Kuwaresma (1997) Running Time: 45 minutes PART 1    PART 2  PART 3 

This video documents some of the centuries-old lenten rituals and traditions of the Philippines that have disappeared in many parts of the country. It shows how Church and community prepare for Holy Week – the most important event in the calendar of the Catholic Church. Among the faithful, Holy Week is not just a commemmoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is also a chance to atone for their sins, a time to fulfill their personal vows in exchange for a blessing asked, and a season for renewing their faith. Set against the traditional Pasyon music with a contemporary musical arrangement, this documentary shows the various ways in which the Church and communities in Laguna and Bulacan commemmorate Holy Week.

Kuwaresma was produced by MOVING IMAGES Creative Team Inc., a group of writers and directors specializing in the production of environmental, ethnographic, and historical documentaries. A number of these documentaries – Kuwaresma, Ifugao, and Hinabing Panaginip – have aired on Philippine television. The Coral Reefs of the Philippines was purchased by National Geographic Channel Asia for Geowatch Asia.

Second Place, Documentary Category, Gawad CCP for Alternative Film and Video 1998, Cultural Center of the Philippines

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   Kwaresma part1
   Kwaresma part2
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Other Videos by MOVING IMAGES

Ifugao: Bulubunduking Buhay (Mountains of Water: Terraces and Tradition of the Ifugao). 1998. 45 minutes.WATCH VIDEO

This video documentary is about the Ifugao, an indigenous people living in the mountains of northern Philippines, whose traditions revolve around the production of rice in the terraces. Built hundreds of years ago, the terraces of the Ifugao are recognized by experts as the greatest mountain agricultural achievement in the history of mankind. They show the Ifugao’s genius in engineering, resource management and sustainable agriculture. The documentary shows how the terraces and tradition of the Ifugao are inextricably linked; and how both are plagued by the pressures of the modern world. Featured in this video are two of the last shamans of Ifugao as well as women farmers and artists who continue to struggle to keep their terraces and tradition alive amid a changing world.

First Prize, Documentary Category, Film Academy of the Philippines, 1999

Hinabing Panaginip (Dreamweavers). 1999. 45 minutes.
“Hinabing Panaginip” is a video documentary on the T’boli of Lake Sebu, an indigenous people living in South Cotabato in southern Philippines. A people renowned for their artistry, the T’boli are among the few indigenous groups that have kept their artistic traditions alive, in spite of incursions from the lowlands. This documentary aims to reveal the Tboli’s psychic life through their art, song, and myth. Through the stories of six artists – three traditional weavers and three performing artists – the viewer catches a glimpse of the Tboli people’s dreams, aspirations, and struggles in a constantly changing environment.

Second Prize, Documentary Category, Film Academy of the Philippines, 2001

Resource At Risk: The Philippine Coral Reefs. 1997. 30 minutes.
This video documentary tackles the vital issue of coral reef destruction in the Philippines. Our coral reefs are one of our most precious resources, because coral reefs are to the sea what forests are to the land. More than 70% of the Filipino people depend on the sea for their main source of protein. But as this documentary makes clear, the Philippines is fast running out of healthy reefs. Nearly all of our reefs have been damaged by destructive fishing methods like dynamite fishing, and fish catches nationwide are dropping sharply. As the reefs die, in a few years, the nation will no longer be able to feed itself. Millions of Filipinos could starve. But there still remains hope. This documentary also shows the ways by which we can all work to save our reefs. Communities around the nation have shown that we can save our reefs. But we have to start now. Ultimately, protecting our reefs is everyone’s concern.
Best Environmental Video in Bengalore, India

Resource At Risk: The Marshlands. 2000. 40 minutes.
This documentary aims to educate the viewer on the important role of the marshlands in preserving our quality of life. It focuses on the Agusan marsh, the largest undisturbed remaining freshwater wetland in the Philippines, spanning 90,000 hectares. This is the home of the Agusanon Manobo. In this documentary, the viewer will see how the Manobo people adapt to the harsh conditions of the marsh — virtually living on water for six months each year while nearly everything around them is submerged in a great flood. The documentary also features scientists working to protect the Agusan marsh — Blas Tabaranza, a conservationist who regularly visits Agusan to do wildlife surveys, Sammy Ortega, a forest ranger, Danny Balete and other scientists who work closely with the Manobo people to preserve this cradle of life.

First Prize, Documentary Category, Film Academy of the Philippines, 2001