The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In the advent of indie spirit, documentary filmmaking is on the rise.
Before, docus were non-fictional audio-visual exercises only seen on TV and special screenings in schools for history or social science classes; today, doc projects of diverse topics and issues are also sources of entertainment and information considered as major film productions as well, although exclusively screened in selected outlets.
However, in many countries, docus are shown in cinemas as commercial titles.
In the Philippines, documentary filmmaking has just earned its impetus these days inspired by including its releases in various international film festivals.
For a number of years, though, the Metro Manila Film Festival has been lining up docs—many of them in the form of creative non-fiction short films—in its official selection.
Recently, two of the Filipino docs have been hogging and sharing the headlines, namely “Lost Sabungeros” and “Food Delivery (Fresh from the West Philippine Sea),” both directed by Baby Ruth Villarama.
Controversial as they are, the two projects had been disallowed to finally screen in their respective film fests despite its official selection; “Lost Sabungeros” at the 20th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival; “Food Delivery (Fresh from the West Philippine Sea)” at the 2nd CinePanalo Film Festival last March.
“Lost Sabungeros” tells of, at least, thirty missing cockfighting enthusiasts while “Food Delivery (Fresh from the West Philippine Sea)” tackles the plight of Filipino fisherfolk and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that are being obstructed by China in its claim of the maritime territory which rightfully belongs to the Philippines.
Both films are catalysts of change in the traditional concept of doc filmmaking and harbingers of truths as they are being referred to as well in the investigations of the authorities on the brutal murder of cockfighting aficionados and the protection of the patrimony, and national sovereignty.
Government officials are digging into the mystery of the disappearances of the cockfighters, now presumably numbering to one hundred people as per testimony of the whistle blower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, reportedly a farm worker of sportsman Atong Ang who is the investor in e-sabong.
Patidongan has tagged Ang as the mastermind of the e-sabong buffs’ disappearance
Meanwhile, the Chinese Consulate Office in Auckland, New Zealand wanted “Food Delivery (Fresh from the West Philippine Sea)” withdrawn from the 2025 Doc Edge Film Festival in Auckland because of China’s accusations that the film was a false propaganda that could influence international audiences. China emphasized that WPS is theirs despite the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruling that the disputed islands belong to the Philippines.
We commend Villarama for her courageous, cutting edge and objective presentation of the two masterpieces.
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I have a confession to make.
I was once a ghost writer of the controversial and irrepressible talent manager, movie columnist and TV host Lolit Solis.
It started when I was running around with her during her co-hosting stint with my mentor of sorts Boy C. de Guia in Channel 13’s “Scoop,” an entertainment talk show.
Tita (a term of endearment to an older woman by affinity or aunt by blood) Lolit was too busy with a lot of things, not excluding asking “anda” (money) in her own charming ways, unique style she was known for.
I maintain, though, my objectivity in writing for her columns in tabloids and fanzines.
I just wrote people, events and places (mostly under her wings), reportorially, without trimmings or opinions.
These are also unforgettable experiences dealing with Lolit.