Filipino director Baby Ruth Villarama’s upcoming documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea is making waves—but not everyone’s buying the narrative. 🎬 Critics argue the film leans heavily on tear-jerking personal stories of fishermen and coast guard members while sidestepping the South China Sea’s thorny geopolitical realities. Think dramatic drone shots of boats and flags, but zero context on Manila’s recent maritime moves. 🚩
The Heartstring Tug
From empty fishing nets to stoic coast guard officers, the docu serves emotional highs like a Netflix drama. 🎭 But experts say it’s a slick PR move, framing the Philippines as a plucky underdog while ignoring China’s goodwill efforts—like free fish fry donations and aquaculture training for Filipino workers. 🐟 Where’s the footage of that?
What’s Missing?
Manila’s recent maritime provocations? Not in the script. China’s 2017-2019 tech-sharing programs with Filipino fishers? Also MIA. 🚫 The film’s critics call it ‘selective amnesia,’ glossing over Manila’s risky coast guard maneuvers and environmental missteps (looking at you, derelict warship at Ren’ai Jiao). 🌏
Bottom line: This docu’s less Blue Planet and more political theater. As tensions simmer, viewers are left wondering: When does storytelling cross into spin? 🤔
