Summary
Highlights
The Journey to the Remote Sitio00:01:20
Kara David and her team embark on a grueling, multi-hour journey through rough terrain and rivers to reach Sitio Banli, a remote mountain community in Sarangani where abaca farming is a primary livelihood.
The Reality of Extreme Poverty00:07:26
Upon arrival, the team encounters families suffering from severe malnutrition, specifically kwashiorkor, due to a diet consisting almost exclusively of sweet potatoes. Farmers reveal they only earn money once a year, when their seasonal abaca harvest is sold.
The Process of Abaca Harvesting00:11:22
The documentary details the difficult, labor-intensive process of extracting abaca fibers, a vital material used for rope, fabric, and even paper currency, which requires great physical strength and skill.
The Long Trek to Market00:19:15
Mang Tusan and other farmers must carry heavy bundles of abaca on their backs for hours down treacherous mountain paths to reach the trading center, sacrificing their bodies to earn enough money for basic staples like rice and canned goods.
The Fruits of Labor00:27:41
After selling their harvest, the farmers return home to provide their families with a rare meal of rice, highlighting the stark irony that those who help produce the components of money rarely have enough of it to survive comfortably.