ROBIN PADILLA has completed a documentary series about the West Philippine Sea titled “Victor 88”, the name of the boat they used during their voyage there.
It was done with the cooperation of Frabelle Corporation’s Francisco Tiu Laurel and the Philippine Fisheries Authority.
The presscon was held at its Fish Port in Navotas. It started with the Philippine National Anthem and several other patriotic songs were also played, then the first part of the documentary was shown for the press. So what is Robin’s purpose in doing the docu?
“Ginawa ito bilang pagsaludo sa ating mga mangingisda,” he says. “Sa aming paglalayag, nakita ko ang hirap ng buhay nila at lahat ng kanilang sakripisyo.
"Hinihingi ko ang pagmamahal ninyo para sa kanila dahil dumaraan sila ngayon sa isang pagsubok sa ating mga karagatan.Wala silang armas pero hinaharap nila ang mga dayuhan.
"Tinatakot pero walang umurong, lahat nakataas ang noo, proud na maging Filipino. Maging daan sana ito para magkaisa tayo para sa ating bayan.
"We want to show the truth sa mga nangyayari talaga sa WPS, without sensationalizing it, for us to know the real score. We also want to show the sacrifices of our soldiers who are there to protect our territory.”
Robin personally joined the fishing trip to Kalayaan Islands. He introduced all his companions in the trip, the crew and the fishermen. The docu shows his life in the ship and his actual interviews with the crew.
He is seen cooking and eating with them. He’s shown taking a bath using a “tabo”, brushing his teeth and answering the call of nature while holding the door as it has no lock.
"During the Q&A, the crew members are asked about their most memorable experiences during the trip and they all praised Robin for bringing their plight to the people.
Robin adds: “I am not just playing a character here kundi pinasok ko talaga ang buhay ng isang mangingisda and natutuwa akong makapiling ko sila ng ilang araw.
"Sa laot, taong-tao ka, dala mo lang ang sarili mo, wala kang mauutusan pero inaalagaan ka nila. Ineestima nila ako, pero ayoko namang maging pabigat sa kanila, so naging brorherhood yun, parang magbabarkada kami, magkakapatid.
"Naging comrades na kami na may misyon kung bakit kami nandun. Masarap silang kasama, wala kang maririnig na masamang tinapay sa kanila. Hindi sila maramot.
"Sabi nila, napakalaki ng dagat, its for everyone. Iniisip lang nila, may makain ang mga Pilipino pag uwi nila. Matinding immersion ang nangyari sa akin dito, naging mangingisda na rin ako.
"Kulang na lang maglayag ako ng net sa laot. But next time, yun na siguro gagawin ko.”
How did Mariel react when he said he’d be gone for several days to join Victor 88?
“Mariel is very supportive. Wala siyang magagawa. Nakikita naman niyang ilang araw na akong hindi nakakatulog. Sa pagsasaliksik ng katotohanan, magagawa lang natin yan kung pupunta tayo doon mismo sa lugar na pinagmumulan ng alingasngas.
"So pinayagan niya ako. Ang bawat opinyon dito sa docu, sa mga mangingisda yan, boses nila. Sila po ang bida. Hindi po ako ang bida rito. Kameraman lang ako rito, isang tagapaglahad.”
The docu series has six parts.
“Yung part 1 introduces the crew and fishermen. Yung 2 is yung actual na paglalayag sa open sea. Part 3 shows yung pagdating namin sa Pag-asa Island. Part 4 shows the birthday celebration of a fisherman, si Dennis.
"Part 5, yung trip namin nang pauwi na kami. Part 6 shows what we have resolved sa trip and what we can do to help the Kalayaan Island group. We really want to encourage them, palakasin ang loob ng fishermen sa WPS.
"My prayer is sana our fishermen will have bigger, more modern boats, kasi compared sa foreign ships, ang liliit ng bangka nila, madaanan lang sila ng bigger ship, tataob sila.”
Will he run for public office?
“Naku, wala po sa akin ang politika. Una gusto ko muna, maging federal form of government muna tayo. At kapag nagpolitika ako, maraming magagalit sa akin kasi masyado akong disciplinarian. Dito muna ko sa’king advocacies”
What is his next project?
“Puro docus na lang muna ako, kasi may part 2 yung ginawa kong ‘Memories of a Teenage Rebel’ na una sa dagat, now, sa bundok naman. No mainstream work muna.
"As for teleseryes, matagal gawin, 12 hours wala kang tulog. Bigay na lang natin sa mga bata kasi 51 na ako di ko na kaya puyatan.”
How come he was linked to Mocha? “Naku, hindi po totoo yan. Iginagalang ko siya. Pareho kaming naglilingkod kay PRRD at hindi namin siya bibigyan ng kahihiyan. Pero at least na-blind item kami, mga sikat daw, so salamat na rin sa nag-blind item.”
Robin’s docu series, “Victor 88”, is produced by his own RCP Films and will be shown every Saturday this June on his Facebook page and on ktx.ph and Upstream.ph.
