AMID DEADLOCK over a maritime territorial dispute with the Philippines, China — a superpower that they claim to be — knew all along that their military prowess is no match against the barrage of equally formidable countries.
But more than military strength, China seemed more apprehensive on the truth behind their aggression to assert its claim over the entire South China Sea.
For one, the documentary film ‘Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea’ is not just an ordinary film for people to sit down and watch. It reflects Filipino struggle — it is about fathers sailing the sea, mothers waiting for food on the table and children whose future depends on what kind of country we have.
“It is about us, the Filipino nation. And that is why China is so afraid of it,” says civic movement leader and chairman emeritus Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia.
STOP FILM SHOWING
And fear, China has been relentless in trying to stop the film from being shown in cinemas because the movie in itself exposes what appears to be a “highly-classified” information embarking on lies.
“It shows how they treat our fishermen as if we do not matter. It shows the abuse they inflict, not in some distant place, but right here, in our own seas that legally and historically belong to us,” added Goitia invoking The Hague Tribunal which ruled in 2016 to dump China’s spurious nine dash line.
“Yet what has China done since? They ignored the law, they ignored decency and they ignored the dignity of every Filipino whose livelihood depends on the sea. They harass our fishermen, steal our fish, and act as if friendship means the right to trample on us,” the civic leader added.
CLEAR CONVICTION
Previously, defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro assailed China’s increasing presence near Ayungin Shoal with coast guard ships, fast boats, maritime militia, and even aerial drones and destructive weapons mounted on their craft to threaten Filipino soldiers stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
“These are gross and brazen violations of international law,” Secretary Teodoro noted with his voice resonating in anger and firm resolve.
Earlier in the standoff, Chinese vessels used water cannons, steered dangerous maneuvers and engaged in high-speed collisions with Philippine boats, acts of aggression far beyond misunderstanding or miscommunication. Despite the danger, Filipino troops and the Philippine Coast Guard pressed on to protect what is deemed well within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.
CHINA EXPOSED
The film that China doesn’t want to be shown in cinemas exposed the day-to-day struggle of Filipino fishermen, who are not even sure of making it back safely on the Philippine shores after every fishing expedition.
It also shows heartbreaking scenes of mothers and children praying hard for the family man’s safe return. It humanizes the toll of a geopolitical chess game. That is why it matters—not only to watch it, but to share and talk and have it shown in schools.
Teodoro urged the public to support the film which he claimed could spark nationalism in the hearts of each and every Filipino.
“This is our sea. These are our stories. We deserve respect, not repression,” added the DND chief, emphasizing that claims of secret deals or ‘gentleman’s agreements’ with China, supposedly to de-escalate tensions at Ayungin, are nothing more than a propaganda designed to muddle an already dangerous narrative.
STAND FOR GIBO
In support of Teodoro’s pronouncements, Goitia stated that beyond laws and rulings, there is something deeper: “This is not just about borders drawn on a map. This is about real people.”
“Imagine a father who has nothing left to bring home because foreign vessels drove him away from waters that are his by right. Imagine a child asking why her father cannot fish anymore. Imagine families going hungry not because there is no food, but because a powerful neighbor decided to take what is not theirs. That is the human face of this conflict, and that is what this film captures so powerfully.”
He likewise explained that ‘Food Delivery’ matters because it gives voice to those who are usually silenced:
“It turns statistics into faces and headlines into human stories. Our fishermen are not just numbers. They are our brothers, our friends, our neighbors. Their pain is our pain. Their fight is our fight.”
FORCE OF TRUTH
According to Gotia, China is aware of the power of truth, for which billions are spent to peddle lies in the form of propaganda.
The film ‘Food Delivery’ is more than just entertainment — “When you watch this documentary, you are not only watching a story. You are standing with our people. You are defending our sovereignty. You are saying to the world: the Philippines is not for sale, and our seas are not for the taking.”
He called on families, schools, and communities to spread it, talk about it, and keep the conversation alive — “The more we speak, the less they can silence us. The more the world knows, the harder it becomes for China to pretend.”
“This is not just a film. This is our cry for dignity. This is our fight for justice. This is the truth of a small nation standing up against a giant that pretends to be a friend but acts like a traitor. China may have the ships and the weapons, but we (own) the truth and the truth will always be stronger. The West Philippine Sea is ours, and no ban, no intimidation, no lie will ever change that.”