GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 28 Aug) — Muddy fields, early mornings, and hands digging through soil. The daily reality for Mindanao’s small-scale farmers.
It is this world that 18-year-old Nabunturanon (of Davao de Oro) filmmaker Von Jorge Actub brings to life in Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan, the lone Mindanawon entry at this year’s Sine Kabataan Short Film Festival, running September 5–7 in Mandaluyong City.
Now in its 8th edition, the festival is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to give young filmmakers, aged 18–23, a platform to tell stories rooted in regional and youth perspectives.
Among this year’s lineup, Actub’s film stands out for highlighting Mindanao’s rural communities.
“It’s both an honor and a responsibility. Sobrang nakakaproud dalhin ang boses ng Mindanao to a national stage like Sine Kabataan. At the same time, I’m fully aware of the weight that comes with it, to represent the stories, struggles, and dreams of our region,” he told MindaNews.
He added that he hopes the film will open opportunities and inspire the next generation of regional filmmakers.
The inspiration behind the film
Mindanao produces about 35% of the country’s rice, yet small-scale farmers often face low incomes, unpredictable harvests, and limited government support, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Despite supplying much of the nation’s staple, many farming families struggle with rising costs, unstable markets, and insufficient aid—a reality that inspired Actub to tell the story of a child named Batoy, the main character in his film.
Actub said the story came from the rice rituals and small traditions he observed growing up, where he said that “rice—ang bigas—is more than just food; it is survival, a blessing, and sometimes even a prayer.”
According to the filmmaker, this idea, along with the irony of government promises, such as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pledge to lower rice prices, was what inspired him to weave a story around childhood faith and how rural families cling to hope.
“It reminded me how promises carry power, how they can spark hope, but also ripple into disillusionment, frustration, and even resistance when left unfulfilled. In that tension, I saw how a single promise can shape not just expectations, but the very struggles and dreams of those who hold on to it,” he explained.
Challenges and opportunities for regional filmmakers
Only some parts of the film were shot in Maragusan, but most were filmed in Nabunturan in Davao de Oro, specifically at the Sta. Maria–Libasan Rice Fields, said Actub, pointing out that the landscape became a central presence in the film.
The young director also recounted the filming process, describing the shoot as deeply immersive.
“Sa buong duration ng shoot, naranasan namin ang hirap ng mga magsasaka. At hindi pa nga kami matagal sa field, mabigat ang putik, mahirap ang galaw. Pero iyon ang kanilang araw-araw na buhay,” he said. (Throughout the shoot, we experienced the hardship of the farmers. Even though we weren’t in the field for long, the mud was heavy and moving was difficult. But that’s their everyday life.)
Coming from Nabunturan, Actub recognized that young regional filmmakers often contend with limited access to equipment, training, and funding.
He noted, however, that the authenticity of their stories sets them apart, offering perspectives rarely highlighted in mainstream or Manila-centric cinema.
Vince Vesiete, a Mindanao-based filmmaker who has showcased local films in national festivals, echoed Actub’s observations about the hurdles faced by regional storytellers.
He noted that opportunities are often concentrated in areas where filmmaking communities are more established.
“And the rule of thumb is, you’re prone to burnout if you don’t have the environment that keeps you growing,” he told MindaNews.
Why now?
Actub emphasized the urgency of telling the story of Batoy now, describing how there are children like the character who grow up to inherit both the struggles and hopes of their families.
“Farmers’ challenges are not new, but they are often overlooked. I wanted to capture this perspective—how faith and resilience are passed down, even in the harshest conditions,” he pointed out.
Actub hopes audiences outside Mindanao will see that behind the statistics and headlines about farmers are real people—families, children, and communities living with both hardship and hope.
“Sana maramdaman nila na ang kwento ng mga magsasaka sa Mindanao ay hindi malayo sa kanila. Pareho rin tayong may pangarap, may laban, at may pag-asa,” he shared. (I hope they feel that the stories of farmers in Mindanao are not far from them. We also have dreams, struggles, and hope.)
He added that if viewers take anything from the film, it should be recognition and solidarity with farmers, as well as an appreciation of rice’s deeper significance.
“Sa bawat butil na hawak ni Batoy, naroon ang kasaysayan, ang sakripisyo, at ang panalangin ng isang bansa na patuloy na umaasang may pagbabago,” Actub said. (In every grain held by Batoy, there is the history, sacrifice, and prayer of a nation that continues to hope for change.) (Guia Rebollido / MindaNews)
