Water Ghetto (Sa Likod ng Palasyo) is a direct cinema film about Muslim informal settlers living on a canal at the back of the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Fitumanan and Minombao, who both live with rigid principles and convictions are from far away province in Mindanao. They migrated to Manila together with their families with high hopes as they
expect a more comfortable life in the capital city. They built shanties on a canal near Malacanang Palace which goes through Pasig river. They have been living here for decades, in fact this is where their children grew up. But for how long will they stay at the side of this canal? Where will their principles and convictions take them once their houses be demolished?
Specifications
Completion Date: July 1, 2011
Country of Origin: Philippines
Shooting Format: AVCHD Handy Camera
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Country of Origin: Philippines
Shooting Format: AVCHD Handy Camera
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Language: Tagalog, English, Maguindanao
Producer
Michelle Ann Rio
Sound Design
Miguel Lorca
Supplemental Cinematography
Production Staff
Subtitiles: English
Exebhition Format: DCP, MOV
Film Color: Color
Film Color: Color
Staff
Director/Photography/Editing
Nash Anggahan
Director/Photography/Editing
Nash Anggahan
Producer
Michelle Ann Rio
Sound Design
Miguel Lorca
Supplemental Cinematography
Luis Liwanag
Consultant
Rosswil Hilario
Rosswil Hilario
Roylan Molina
Jon De Chavez
Ira Zuela Herrera
Sigourney Tulfo.
Kristine Bunda
Silver Belen
Director’s Statement
Apart from our organization’s advocacy of bringing social awareness through art, doing the film helped us realize and value much what we have in our lives. It opened our eyes to the truth that poverty in the Philippines seems to be ignored by the government as the location of our shoot for this documentary is just right behind the Malacanang Palace (the country’s seat of government)! Also, this film shows that rural people have the impression of having a good life once in the city. Well in fact they could just have worked harder in the fields of their own province for better harvest and greater income.
Estero de San Miguel is a canal connecting to the Pasig River, which was once considered a beautiful life-giving body of water. It was where the children play and also where most women get their water needs for the household. However, as time goes by, more and more people thrive to reside near bodies of water. To this effect, even their domestic wastes go to the water causing its pollution. Right now, Pasig River is considered a dead river and as featured in our film, this canal in San Miguel is also very much polluted.
We wish to impart this film to the world, especially the youth as we are able to tackle several issues in the Philippines: the government, the environment and Muslim community. May this film be an avenue of social awareness globally, inasmuch as we want it to take effect locally as well. To DMZ, we take pride in becoming a part of this year’s international festival. Thank you so much for this opportunity. We hope the audience would like our film.
Jon De Chavez
Ira Zuela Herrera
Sigourney Tulfo.
Kristine Bunda
Silver Belen
Apart from our organization’s advocacy of bringing social awareness through art, doing the film helped us realize and value much what we have in our lives. It opened our eyes to the truth that poverty in the Philippines seems to be ignored by the government as the location of our shoot for this documentary is just right behind the Malacanang Palace (the country’s seat of government)! Also, this film shows that rural people have the impression of having a good life once in the city. Well in fact they could just have worked harder in the fields of their own province for better harvest and greater income.
Estero de San Miguel is a canal connecting to the Pasig River, which was once considered a beautiful life-giving body of water. It was where the children play and also where most women get their water needs for the household. However, as time goes by, more and more people thrive to reside near bodies of water. To this effect, even their domestic wastes go to the water causing its pollution. Right now, Pasig River is considered a dead river and as featured in our film, this canal in San Miguel is also very much polluted.
We wish to impart this film to the world, especially the youth as we are able to tackle several issues in the Philippines: the government, the environment and Muslim community. May this film be an avenue of social awareness globally, inasmuch as we want it to take effect locally as well. To DMZ, we take pride in becoming a part of this year’s international festival. Thank you so much for this opportunity. We hope the audience would like our film.
