A producer stands her ground

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama is no stranger to telling stories that provoke, challenge and empower. But with her latest work, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, she’s not just delivering another compelling film — she’s making a stand for truth, sovereignty and freedom of expression.

The film recently bagged the Tides of Change Award at the prestigious Doc Edge Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, just months after it was controversially pulled from a Philippine screening. “This is for every Filipino defending the West Philippine Sea,” Voyage Studios wrote in a post after the win. “In the face of silence and fear, we carry the truth — and now the world hears us.”

The film, which documents the lived realities of Filipino fishermen amid growing maritime tensions with China, had been unceremoniously withdrawn from the CinePanalo Festival in March due to what Villarama described as “external factors.” For her, the incident was both painful and telling.

“Honestly, parang sinuntok ka sa sikmura (it felt like a punch to the gut),” she told DAILY TRIBUNE.

“Masakit, mabigat. Pero naisip rin namin, kung walang gustong pumigil, baka wala ring halaga ‘yung gustong sabihin ng documentary (It was painful, heavy. But we also thought — if no one tried to stop it, maybe the message of the documentary wouldn’t matter as much).”

Indeed, the attempts to block the film only amplified its urgency.

“The film hits where it matters,” Villarama asserted. “Wala naman tayong dalang armas. Ang bitbit natin ay kwento hango sa totoong karanasan ng mga ordinaryong Pilipino (We don’t carry weapons. What we bring are stories rooted in the real experiences of ordinary Filipinos).”

Her voice grew firmer as she recalled the misinformation being spread to discredit the Philippines.

“Sadly, our truth is being weaponized against us. Tayo daw ang nanggugulo. Pero sino ba talaga ang nambubully sa mga mangingisda natin sa gitna ng karagatan (Sadly, our truth is being weaponized against us. They say we’re the ones causing trouble. But who is really bullying our fishermen out at sea)?”

Far from being cowed, Villarama said the censorship attempt only reaffirmed her purpose as a filmmaker.

“Kapag pinipigilan kang magsalita, ‘yun ang panahong kailangan mong sumigaw (When you are being silenced, that’s exactly the time to shout),” she said.

“Our freedom of expression is a privilege labored by artists who came before us. Magagalit si direk Lino Brocka if hindi tayo titindig sa usaping artistic freedom (Our freedom of expression is a privilege fought for by artists before us. Direk Lino Brocka would be furious if we didn’t stand up for artistic freedom).”

Despite the obstacles, fear is not something she allows to linger.

“I am not scared because I know I am not alone,” she said, crediting the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines and other artists’ guilds for their support.

“Matatakot lang siguro ako kung darating ang panahon na wala nang magtatanggol sa Pilipinas. Pero ngayon? Hindi ako takot. Sama-sama tayo eh (Maybe I’ll only be afraid if the day comes when no one defends the Philippines anymore. But today? I’m not afraid. We’re in this together).”

The overwhelming social media support has also given her strength.

“Nakakataba ng puso. Ang daming nag-share, nag-comment, nagpadala ng mensahe. Kayo ang tunay na lakas ng pelikulang ito (It’s so heartwarming. So many people shared, commented, sent messages. You are the true strength behind this film),” she said.

“Our stories come from a deep well of collective struggles. Sana po huwag tayong mapagod magkwento, magtanong, at magmahal sa kung ano ang atin (Our stories come from a deep well of collective struggles. I hope we never tire of telling stories, asking questions, and loving what’s ours).”

As Food Delivery continues its festival run, Villarama is hopeful for more local and global screenings, especially in schools.

“Kahit simpleng community screenings, sana maipalabas. Para marinig ng kabataan ang kwento ng mga mangingisda natin. I won’t be surprised if may mga susubok muling pigilan. Kaya sana, the pro-Filipino in us remains (Even through simple community screenings, I hope we can show it. So that the youth can hear the stories of our fishermen. I won’t be surprised if people try to stop it again. So I hope the pro-Filipino spirit in us stays strong).”

Looking ahead, Villarama is also preparing for her next project, Touch the Colour — the real-life story of a Muslim woman who cared for a lost child only to be imprisoned for over two decades due to a tragic misunderstanding.

“It’s about restorative justice and second chances,” she explained. “About seeing the goodness in people beyond their beliefs.”

To the new generation of Filipino filmmakers, Villarama has this to say:

“Wag kayong bibitaw. Kapag may gustong sumikil sa kwento mo, ibig sabihin may bigat ang boses mo. Bigyan n’yo ng kahulugan ang takot n’yo. You don’t need the most expensive camera — what you need is courage, compassion, and an honest heart (Don’t let go. If someone wants to silence your story, that means your voice matters. Give meaning to your fear).”

For Villarama, awards and accolades pale in comparison to her mission.

“Kahit hindi ka manalo ng awards, ‘pag nakatulong ka sa paghubog ng mas makataong bansa, ‘yun ang tunay na panalo (Even if you don’t win awards, if you help shape a more humane nation, that’s the real victory).”

About the filmmaker

Baby Ruth Villarama has been crafting internationally recognized social documentaries for over a decade. With a master’s degree in Film Marketing and Distribution from Birmingham City University in the UK, she made waves with Sunday Beauty Queen — the first documentary to win Best Picture at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival. A Chevening scholar and recipient of the UK Global Alumni Social Impact Award, Villarama co-founded Voyage Studios and continues to champion Filipino stories through platforms like the Film Producers Society and the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines.

As the waves of geopolitics crash on the shores of ordinary lives, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea becomes more than a film — it becomes a call to listen, to witness and to remember who the fight is really for.