“Kinabuhi” is a documentary short film I produced to share the inspiring stories of the coconut farmers in the Philippines. I wanted to showcase their strength and resilience as they rebuild their lives after Typhoon Hagupit, while also shedding light on the injustices they face in the coconut industry.
The Philippines is an important place to me. After Typhoon Haiyan, I went armed with water filters for rural communities cut off from relief and then returned again when Typhoon Hagupit hit. Both times, I was struck by the destruction that was left in the wake of the disasters: millions of coconut palms were destroyed – a resource key to people’s livelihoods.
What I was even more struck by was the strength of these communities who had become my friends, opening up their lives and homes to me in spite of what they were going through. Their optimism, work ethic and generosity in the face of such adversity inspired me to share their stories and make a difference.
Despite the world’s demand for coconut oil, many don’t realize how vulnerable coconut farming communities are. Sixty percent of farmers live in extreme poverty, earning less than two dollars a day while trying to recover from the destruction left by natural disasters.
Next week, I’m launching an Indiegogo campaign where I’ll be raising funds to build a small-batch raw coconut oil production facility. Our goal will be to improve working standards, increase wages and provide sustainable job opportunities for both men and women in these communities.
Please support this mission of #GrowingChange by sharing this film, supporting our campaign and checking out the link for more info.
More info: kapuluancoconut.com
