Reel Time presents Burdado

MANILA, Philippines - For the first time on Philippine TV, GMA News TV’s Reel Time collaborates with photojournalists to produce a unique documentary made entirely of still photographs.

Using almost 15,000 photos, Burdado tells the stories and struggles of Filipinos in different communities through the tattoos that they have chosen to immortalize on their skin.

In a small village nestled in the rolling hills of Arakan, North Cotabato, Manobo elders are worried that their age-old traditions are withering away. One of these is a tradition of pang−o−túb or tattooing. These tattoos identify them as Manobos. They are also believed to serve as talismans that give good health to the living and serve as guiding lights in the afterlife.

Datu Baguio, a Manobo leader, is committed to perpetuating the tribe’s tradition, despite one of his sons committing suicide in protest. In an ancient tattooing ritual, another one of his sons proves his loyalty to the tribe and to his family’s legacy.

Though technically forbidden by authorities, an inmate in New Bilibid Prison who spent more than half his life in jail has literally covered himself with tattoos. He got his first gang mark at 10 and lived a life of crime until he was arrested.

After 17 years in jail, he realizes that he can turn his life around even while incarcerated. A few months before being released, he decides to go to school and starts his transformation with a symbolic obliteration of his gang tattoos.

Filipino rock musician and tattoo advocate Dong Abay decorates his body with images of great significance in Philippine culture. A few days before leaving to bring his music to other countries, he marks the event by getting a new tattoo.

Dyani Lao was the first person to tattoo Abay. A UP Fine Arts graduate who started tattooing at a very young age, he creates images from Philippine myths, folk tales and ancient beliefs. He dreams of bringing Philippine tattoo art to greater heights, and starts by putting up a solo exhibit, this time showing his art on a gallery wall rather than on skin.

Burdado takes local docu filmmaking to a whole new level. The groundbreaking Reel Time photo-docu premieres tonight at 8:45.