A film festival in honor of farmers

MANILA, Philippines – Farmers engage in food production and yet many experience hunger. This painful paradox is one of the themes the six official entries to the first TOFARM (The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines) Film Festival will present starting July 13 at the SM Megamall and SM North. The participating films are Free Range, directed by Dennis Marasigan; Pauwi Na (Paolo Villaluna); Paglipay (Zig Dulay); Pitong Kabang Palay (Maricel Cariaga); Kakampi (Victor Acedillo Jr.); and Pilapil (Jose Johnny Nadela).

A first of its kind, the filmfest was conceptualized by Dr. Milagros Ong-How, EVP of Universal Harvester, Inc., and is also about agriculture and the bounties of nature, as its tagline says.

Veteran film and TV director Maryo J. delos Reyes sits as festival director.

“I was able to conceptualize it easily because the seed (binhi) was already there, madali siyang magbunga,” said Dr. Milagros of organizing a film festival. “My love for the farmers and (my concern for) their welfare are natural.”

This is true since her work at Universal Harvester, Inc., which is into local distribution and exportation of quality fertilizers as well as indirect manufacturing of them, has exposed Mila to the struggles and triumphs of a farmer’s life. It’s also a “natural progression” on her part to meet farmers, to create friendships with them and to help them in whatever way she can. The TOFARM Film Festival is just one of her means to raise the concerns of Filipino farmers and showcase their aspirations.

“It is just part of the awareness I want to (create for farmers) so the moviegoers will see their lives, which we tend to neglect (to look at), like how they put food on the table,” said Mila, who also wants others to see “everything” about farming, which is “a different life.” Through the filmfest, the audience, Mila wishes, will see the farmers’ way of thinking, their livelihood and their lifetime dedication “to planting, harvesting and preparing food for the nation.”

By the way, Mila is a businesswoman by profession, earned a degree in Biology from UP Diliman and received a doctorate degree in Humanities, Honoris Causa, from Angeles University Foundation. To further advance her knowledge and skills and serve the farmers better, she is studying agriculture major in soil science at UP Los Baños. Mila also holds the title of ambassador of the Philippines to the International Fertilizer Industry.

Asked if becoming a movie producer is her dream, Mila replied, “It’s a longtime dream. Working with the farmers and my advocacy for them, it is easier to develop (it). Yung movie production matagal ko nang plano, wala lang chance. I was just waiting for the break.”

That’s why Mila was happy to have met direk Maryo J. through a friend and started up TOFARM Film Festival. “It’s fate,” she said. “Pinagtagpo kami ng tadhana. (The filmfest) will be (done) every year.”

Perhaps Mila’s interest in film started at a very young age when her family still lived in Chinatown, Binondo. According to her, they had a household member, who took care of her and loved watching local films. 

“Every night, we would watch at Royal Theater. We would take the kalesa,” she recalled. “Nagpapalabas ng double feature.” The celebrities of her childhood are Fernando Poe Jr., Joseph Estrada, Leopoldo Salcedo, Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes, Paraluman and Liberty Ilagan.

Again, Mila is tapping the cinema to promote the interests and causes of farmers with the intention “to uplift the livelihood of farmers throughout the country, improve their yield, increase their income and let them earn more dignity,” she said. “Many have expressed their intention to help (farmers). Help is on the way.” These individuals have the experience and wisdom to support the Filipino farmer, she added. To resolve planting issues, farmers should be given better equipment and taught about alternative crops. Aside from TOFARM Film Festival, Mila and her team will be busy in the rehabilitation of Banaue Rice Terraces.

(The entries to the filmfest will be screened from July 13 to 19 at SM Megamall and SM North; Aug. 24-30 at SM Cabanatuan and SM Pampanga; Sept. 14-20, SM Cebu; and Oct. 12-18, SM Davao. Manuel Silos’ Biyaya ng Lupa, a Filipino classic, is the featured film during the opening night.