The Diwa Filipino Film Festival, in partnership with the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, will return this June at the Seattle Center Armory Loft 2, showcasing stories that celebrate the Filipino spirit and diaspora.
Among the 30 selected films is “Manokan Country,” a heartfelt short film that brings the culinary heritage and resilience of Bacolod City to audiences in the Pacific Northwest.
Featured under the “Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh” program, the film will be screened on June 7 (Sunday), from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., alongside “Guys! Action!” by Jem Catabijan, “Philip vs. The School” by Terrence Santiago, “Ambag (Impact)” by Mark Giddel Liwanag, and “Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad” by Joy Regullano.
Written and directed by Banjo Hinolan, “Manokan Country” is a 20-minute comedy-drama that highlights Bacolod City’s iconic Chicken Inasal culture and the community built around it.
The story follows Raul (Hector Gloria), a passionate restaurateur determined to save his family’s Chicken Inasal business from a powerful real estate developer, Mrs. Lopez (Tex Romero). To protect his legacy and preserve the cultural heart of their community, he launches a high-stakes cooking competition, facing sabotage, personal challenges, and the tension between tradition and modernization. He is supported by his daughter (Jerianne Panisales) and fellow community members, with Louis Dormido and Hayde Portal in supporting roles.
Co-produced by Hinolan and Maria Althea Rose Mauricio, the film was a finalist at the Bacolod Film Festival 2024.
Told in Hiligaynon with English subtitles, “Manokan Country” stands as a celebration of Filipino resilience and the unifying power of food and culture.
The Diwa Filipino Film Festival, supported by 4Culture and powered by Shunpike, continues its mission of showcasing independent films from the Philippines and beyond, amplifying stories that reflect the “diwa,” or spirit, of Filipinos worldwide.
