Loren, Mendoza team up for docu on environment

MANILA, Philippines - As we celebrate the 40th year of Earth Day, we ought to ask ourselves: What good have we done to our planet so far?

In a rare collaboration, two top-notch individuals recognized for their bodies of work, will mark this year’s Earth Day with a loud cry against environmental injustice.

Internationally-acclaimed Filipino director Brillante “Dante” Mendoza and environmental heroine Loren Legarda will launch Buhos (Downpour), an eye-opening documentary on global warming. Said title was inspired by Ondoy and Pepeng, two typhoons that hit the country during the making of the film.

The 30-minute documentary is produced and narrated by Loren, a United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Asia Pacific.

In between receiving international awards for his controversial and socially-relevant films, Cannes Best Director Mendoza, followed the senator on her Lingkod Loren mission in towns, cities and barangays severely affected by flooding.

The experience brought Mendoza to places such as Barangay Portero in Malabon, Marikina, Lupang Arenda in Taytay Rizal, Sta. Cruz, Laguna and San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, among others.

Behind the lens, Mendoza captured the ill effects of climate change on human lives. Animation as well as actual video footage of the typhoons, floods and the devastation resulting from global warming helped in the visual illustration of this narrative.

Buhos is an environmental documentary for all Filipinos and for humanity. It is a film that begs for an answer to our opening question. Let’s do something for the planet; let us arrest the sweeping apathy plaguing our people and start taking action to stop the worsening state of our environment.