By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
The controversy surrounding the docu-film “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” is not just about its botched debut on the big screen. For a journalist like myself, I view this from the perspective that it is a struggle between the power of truth and the forces that seek to suppress it.
The documentary, which captures the relentless struggles of Filipino fishermen and troops against China’s incursions, was set to premiere at the CinePanalo Film Festival. But at the last minute, it was pulled without a clear explanation, with organizers citing only “external factors.”
This might have sparked some outrage within the smaller circles of filmdom and media, but here’s what I think the public must be interested in: the question of who, exactly, was afraid of this film being shown.
Imagine the filmmaker’s perspective right now. Ruth Villarama, by the way, must have had a surge of emotions when she set out to film this documentary like a journalist. The thing is, as a documentarist, she must feel isolated — not part of mainstream media, nor fully belonging to the film industry.
Thus, being neither here nor there distances her from the protection and backing of influential figures in both industries — those who should be standing by her and the very essence of her work, whether for its social impact or artistic merit.
Yet despite the pressure and isolation, the director stands firm. Why? Because she believes this body of work is for her country. This film, by its synopsis and title, would seem to remind Filipinos of their collective strength — to fight back not with brute force, but with wit, soft power, and unwavering logic. I am emboldened to assume that for her, there is no room for compromise.
As I said in my previous column, Puregold—the very entity that launched this film festival — must have weighed its options and chosen the safest route. But safe for whom? If China can pressure a major company into submission, what does that say about the rest of us?
That is why, at this point and with no exaggeration, I think it is worth our time as a nation to have the Senate investigate. Lawmakers should demand answers: Why has Puregold barred the public from seeing the film? If it no longer aligns with its business interests, why not relinquish its rights and let the documentary stand on its own?
Or is there something more to this silence — something more insidious than mere corporate caution?
For the government, this is a test of its spine. For the Filipino people, this is a test of our will. If a film about our own waters and our own people is too dangerous to be shown, then we should be asking: Who really holds the power in this country? And if the answer isn’t us, it’s time we clamor that this film reaches every Filipino home.
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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View via X app (formerly Twitter). Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.thephilbiznews.com
