Film100 TRU

Prof. Sari Dalena

Documentary Film Review
7 October 2014

AGBALBALITOK

Agbalbalitok or The Gold Prospector was directed by Ferdinand Balanag. This

documentary film unfolds into a story around the gold mining situation in Antamok, Itogon
Benguet. Director Balanags focus was on a particular family struggling in the small-scale
mining community. While Johnrey Guinapon and his family is the main subject of the film, it
depicts the hardships and circumstances that the small-scale miners go through. Such trials are
the dangerous tunnels these miners enter and chemicals they use to earn a living, the insufficient
salary for a family and the unsafe environment they reside in. All of which were clearly seen in
the film.

The documentary also shows that the local government strives to offer other employment
options for the small-scale miners community, which is one of the films sole purposes. The
film presents the small-scale mining reality and it suggests a better way of living for the miners.
It also implies the great pull of gold to anyone, especially the miners, yet the harsh truth is that
there is a world beyond it. During the film, it came to my attention that the Johnreys sons
illness was not resolved or even identified. However, it suggested that the hazardous
environment may be its cause. After the film I personally inquired the directors representative
and he believes it is indeed the surrounding conditions. He also imparted the fact that a part of

the films profit will go to Johnreys family in order for the sons health to be checked in Metro
Manila.

When it comes to the documentary cinema elements, the director was able to capture the
narration clearly. Aside from the family of Johnrey, the director also filmed interviews. These
interviews were not of the subject or protagonist, but some of the different local government
heads. The interviews consisted some history of Itogon Benguet such how the Spaniards were
not free to search the area, but the Americans were given the privilege to do so. Some interviews
explained the difference between the big gold mining companies versus the small-scale mining
business. Although the director did not show any archival footage, the interviews helped picture
the history and the narration helped the audience know the basic process of small-scale mining,
this can be seen during Johnrey teaching his new recruit how to mine.

In some parts of the documentary though, I felt that there was somehow direction or
script. For example, the meet-up of Johnrey and the small-scale mining investor, the argument of
the husband and wife about their sons health and the insufficient income did not seem real
enough and the part wherein his new recruit was able to pick up a waitress in Baguio.
Nevertheless, these may have been repeated as asked by the director and is acceptable if the
direction stayed faithful to the exact events.

Throughout the focus on Johnreys life, his work and family, snippets of interviews
would be shown to add to the audiences knowledge of the small-scale mining industry. Because
there was a main subject, the director was able to move the narration along by following the

protagonists life. Basically, Johnrey looks for an investor, finds a recruit and then he is faced
with familial circumstances. The interviews were also of great importance as it filled in the
details or background of the subjects work. It was timely that while Johnreys life was being a
follow, his new recruit paved way for the narration to be unraveled. Johnrey had to teach his
recruit how to mine and other processes, and thus these things were detailed in the documentary.
However, the main incident that moved the narration along was the health condition of his son
and how they will be able to bring him to the right hospital and the right doctor. Not only does it
present an environment issue but as a source of trial in their family, it was even said by the wife
that without the sons sickness they are already struggling with money, how much more with
their sons condition.

The documentary takes its viewers to the world of miningunderground work, buying
chemicals and processing gold. More than that, though, it besets the issue of the endangered
Filipinos in Itogon Benguet. It brings out the fact that our fellow Filipino people live in a
threatening environment with the same life-threatening occupation. The film indeed sends out a
powerful message that we must be aware of these pressing situations and actively participate in
lending a hand. It takes us out from our own comfortable life as compared to theirs and the
question is: what can we do to help?