Research: Many Filipinas still marry foreigners to flee poverty

MANILA, Philippines — “Mataas pa rin ang pagtingin natin sa foreigners,” Filipino award-winning director Brillante Mendoza admitted, referring to how some Filipinos think that they are still inferior as compared to other nationalities.

According to the recent research of scriptwriter Eero Francisco, there is a “predominant pattern” of Filipinas marrying foreigners in Cebu and “not everyone marry for love.”

“I’ve encountered people who married foreigners to escape the Philippines,” he said of this bitter reality in response to a question by Philstar.com during the recent press conference of Brillante Mendoza’s film “Kadaugan” for TV5.

Interracial marriages are still partly frowned upon in the country, he said. “Siguro nga nagmumukhang taboo because of cultural differences,” he explained.

In “Kadaugan,” however, the main characters married for love, assured Francisco, who wrote the film made for TV.

"Kadaugan" tells the story of Tere (Dionne Monsanto), a Cebuana waitress. When Tere arranges her boyfriend Johann (Daniel Marsh) to finally meet her parents before his scheduled flight to the Netherlands, Johann was surprised that her extended family prepared a large feast to welcome him. Everything about the night turns out fine until conversations seem to suggest for Johann to marry Tere. Surprised and unprepared Johann, admits that he is not yet ready to get married and leaves for his scheduled flight without closure in his relationship with Tere. 

Three years later, Tere is now pregnant with her new American boyfriend, Frank (Matt Daclan). He initially agrees to meet Tere’s parents, but postpones it because of work. Unable to contact Frank a few days later, she discovers that Frank has already left for America. Alone again and hopeless, Tere decides to raise her son by herself. 

Five years later, Johann comes back during the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival to surprise Tere. Johann is also surprised by the fact that Tere is already a mother, troubling him as he bonds with them in the festival. A few days later, to Tere’s surprise, Johann visits her and proposes to marry her.

“Kadaugan” premiered on TV5 last July 30.

Mendoza said he chose the script not only because it is an unusual love story. “Gusto kong ipakita sa audience ‘yung concept ng Filipino family,” he said.

“I enjoy putting this project together because I shot it in Cebu and collaborated with local artists, which is part of my advocacy to promote local arts, the exciting part of doing films,” the Cannes Festival Best Director said, clarifying that he did not cast Keanna Reeves in the movie because she supports President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kadaugan,” for a change, is a feel-good movie, a deviation from Brillante’s usual fare of showing the society’s ills.

“Ang kuwento, para maging inspiring, hindi lang dapat from magandang kuwento. Pati sa ‘di magandang kuwento makakakuha ka rin ng inspirasyon,” he espoused.

He shared that his filmmaking style is based on his mentor Armando Lao’s “Found” school of thought, wherein a person’s story is told from a sociological perspective and the plot revolves not just on a person but on the person’s relationship with a group and the society the person is in.

He lauded mall chain SM for sponsoring the screenings of his films, saying that such move helps educate the audience to appreciate independent films more.

“Every time lumalabas ako ng bansa, nabibigyan ng recognition, 'di lang 'yung pangalan ko ang dala ko. Parang pati 'yung bansa dala dala ko,” said Mendoza, who served as “godfather” and mentor to young filmmakers during the recent Cannes Film Festival in France.

“I’m very happy to be a filmmaker from a developing country. They (the young filmmakers) saw our technique and they learned how to make films without much budget needed. This is inspiring for young filmmakers because often, it is the lack of resources that make them discouraged to go on.”