‘This is Not a Film’: How a Fight against Disinformation Fueled a Visual Protest and Call to Action

“Hindi ito pelikula. Totoong buhay ito.” (“This is not a film. This is real life.”)

In recent warring beliefs and ideologies, malicious information and dishonesty, as it has been made apparent, held more damage and destruction than guns, rifles, and cannons. And when the war against preserving our treasured territories links to the war on fake news and disinformation, it takes more than just soldiers and warriors to march on and win both battles.

As a long-standing conflict of the nation, the West Philippine Sea has seen too many disputes and injustices within its vast waters. And unfortunately, it is by the lack of coverage and awareness that the mistreatment faced by the local fishermen and the continuous aggressive misuse of power by foreign bodies representing China that these tales remain buried deep and lost at sea. Thus, it is only vital that the authorities and other concerned groups to take a step towards an awakening of power in safeguarding what’s really ours.

Independent organization Center for Information Resilience and Integrity Studies (CIRIS) has long been doing just that and it has long kept the West Philippine Sea advocacy clear and strong with their slate of programs and projects. In the recent release of the four-minute short film, Alon ng Kabayanihan, CIRIS, in alliance with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Hot and Fresh Creative Productions delivers what served to be a reminder that defending sovereignty is not just a task for frontliners, but a responsibility shared by all Filipinos.  

Starring Sid Lucero, Carlo Aquino, and Ryza Cenon, the short film welcomes the lives of two brothers growing up by the shore, who then went on to take different life paths just to meet towards one purpose: to protect and preserve the West Philippine Sea. The film set out to be the fruit of collaborative support between government and non-government agencies, alongside visionaries from the creative industry in opening a glimpse of reality of the many fishermen and locals affected by the ongoing discrimination and unrest from our own territories.

As one of its founders, CIRIS Executive Director Michel André P. Del Rosario has committed in battling disinformation, misinformation, and malign influence in the inception of the organization, along with Cristopher Balagtas and Erik Chua. Noting past work as a former Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary and a chairperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Information Working Group, del Rosario has long since been exposed to the troubling state of our protected waters, that then translated to an ongoing vow to push for awareness for this persisting reality.

From there, CIRIS has openly supported projects aimed at highlighting and capturing the lived experiences of life within the waters of the West Philippine Sea, thus giving light to eye-opening projects and films, such as Alon ng Kabayanihan. 

“As an independent organization committed to societal resilience and information integrity, common ground was found with our partners from the creatives industry, the AFP, and the PCG in a shared desire to inform, inspire, and unite Filipinos around our sovereignty and the people defending it. This partnership was built on mutual respect and a shared vision to educate and empower through storytelling,” del Rosario tells Rank Magazine.

CIRIS dove deeper than support, as the organization got heavily involved with the strategic direction of the film while also overseeing the intent of its campaign. With the respective expertise stemming from CIRIS, PCG, AFP, and the creatives peopling the production, the four-minute film saw a deep sense of purpose with a passionate synergy driven in enlightening the real life beyond the shore.

“We hope the audience leaves with a sense of clarity and conviction—that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines, and that protecting it is a shared national responsibility. This project is about awakening awareness and strengthening resolve,” del Rosario furthers.

Bringing the story to life, the vision remains clear for the film’s director Kevin Mayuga in ensuring the storytelling cuts deep within the message it wants to convey. Initially, going for a purely visual direction without words, the story aimed to deliver the advocacy from what the audience watches that transcends beyond dialogue.

He shares, “When I started on my director’s board, I imagined it as a purely visual story—no words, no script—something you could watch silently and still understand. I mapped out the arcs of the two brothers: where they came from, what anchored them together in childhood, and how their paths diverged. Then, I brought them back together in the end—each with a different interpretation of the same principle: our shared Filipino ownership of the sea.” 

However, it was when the team conversed with real-life fishermen of the area where they felt the need to add another level of authenticity by absorbing the language of its people to the film. “From there, I layered in dialogue inspired by real testimonies from fishermen, adding weight, subtext, and lived experience. That’s when the project really came together—when the cinematic vision fused with truth.”

“Authenticity was always at the center. We stayed close to the fishermen’s experiences—listening, conversing, and even adjusting the story while shooting based on what they shared. Their testimonies didn’t just guide the script, they shaped how we staged and framed key moments,” Mayuga highlights.

Taking on a project different from the genres he has previously worked on, including films like When This is All Over and the short film Ate O.G. both at the Cinemalaya, he persisted in becoming an integral figure for the creation of this visual project with CIRIS. Absorbing art in the face of serious social advocacy, it is within the project that captures the state of the nation–even those of us who continuously stand tall on their boats just to protect our land and resources. 

“What mattered most was delivering the message in a way that truly cuts through. We used every cinematic tool we had, leading to that final fourth-wall break. After sweeping the audience through the emotion and spectacle, we look them in the eye and remind them: this isn’t just cinema. This is real life,” he echoes the film’s declaration.

Taking a serious issue on screen, the filmmaker along with the producers, took the grave responsibility of choosing the right actors and scenes to deliver a performance as authentic as witnessing the conflicts in the West Philippines Sea firsthand. Doing so, the producers utilized the artistry and craft of Lucero, Aquino, and Cenon to deliver a convincing performance that exudes well within the overall theme of the video. 

“It’s happening right on the same shores where we vacation, and it impacts us more deeply than we realize. It’s time to talk about it, to care, to rise above political differences. Alon ng Kabayanihan is a call to step up—for our modern bayani: our Armed Forces, our Coast Guard, and our fishermen,” Mayuga shares.

In just four minutes, Alon ng Kabayanihan delivers not only an instant masterpiece that captured the real face of the modern Filipino struggle, but poignantly and sharply brings the message it carries as a ringing reminder to its audience about the importance of our strength, resilience, and courage, all with a sense of urgency to put all of these inherent attributes to good use now, more than ever.

The film teaches its viewers that battles come in many forms and voices, as long as it shouts the same purpose, creates an unrelenting wave of change.

Beyond the release of the film, Del Rosario notes that the Center is slated to mount a nationwide series of lectures and workshops crafted to continue on with its fight against disinformation with selected universities. He notes, “This takes into consideration members of the academe and specific faculty of the universities who deserve to be provided the platform to discuss their research on special topics on disinformation and malign influence.”

“As Filipinos, we look out for each other—it’s in our nature to be hospitable and united. This campaign aims to spark that same spirit of solidarity with our service members and fisherfolk. This is a campaign against apathy,” Del Rosario closes.

Produced in collaboration with Center for Information Resilience and Integrity Studies (CIRIS) and Rank Magazine

Photography and art direction by Ver Sacol

Shot on location at Sheraton Manila, Newport World Resorts

With special acknowledgments to Angelika Javier, CIRIS. Stephanie Ongkiko, PUNTO and Celine Aquino