Ulilang Lubos, Dungkoy at Cinemalaya today

MANILA, Philippines - Every day, 10-year-old Princess wakes up at the break of dawn to start working. She gathers and sells recyclable trash from her neighbors. Her eight-year-old brother Ando accompanies her. He carries the heavy sack where they load the stash of scrap that they collect from the village. They do this for the rest of the day. If they are lucky, they can earn as much as P50 for their efforts.

From these meager earnings, Princess supports her three younger siblings. At her tender age, Princess has learned to act as both mother and father to her siblings. Their mother left them a couple of years ago and has not returned since then. They never knew their respective fathers as well. 

This documentary, titled Ulilang Lubos, has given GMA Network’s Front Row its most recent international awards — the Silver Screen Award at the 2014 United States International Film and Video Festival and the finalist citation at the 2014 URTI Grand Prix for Author’s Documentary in Monaco.

Today, the public will finally get the chance to watch Ulilang Lubos on the big screen. Along with GMA News TV’s Dungkoy of the Peabody award-winning show Reel Time, Front Row’s Ulilang Lubos has been chosen by the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for a special screening under the Philippine documentaries section.

Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., who serves as the programmer of the documentaries section of Cinemalaya this year, chose the two docus for their compelling narrative. “The kids in Ulilang Lubos and Dungkoy are admirable. They take care of themselves and they care for others. They may live pitiful lives, but they are admirable for their resilience. Both documentaries show a positive image of Pinoy kids. And both docus are touching.”

Ulilang Lubos was directed and produced by Joseph Israel Laban who also directed Ang Pinakabata as well as previous Cinemalaya films Cuchera and Nuwebe. Front Row executive producer and director Derick Cabrido is also presenting his debut film Children’s Show in this year’s New Breed Category.

Ulilang Lubos and Dungkoy screens at 12:45 p.m. at the CCP Dream Theater (Tanghalang Manuel Conde).