Educational Media Reviews Online

In 1997, then president of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos, had set into motion a plan to build one of the most ambitious golf resorts in the world. The construction of this resort and yacht marina in the region of Hacienda Looc would call for the eviction of thousands of peasants, many of whom can trace their ancestral ties to the land. This film presents a socio-political examination of this crisis, mainly from the villagers' perspective. There is no analysis of what the resort would do for the Philippine economy.

The New People's Army, the local resistance to this proposed resort, has succinctly stated that the villagers refuse to let their ancestral land be "overrun by yachts and golf carts." Few Philippine farmers, however, actually own their land. This is the core of the dilemma. The farmers manage plots of land owned by landlords who are able to sell their lands.

The villagers and farmers have deterred the construction in peaceful ways. On one occasion, they formed a human chain to successfully prevent the progress of construction. Since that time, the Philippine national police have increased their presence in the area, reportedly use bully tactics to intimidate the villagers. Three villagers have been killed by armed police. Now, the New People's Army has armed itself with automatic rifles as tensions continue to climb.

I cannot offer enough praise for this video. The narrator places all events and interviews well into context. The film illustrates the plight of the farmer in the microcosm, by way of interviews with the farmers, and, in the macrocosm, discusses the need for long overdue government land reform. The film lays forth a brief history of the Philippines and maps detailing the proposed resort. I heartily recommend this film for all audiences high school and higher in areas of East Asian Studies and Political Science.

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