Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea – A Compelling Expedition Along Resupply Routes amid the Regional Tension.
Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama and the documentary team board a variety of maritime vessels to chronicle the persistent dispute and its effects between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China over authority of the newly designated West Philippine Sea. These waters, viewed by most nations apart from China as part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, has seen increasing infiltration by Chinese vessels. While some are fishing boats, most notably Chinese coast guard ships that have engaged in harassing, intentionally hit, and tried to seize Filipino boats in the context of the ongoing standoff.
Portions of the film are incredibly gripping, though often the conflict unfolds as a war of words of naval posturing. Personnel on each side's boats exchange heated speeches over short-wave, laden with technical legalese, engaging in a kind of radio diplomacy.
The Mission Behind the Title
The film's title points to the ongoing mission by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deliver provisions to tiny outposts in the West Philippine Sea where personnel are stationed for protracted periods of isolation. These specks of land are often mere dollops of sand in shallow waters, comparable to a sports field, accessible only by fast-moving motorized rafts.
The voyages are undoubtedly scary for the cargo of baby goats, which are loaded alongside preserved supplies and further materials. Viewers see the creatures seeking for a stable position as the vessels zoom across the open water.
Impact on Livelihoods
The film also follows fishers living around the more populated Scarborough Shoal, who voice complaints over dwindling catches due to the sheer number of foreign fishing vessels in their customary waters.
A Compelling Subject, Imperfect Execution
Critically speaking, the documentary suffers a bit from a somewhat scattered pacing and a musical score that can feel overly tacky, overplaying the dramatic moments. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating exploration of a geopolitical issue that gets scant attention in Western media.
