Melfred John C.

Mestidio
3-AMC

I-Witness: Buto’t Balat

The documentary showed the life of Angela, a 19-year old girl who suffers from severe and
chronic malnutrition. Angela finds it hard to move and has been laying down on her bed for
three months straight. The part that moved me most in this video is Angela’s mother and her
belief that Angela was cursed by a dwarf-like nature spirit or “nuno”. Instead of seeking
professional help, they consult folk healers for help. It’s really sad as we can’t blame the mother
either for thinking this way. It is not her fault that she has no proper education about illnesses,
especially what to do when someone is suffering from malnutrition.

Like all the previous documentaries I’ve watched, this one was also sad and hard to watch. It
was sad knowing that two of their family members have also died due to the same reason, and
how they can’t really do anything about it. I also felt bad for their father who works as a
kargador in the market. He gets to see lots of different kinds of newly-catched fishes everyday,
yet he never gets to taste them or buy them for his family. His earnings are only enough to buy
coffee, sugar, and rice. They usually don’t have a viand to pair with rice.

These emotions that I have felt throughout the video taught me to be really grateful for the life I
have right now, and my ability to share these blessings that I have to those who need it more. I
want to tell them about the importance of nutrition, and that folk healers can’t really be of help
when what we’re dealing with is malnutrition - a serious illness that can cause death. I want to
use these emotions that I have as a motivation to strive harder and bring a good change to
these communities.
The CST principle I can possibly integrate with this social issue/documentary is the Preferential
Option for the Poor. This is because we are called to look at the world from the perspective of
the marginalized and to work in solidarity for justice. We, the ones who are privileged enough
should be the ones moving in order to help others. We should learn that being sad and
empathetic for them isn’t enough. We should create solid actions that can change the lives of
the vulnerable for the better.