Just weeks before the CinePanalo Film Festival, Food Delivery—a winning short documentary—was quietly removed from the official lineup. The reason? Reported external pressure from investors linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), channeled through the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

This is a betrayal not just of one filmmaker, but of every Filipino who believes in our right to tell our own stories.

Food Delivery was a bold, truthful documentary about Filipino fishermen, sovereignty, and the future of our seas. It was selected and funded. But before it could be screened, it was suddenly pulled—with no clear explanation from PureGold or the festival sponsors.

We are calling on:

PureGold, as the main festival sponsor

CinePanalo organizers, and

Any associated institutions involved in the decision

to publicly explain why this film was removed.

Was it truly artistic discretion? Or was it pressure from foreign interests that seek to suppress stories of Filipino resilience and territorial truth?

Filmmakers deserve answers.
The public deserves answers.
We will not stay silent while our stories are erased.

We demand:

A clear, public explanation for the removal of Food Delivery

Accountability from CinePanalo organizers and sponsors

A commitment to protect creative freedom in future festivals

✍️ Sign this petition and join the call for transparency.
Filipino stories matter. We will not let them be silenced.