GE-UTS Louella Artel D.

Ramos BSDC 1

Ang Huling Prinsesa by Kara David

Reflection Essay

With vast lands and waters, the Philippines is not just a melting pot of grand cultures, but also a
concoction of struggles brought by change. Kara David’s documentary about the Binukots of the Panay
Bukidnon people from Visayas is an interesting eye-opener about their rich traditions. Filipino epics have
always been taught as simply long songs about indigenous peoples’ histories, but examples were never
actually shown, and epics were not delved into, in my experience.

This documentary intelligently shone a light on the Binukots, the epics, especially the issues
faced by the Panay Bukidnon and the efforts of preservation. Showing how hard the journey is to the
Panay Bukidnon village was a smart way not just to inform the masses of the existence of this tribe, but
also to show the effort in reaching the tribe for documentation. With the addition of Kara’s falls and
slips, comments, and her way of speaking with the natives, her presentation in the documentary was
overall laudable, in a sense that she was presented as very human and not standoffish, just like her
target audience.

The first Binukot talked highly and repetitively of conforming to her parents’ wishes, which
shows how tribal familial ties can be very protective and burdening, most of all impeding. Staying
secluded and isolated form others all the time with no experiences of socializing normally and even
moving around physically really do have bad effects on a person’s overall well-being, though the perks
are gorgeous.

Up to this point in the documentary, I was worried about preservation because their Binukot was
old already, but I realized by the end of it that I need not to, because there are so many efforts in
documenting and teaching about the epics and the culture to younger generations. It’s amazing how
they make it work with the modern Filipino life, where children and women now have more rights.

Addressing the feminist issues in this documentary was amazing, as they managed to get ahold
of younger members of the tribe who actually declined being a Binukot and chose to live a modern life. I
agree with this, but I think Filipinos, not just indigenous peoples’ have a responsibility of acknowledging
and preserving the culture that they are born into.

It was truly amazing, having a peek on the Panay Bukidnon’s culture. If possible, I’d like to delve
more into this and maybe even visit a museum where their culture is showcased.

The modern Filipino society needs to have more of these documentaries out in the open where
they are very accessible and actively sought for, so more tribal indigenous people will have the help that
they need in their basic needs and rights, especially the preservation and documentation of their
traditions.