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Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul

“Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul” is a powerful documentary by Chiara Cox created in collaboration with the Mangyan Heritage Center. This film is a deep dive into one of the few surviving ancient Filipino writing systems—the Hanunuo Mangyan script. As one of only four pre-10th-century indigenous scripts still in use, it remains an essential part of Mangyan culture through the 'ambahan'—beautiful, sung poetry that shares wisdom across generations. Chiara’s documentary brings this unique tradition to life through interviews and stories, revealing its enduring impact on Filipino heritage and the global diaspora.

Tim Brookes, a global leader in script endangerment and revitalization, described it as fascinating and outstanding, and award-winning director Dr. Teresa Mular praised it as an engaging examination of an important part of our history.

  • Chiara Cox
    Producer
    Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings
  • Chiara Cox
    Editor
    Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings
  • Chiara Cox
    Writer
    Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings
  • Chiara Cox
    Key Cast
    "Narrator, Interviewer"
    Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings
  • Quint Delgado Fansler
    Key Cast
    "Founder of Mangyan Heritage Center"
  • Emily Lorenzo Catapang
    Key Cast
    "Executive Director of Mangyan Heritage Center"
  • Lolita Delgado Fansler
    Key Cast
    "Former President of Mangyan Heritage Center"
  • Resti Pitogo
    Key Cast
    "Ambahan Researcher and Mangyan Heritage Center Trustee"
  • Uyan Daay
    Key Cast
    "Mangyan Culture Bearer"
  • Anya Postma
    Key Cast
    "Ambahan Chanter and Bamboo Whispers Mangyan Script Writer"
  • Romy Daay
    Key Cast
    "Ambahan Chanter"
  • Bangay Bugnot
    Key Cast
    "Ambahan Chanter"
  • Rita Luna
    Key Cast
    "Ambahan Chanter"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    56 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 5, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English, Tagalog
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Zoom Recording
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • US Premiere
    Columbia, SC
    United States
    October 5, 2024
    North American Premiere at Richland Library
  • Philippine Premiere
    BGC, Taguig
    Philippines
    November 9, 2024
    Philippines Premiere at Arthaland Century Pacific Tower
  • Second Screening in the Philippines
    BGC
    Philippines
    November 29, 2024
  • UK Virtual Premiere
    London
    United Kingdom
    January 23, 2025
    UK Virtual Premiere at The School of Oriental and African Studies
    World Endangered Scripts Day 2025 Award for Documentary of Minority Script
Distribution Information
  • YouTube
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
Director Biography

Chiara is a multidisciplinary communications creative with projects focusing on diasporic themes that aim to spread positivity, inspire pride, and spark curiosity. You can find her on www.chiaracox.com.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In my search for wisdom, I have found it in many different spiritual and secular texts but I was never introduced to ancient and, what I would consider, sacred Filipino written words until I discovered the Mangyan Ambahan (sung poetry). Written in Mangyan script that can be dated back to before the 10th century AD, their age old beautiful words, full of simplicity, sincerity, and sagacity, move me to tears. It is their poems that inspired this documentary. I believe the Filipino diaspora who watch this video will find the ancient indigenous Mangyan Script and Ambahan to be a source of pride. For others, they will discover a Filipino tribe that encourages strength through peace and non-violence.

Originally meant to be an audio podcast, I could not help but use the 720p Zoom video recordings for this documentary so the audience could see the faces and the words that moved me.

The world premiere of "Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul" was on October 6, 2024 to open the Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia's celebration of Filipino American History Month in South Carolina. It has since been screened twice in November 2024 in the Philippines. In January 2025, the Philippine Studies at SOAS University of London hosted the global virtual screening in partnership with the National Museum of Language and the Endangered Alphabets Project. I also received a recognition award by The Endangered Alphabets Project on World Endangered Writing Day 23rd of January 2025 for a Documentary of a Minority Script.