The Philippines faces a surge in cases and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the
heart of Capas, Tarlac, where tribal chieftains thrive, fear is the sole driver to cope with and
mitigate the harm brought by COVID. While the absence of reported cases in their cities paints a
facade of resilience, a closer inspection reveals the silent struggles faced by these overlooked
populations. Despite this, I find these communities in the grip of different crises. The
documentary reveals the silent struggles faced by these overlooked populations. It is frustrating
to see that indigenous Filipinos still lack basic needs like access to education and socio-economic
disparities.

In the narrative of Pablo Tarroza, son of Claudine and Lagundino Tarroza, I witness a profound
determination to break free from the shackles of a challenging existence and strive for an
improved way of life. He was focused on working instead of getting the education he wanted,
which is ultimately common in our native and indigenous communities. In the beginning of the
video, it was mentioned that there were no with little improvement in their lifestyle, “walang
kuryente, walang signal ng telepono, and mga bahay ay yari pa rin sa sawali at tuyong dahon at
kahoy". I pondered why the people in that community were afraid of the vaccine and were
hesitant to get it. If they have sufficient information dissemination about this, it won’t be an
issue. The lack of awareness, compounded by the persistent grip of traditional lifestyles, reflects
a broader societal issue that demands urgent attention. How can we ensure marginalized
communities receive the support and education needed to uplift their lives given with the kind
of administration we have? Pablo’s aspirations for a better lifestyle and education should not be
limited by the constraints imposed by his circumstances.