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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/Cinemalaya Foundation) |
The gut-wrenching documentary on Palawan’s threatened natural resources and valiant environmental defenders brought an emotional audience – including foreign ambassadors – on their feet multiple times. Cinemalaya 2022's closing film, “Delikado", a documentary on illegal logging in Palawan, drew the biggest crowd for this year's edition of the Philippines' premiere independent film festival as observed by festival director Chris Millado.
Directed by Agence France Presse Asia Pacific Deputy Editor In Chief Karl Malakunas, the 96-minute environmental thriller documentary zeroes in on critical socio-environmental issues haunting Palawan, the Philippine’s last frontier. The documentary tackles mostly illegal logging, touches on illegal fishing, and mining, which, as the film uncovered, are largely instituted by big developers and politicians. Malakunas takes a jab at these issues through the lens of three grassroots champions namely Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI) executive director Roberto “Bobby” Chan, former El Nido Mayor Nieves Rosento, and PNNI para-enforcer and land defender Efren “Tata” Balladares. The documentary elicited an overwhelming response from over 1,400 filmgoers during the screening, with waves of applause reverberating throughout the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo hall. The audience also handed standing ovations individually to the environmental defenders as they, along with Malakunas, took the stage for a post-screening panel discussion with journalist Karen Davila. “The power and energy in the room was just incredible. It is beyond my dreams to see how the film resonates with Filipinos and how it connects emotionally,” the former Agence France-Presse Manila bureau chief enthused.
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| Agence France Presse Asia Pacific Deputy Editor In Chief Karl Malakunas helms the documentary film "Delikado" which served as the closing film of the 18th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/Cinemalaya Foundation) |
Members of the audience took turns during the Q&A session with many openly expressing support for PNNI and Rosento’s collective endeavors. Among them was British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Laure Beaufils who praised the film for its courageous and eye-opening take on environmental protection. Beaufils eventually met with Malakunas to discuss actionable plans to aid Palawan’s conservationists. The screening was also attended by Canadian Ambassador Peter MacArthur and Deputy Egyptian Ambassador Dr. Amin Shaaban. The event ended on an emotional note as Tata Balladares’ daughter took the mic to express her deep appreciation for her father’s work. Speaking in the vernacular, she shared how she was unaware of the occupational hazards of being a para-enforcer prior to seeing the film. “Before, my father would say not to tell anyone he was my father because it is delikado(dangerous). But I stand before you now to say that even if it’s dangerous, I am proud to call you my father.”
The documentary also received superb reception during a sold-out screening at the recently concluded Melbourne International Film Festival. It was awarded the Sustainable Future Award and Audience Award at the Sydney Film Festival 2022, the Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature from the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and Special Mention for Best International Feature at Doc Edge, New Zealand. Malakunas hopes to bring the film to a wider audience, particularly among the youth and students through nationwide screenings in the Philippines.
