"Bari-Bari", which translates to "we mean no harm", is a dance series that opens discussions about the pressing issues our environment faces today
Environmental welfare is something that we should truly keep our eyes on. In the Philippines alone, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that as of August 2021, solid waste in Metro Manila increases 11,953 tons per day.
“In 2019, we had about 9,333 tons per day [of] solid waste collected here in the NCR (National Capital Region),” Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said in a news conference.
Since then, environmental advocates and concerned artists have become more aggressive in raising awareness and airing their concerns. One of them is Ea Torrado, dance artist and founder of Daloy Dance Co.
In his film called Bari-bari ("we mean no harm"), Torrado advocates for environmental sustainability and regeneration through dancing. This project is also in collaboration with the local community of environmentalists (Dalumpinas Oeste Eco Rangers) and dance artists (Sanduli Dance of LORMA Colleges).
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"In 2020, acclaimed Germany-based producer Christoph Winkler tapped me to direct a contemporary dance film that talks about environmental issues," Torrado tells Tatler. "We are able to secure funding support from Goethe Institut Manila and also premiere at Fifth Wall Fest, the first international dance film fest in the Philippines," he added.
Bari-bari, which was shot on the mesmerising coastlines of La Union, is a collection of seven short dance films that combines interviews and contemporary dance interpretations of folk and ethnic dances in the Ilocos region.
The spaces in La Union were filled with recycled and wearable plastic art pieces made by award-winning contemporary artist Leeroy New. The plastics used were collected by La Union-based Dalumpinas Oeste Eco Rangers during their daily coastal cleanups in San Fernando.
Bari-bari is a project supported by Goethe Institut-Manila and seeks to be screened in various film festivals in NCR. People who wish to see the teaser may click this link. Those who wish to watch all seven episodes may do so for free by clicking the Filipino map in this link.
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