Every year, we celebrate Labor Day as a national holiday. Whether you see it as an opportunity to rest or get paid double, we should never lose sight of its significance as the day to remember the workers’ struggle and sacrifices to which, in fact, we owe our right to rest days and holidays.
And so, in commemoration of International Workers’ Day on May 1, here are 5 films that depict the daily struggles of ordinary Filipino workers and their fight for labor and human rights.
Sister Stella L. (1984)
Shot during the turbulent last years of the Marcos regime, the film, directed by Mike De Leon, tells the story of Sister Stella Legaspi (played by Vilma Santos), a nun-turned-activist, who fought alongside striking workers against political corruption and capitalist exploitation. Martial Law survivor Pete Lacabawrote the film’s screenplay and soundtrack, including the timeless “Sangandaan” and “Manggagawa,” which was performed by Rody Vera. Watch Sister Stella L. on YouTube.
Third World Romance (2023)
As the title suggests, the film is a love story set against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. But unliketypical Pinoy rom-coms, it does not rely on stereotypes and cheesy dialogues. Under the direction of Dwein Ruedas Baltazar, the movie realistically portrays the romance between two grocery workers amid poverty and job insecurity. Watch Third World Romance on Netflix
Himpapawid (2009)
A tragic tale of a desperate laborer pushed to the edge of insanity as he struggles to survive in the oppressive and chaotic world of urban Manila. Directed by Raymond Red, the film was inspired by the true event of the Philippine Airlines Flight 812 hijacking in May 2000. Watch Himpapawid’s trailer on YouTube.
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (1984)
Banned upon its release, the film follows Arturo “Turing”Manalastas (Philip Salvador), a printing press worker, who is driven to the breaking point when he could not raise the money for his pregnant wife’s hospital bills. Having exposed the human rights situation and the miserable conditions of Filipino working class under the Marcos dictatorship. Lino Brocka had to smuggle the film to the Cannes Film Festival in France where it got nominated for Palme D’Or. Watch Bayan Ko’s trailer on YouTube.
Iska (2019)
Theodore Boborol directs this drama film based loosely on the life experiences of his own house cleaner. Played by Ruby Ruiz, who won the Cinemalaya 2019 Best Actress award for her portrayal of the title role, Iska has to juggle jobs as photocopy operator and house cleaner in order to make ends meet for her autistic grandson. The film tackles the plight of informal workers, urban poverty and the sad state of mental health care of the country. Watch Iska on Netflix.
Daniel is an avid lover of music and films. While most people his age would spend their leisure time playing online games, he enjoys creating playlists and movie lists. Daniel has also written opinion pieces for various publications. He studied Political Science at Adamson University and is currently an associate at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. He would never say no to a cold beer!