The Cine Totoo Journey Begins

So I made it as finalist to the 1st Cine Totoo Philippine International Documentary Film Festival. 

Though I didn't keep my hopes high after the panel interview two weeks ago, I am ecstatic about doing a documentary for the next five months and tell the story of a sport that isn't well-known in the Philippines yet. No, the documentary is not about food. 

I'm also excited to be doing the film with other friends (Carla Ocampo, JT Pandy and Sig Sanchez) and fellow Davaoeno, Nef Luczon who are made it as finalists. too. Here's the complete list:

• Ferdinand Balanag’s “Agbalbalitok”
• Ivy Rose Universe Baldoza’s “Marciano”
• Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez’s “Ang Gitaristang Hindi Marunong Magskala”
• Rafael Froilan’s “Mananayaw”
• Charliebebs Gohetia’s “Kung Giunsa Pagbuhat ang Bisayang Chopsuey” (How to Make a Visayan Chopsuey)
• Richard Legaspi’s “Ang Walang Kapagurang Paglalakbay ng Pulang Maleta”
• Nef Luczon’s “Migkahi e si Amey te, Uli ki pad” (Father said, 'Let's Return Home')
• Carla Samantha Ocampo’s  “Walang Rape sa Bontok”
• Nawruz Paguidopon’s “Trip to Haifa”
• Jan Tristan Pandy’s “Gusto na Umuwi ni Joy”
• Keith Sicat’s “Chronicles of the Komikero”

And here's what my documentary is all about: 

Tchoukball is an indoor sport created in Switzerland by Swiss biologist Hermann Brandt in the 1970s. Discouraging aggressive physical contact in its play, Tchoukball is popular in Europe and several parts of Asia but it has not reached the mainstream consciousness in the Philippines, although a number had been playing it for a few years in the country. In fact, the national team comprise of players from Davao City. It started in Davao City, Philippines in 2010 when a Singaporean Pastor conducting his ministry in Davao City gathered a group of students and taught them the sport. Initially, when the students were busy with their studies, the pioneers of the sport expanded their reach and instead, recruited out-of-school youth to form a team for Davao City.  

Because of Tchoukball’s nature as a non-contact sport and its core value of respect, good relationships and harmony among its players, the sport evolved into becoming a venue of redemption for its players in Davao City. A team and an association were formed and made it an advocacy to be a place of diversity and acceptance for its players, creating a deeper purpose for the sport. In line with its advocacy to be a team with no discrimination, it has attracted a diverse mix of individuals from the different sectors of society that became its members: former drug runners, children in conflict with the law, Pastors, working professionals, businessmen, out-of-school youth, homosexuals, people with special needs (dyslexics, ADHDs), among others. 

In 2011, the team competed in Vietnam and won medals for the country. The team is faced with the challenge of getting the sport into mainstreamconsciousness by teaching it to schools and communities throughout the Philippines. And continue to become a venue of transformation and redemption for its future members. As the team is preparing for a tournament this year, the documentary will follow a number of characters and their daily struggles, not only with the sport but in real life as well, chronicling the ways the sport has inspired them to reform and be more productive members of society. Also, will the team’s struggle with politics within its own association hurdle them in their goals as they prepare to compete for a new tournament this year?

I hope I'll do justice to the team's interesting story!