Tu Pug Imatuy (2017)

Interesting facts

Tu Pug Imatuy is a 2017 Filipino drama film directed by Arnel Barbarona, produced by Red Motion Media and distributed by Solar Entertainment. The film stars Jong Monzon and Malona Sulatan in lead roles and had its world premiere at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival on 26 October 2017. Inspired by actual events, the drama tackles the struggle of indigenous Manobos against environmental plunder and the militarization of their communities.

Production

According to the filmmaker, creating the movie was not easy due to budget constraints. Notably, the main characters were played by amateurs who had their first time acting in a full-length feature. The movie was inspired by Barbarona's experience making documentary of the Manobo evacuees from Talaingod in 2014.

Barbarona said "I think the issues are somewhat universal in terms of land rights and the destruction of the Earth and our natural world. There's an influx of mining in country without really thinking what will happen tomorrow, what will happen to the indigenous people who are living on this land. Capitalism, I think, is the problem. This was one of the messages I wanted to convey. I want there to be peace talks in the Philippines."

The film's credits indicate that its storyline is based on true events that unfolded in the hinterlands of Mindanao. It shows

a scene of an elderly Manobo woman named Ubunay Botod Manlaon from Sitio Bagang. She recounts her humiliating treatment by the military as she was forced to act as their guide.

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