Treasure of the Rice Terraces
directed by
Kent Donguines
Ontario
Feeling his identity slipping away, Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Kent Donguines returns home to reclaim it. Travelling to Buscalan, a secluded mountain community, DOnguines learns about the history and symbolism of Kalinga tattoos—once banned under colonization and now a powerful symbol of pride and belonging—from the legendary artist, 107-year-old Apo Whang-od and her apprentices.
Programmer's Notes
Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Kent Donguines sets out in his filmmaking journey to reclaim an identity he feared was slipping away. What begins as a story of self-discovery unfolds into a powerful meditation on cultural memory and the lasting impact of colonial erasure.
Traveling from Canada to Buscalan, a remote mountain village in the Philippines, Donguines meets 107-year-old Apo Whang-od, the master Kalinga tattoo artist, and her apprentices. Through their stories, the film traces the ancient practice of tattooing as both a cultural and spiritual marker—one that was systematically suppressed under colonial rule. Once stigmatized, these tattoos have become potent symbols of pride and belonging for Filipinos at home and abroad.
Blending stunning cinematography, rich archival material, and thoughtfully placed interviews, Donguines offers a cinematic act of reclamation. The film is as much about reconnecting with heritage as it is about challenging the narratives imposed on a people. Visually striking and emotionally layered, the film stands as a quiet yet powerful act of decolonization, both personal and collective.
- Safia Abdigir
Cast
Maria "Apo Whang-od" Oggay, Grace Palicas, Michelle Dee, Mark Bumgarner, Kim Atienza, Celeste Cortesi
About the Director
Kent Donguines is a Vancouver-based Filipino-Canadian filmmaker, CFC Producers’ Lab alum and CEO of Aimer Films Inc. His short films have premiered at internationally renowned festivals and have received awards; This Ink Runs Deep (CBC, TIFF 2019)Kalinga (Care) (Telus Storyhive, DOXA; winner, Kathleen Shannon Award, Yorkton Film Festival), and, Paco (CRAVE; grand prize, Stage32 Film Contest 2025). Kent’s upcoming projects include: Error 404 and Canadian Adobo.