrations over the unexpected decision. “It feels like history repeating itself — a déjà vu [for] artists suppressed during different times in our history,” Villarama told Rolling Stone Philippines. “We’re not even under foreign rule now, but clearly the pressure is already there.”
Villarama also noted that she had not received a clear explanation for the withdrawal. “They didn’t tell us [the reason] specifically,” said the director.
Puregold, one of the largest retail and wholesale companies in the country, first started CinePanalo Film Festival 2024 with the purpose of showcasing the works of aspiring Filipino filmmakers. Food Delivery was set to be the first documentary screened at the festival, which will take place from March 14 to 25 at the Gateway Cineplex 18 in Quezon City.
Currently, it is unclear when the documentary will be screened locally. “Praying we find a respected distributor who can bravely represent us and command the cinemas to open a slot so that [Food Delivery] can reach the people,” said Villarama.
Despite the current difficulties, the team behind Food Delivery still hopes to bring their documentary to local audiences. “Though we won’t be part of the festival due to forces beyond our control, our resolve remains unshaken,” Food Delivery producer, Chuck Gutierrez, told Rolling Stone Philippines. “This film carries the voices of our fishermen, soldiers, and coast guard [of] our West Philippine Sea — stories that must be seen, heard, and remembered.”
“Silencing these voices will only make them louder,” added Gutierrez. “This story will be told. And we won’t stop until it reaches every Filipino and the world.”
