Treasure of the Rice Terraces

Treasure of the Rice Terraces backdrop
Poster for Treasure of the Rice Terraces
MOVIE

Treasure of the Rice Terraces

Filipino Canadian filmmaker Kent Donguines travels back to the Philippines to reconnect with his roots. In a nation with over 134,000 years of history and centuries of colonization — under Spanish, American, and Japanese rule — Donguines notes a shared feeling of weakened traditional identity among many Filipinos he knows and meets. A vital part of their heritage, the centuries-old practice of tattooing, was banned by colonizers and even shunned by Filipinos. Donguines travels to Buscalan, a secluded mountain community, to discover more about the revival of Indigenous Kalinga tattoos. Guided by 107-year-old master artist Apo Whang-od, Donguines learns the deep history and symbolism behind the tattoos. The revival of this Indigenous body art tradition offers a powerful way to preserve culture, spark pride, and strengthen identity, and Treasure of the Rice Terraces shows how traditions can survive, evolve, and inspire both local communities and cultural identity worldwide.

Release Date

2025-10-05

Year

2025

Duration

1h 15m

Status

Released

Score

0.00

Cast

Kent Donguines

Kent Donguines

Apo Whang-od

Apo Whang-od

Lars Krutak

Lars Krutak

Grace Palicas

Grace Palicas

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Kim Atienza

Michelle Dee

Michelle Dee

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Mark Bumgarner

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Elyang Wigan