Cinemalaya 2024 entry ‘Tumandok’ aims to help Ati community reclaim ancestral lands

MANILA, Philippines — Through the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2024 entry “Tumandok,” directors Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay are hoping to help the Ati community in Iloilo province in securing their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

The 88-minute documentary-fiction reveals the struggles of Ati people in Sitio Karabangkalan in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo in reclaiming their ancestral lands.

Featuring an all-Ati non-professional acting ensemble, speaking in their own language Inati, “Tumandok” seeks to support the community in securing their ancestral domain through screening proceeds.

“Aside from starting to believe that not every lowlander has ill intentions for them, I think through ‘Tumandok,’ the community, and their concerns are now starting to get noticed. When we went to NCIP (National Commission for Indigenous Peoples), they were told that in 2025 they might be one of the few communities that will be considered for funding,” Sumagaysay shared to The STAR in an e-mail interview.

Apart from telling the story of the Ati community in Sitio Karabangkalan in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, the Cinemalaya 2024 entry ‘Tumandok’ also aims to help them secure their ancestral lands titles through screening proceeds.

But it will still take time, she acknowledged. “Along with the pre-production, we have also successfully aided the community in processing their papers as an association, processing the official chieftainship of their chieftain, and aiding their application for their community-based forest management under DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources).

“We hope that through the donations and the percentage that they will get from the profit of the film, they will be able to process their CADT and make a road for the community so they won’t have to pass by private lands just to reach the town.”

“Tumandok” was inspired by the life story of En-en, the daughter of the chieftain who does the task of processing their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC). While writing the script and doing the field work, the filmmakers encountered other stories of struggles from different Ati communities in the region. So with the guidance of filmmaker Arden Rod Condez (one of the executive producers), they decided to incorporate the accounts of other Ati communities in the film.

They have been working with and immersing in different Ati communities since 2017 and the story of En-en stood out while they were doing cultural mapping in 2019.

“We also went to NCIP to straighten our facts and there, we discovered that the tribe needed P500, 000 to P1 million to fast-track the processing of their CADT. We aren’t millionaires nor do we have the right connections to make such an amount. So, we decided to use our privilege to be able to make films for a higher purpose and use the power of cinema and Cinemalaya to reach out to potential sponsors and to shed light on the stories of the community.”

Sumagaysay reiterated that apart from telling the battles of the indigenous people, they likewise aim to help them secure their CADT. “We hope viewers see that the story of the community is not just a narrative of the past but a living, breathing testament to the ongoing battle for justice and recognition,” she asserted.

“Showcasing the real stories and struggles of the Ati community can make people see the reality of the Ati community and their strength and perseverance despite the challenges that they are facing. We hope people will appreciate them more as individuals and as a people. But more than their resilience, we need to SEE the NEED for us to help them.”

Salvadico and Sumagaysay felt honored to be debuting their full-length film at the 20th edition of Cinemalaya.

The Iloilo-based directors previously helmed the short films “Dribol,” “Chok,” “Gulut-anon nga Dulut,” and “Utwas,” which gained recognition in various local film festivals.

In 2022, their short film “Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras” earned the Audience Choice Award at Cinemalaya 18, bagged the Best Film at Sine Halaga 2, and was recognized by the Society of Filipino Film Critics. They were also finalists for Netflix’s Indiegenius Program in 2023.

The Cinemalaya 20 will run until Aug. 11 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Greenbelt, Trinoma, U.P. Town Center, and Market! Market! cinemas.

For a full list of screening schedules, visit Cultural Center of the Philippines and Cinemalaya official social media pages. Tickets are available at the Ayala Malls Cinema Ticket Booth or go to sureseats.com.