By Anna Valmero
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN—An independent film about Palawan’s struggle for environment conservation received critical acclaim in the recently concluded Eurasia International Film Festival in Kazakhstan.
The film “Busong” by Auraeus Solito won the International Critics Prize award from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) at the film festival.
Solito’s mother is from the Palaw’an tribe from Palawan. In fact, Kanakan-Balintagos is Solito’s tribal-spirit name dreamt by a shaman.
According to Solito, the film fulfilled his dream of making a film set in his home province to honor his heritage and to preserve its rich culture. This is also the reason why Solito featured some of the native mythology and folklore of Palawan set against the magnificent vistas of the province.
In the film’s website, Solito said that Busong was inspired by tales his mother told him, particularly the concept of fate or karma. He added that busong is a Palawan word that literally means fate.
“What you do to nature, you do to yourself,” said Solito, who added that the film covers the forest, sea and mountain resources of the province that faces degradation from irresponsible use by the people.
In his acceptance speech, Solito thanked the spirits of his shaman ancestors, whom he said helped him get his wish to get a film award.
The story is about the journey of Punay (played by Alessandra De Rosi) and his brother Angkarang in search for a healer for the former’s wounds on her body. Throughout the film, different people helped carry Punay in a hammock because she cannot step on the earth.
It was later revealed that Punay is the personification of the island province and the wounds on her body represent the island’s environmental degradation.
The film was previously screened in this year’s Cinemalaya festival and at the Quinzaine des Realisateurs in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Photos taken from the Busong website. Watch the film’s trailer here.
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