THE highly anticipated documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea is set to premiere on July 27 at 7:00 PM at the Power Plant Mall in Makati, with a free public screening for registered attendees.
Directed by multi-awarded filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, Food Delivery captures the country’s ongoing maritime struggle in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), as Filipino fishermen and maritime personnel risk their lives amid growing tensions with China.
The documentary highlights the stories of Filipino fisherfolk who continue to venture into contested waters to provide for their families, alongside the critical operations of the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as they deliver supplies to soldiers stationed on Philippine-held features during rotation and reprovision (RoRe) missions.
Through personal stories and on-the-ground footage, Food Delivery aims to present the human side of a geopolitical issue that has long defined the country’s foreign relations and national security posture.
Before reaching local theaters, the documentary already faced significant hurdles.
It was originally included in the lineup of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival. However, just days before its scheduled screening, Food Delivery was quietly pulled from the roster.
In a joint statement, Villarama and CinePanalo Festival Director Chris Cahilig expressed regret over the decision, citing “external factors” beyond the organizers’ control.
No specific reason was given, but the removal sparked public concern over possible political pressure due to the film’s sensitive subject matter.
The documentary also encountered political pressures abroad.
During its screening at the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland formally requested festival organizers to cancel future showings of the film.
It accused it of spreading “disinformation” and warned that it could negatively affect diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand.
The request was rejected, and the screening went ahead as planned.
Food Delivery later won the festival’s Tides of Change Award, with organizers defending their commitment to freedom of expression and even publishing the letter from the Chinese consulate in the name of transparency.
With its Philippine premiere now confirmed, Food Delivery is finally set to reach Filipino audiences.
Interested viewers can register and receive two free tickets, with limited slots available on a first come, first served basis.
