Tumandok

LOGLINE: Unveil the untold saga of the Ati, the Negrito ethnic group living in

Boracay, Guimaras, Panay, and Negros islands in the Philippines. For the first time on screen,

witness their impassioned battle to reclaim their ancestral lands in this docu-fiction film.

AWARDS

Best Film: Cinemalaya 2024

NETPAC Jury Award: Cinemalaya 2024

Best Screenplay: Ardon Rod Condez and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay - Cinemalaya 2024

Best Supporting Actor: Felipe Ganancial - Cinemalaya 2024

Best Musical Scoring: Paulo Almaden and the Ati people of Kabarangkalan and Nagpana - Cinemalaya 2024

SYNOPSIS: Despite contentions from historians, legend has it that in ancient times, an Ati

chieftain traded their land to Bornean datus for a necklace and a wide-brimmed hat made of gold. The mountains were left to the Atis, while the plains and rivers went to the Malays. Today, even the mountains are under threat, sometimes violently taken from the Atis. 

Featuring an all-Ati non-professional acting ensemble, speaking in their own language, Inati, the film reveals the struggle of these indigenous people to reclaim their land. As one Ati once said, “Tell us where the end of the earth is, and we will go there to live in peace, untouched.”

DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT: 

We have been acquainted with the Ati communities and their struggles for a considerable time, primarily through the advocacy videos we produce. Our frequent visits have forged a strong bond with them, and to us, they are akin to family. Many among them aided us in learning their language, and through heartfelt conversations, we have come to understand their aspirations as well as their sorrows. It is this deep connection that impelled us to create this film. With support from the National Commission for Indigenous People, "Tumandok" endeavors to illuminate the ongoing battle of indigenous peoples to safeguard their identity and preserve their homeland.

We acknowledge the emotional strain the Atis may have endured in revisiting painful memories, and for this, we profoundly admire the resilience and bravery they have exhibited since the outset. Ours is a film so simple, yet we aspire that through it, we may assist the community of Sitio Karabangkalan in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, in securing their ancestral domain using the proceeds from our screenings.

Lastly, we emphasize that this film transcends the narrative of Sitio Karabankalan; it encapsulates the collective narrative of every indigenous peoples community we have encountered. Though this is our debut film, we do not regard it as solely ours. "Tumandok" (The Native) is made by the Atis, for the Atis.

WHY WE MADE THE FILM

The escalating violence against the Ati community in Barotac Viejo (Iloilo), Sitio Kabarangkalan, highlights the urgent need to secure their ancestral domain title, encompassing a proposed area of 500 hectares. Displacements have been ongoing since 2007, escalating notably in recent years, with additional families forced to relocate in 2015, 2016, and 2022.

The community, which shelters 296 residents in 76 households, endures persistent harassment, including crop destruction, livestock theft, and intimidation. Although the area is classified as timberland, intended for tree growth and timber harvesting without formal ownership rights, encroachments by private land interests have profoundly disrupted community life. One elder recounted a harrowing incident where armed individuals threatened her family, compelling them to flee for safety. Some families have sought refuge with other tribes in search of security and peace.

Despite the community’s multiple efforts since 2007 to secure their land title through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), they have yet to obtain official recognition. In 2021, they completed all requirements for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) application, only to be excluded from funding proposals in 2022.This film aims to shed light on their struggle. While the community processes the option of securing the Community-based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), granting permission to reside and use a portion of the land for 25 years, they remain steadfast in pursuing permanent land ownership through the NCIP. The film seeks to support the NCIP in securing funding for data gathering and validation to substantiate the Ati’s CADT application.

With your help, the Ati community of Sitio Kabarangkalan can finally claim their rightful homes and aspire to live in peace and harmony. The Ati, the indigenous people of  Western Visayas, is said to inspire festivals like Ati-atihan and Dinagyang. But they have long been marginalized from the festivities and discussions. It is time to heed their call and illuminate their plight, allowing them to finally call their land their own. NOTE: Due to limited printed sources, most of the information above was gathered from the community, particularly from the perspective of Ronemae Elosendo and their chieftain, Ronnie Elosendo.

PRODUCTION COMPANY

SOUTHERN LANTERN STUDIOS with help from Terminal Six Post, and Tinker Bulb Production. Southern Lantern Studios is a production company that has produced two Cinemalaya Best Films namely, Sheron Dayoc’s Halaw (2010) and Arden Rod Condez’s John Denver Trending (2019).