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TULIPA

A story of Filipino LGBT migrants who sought life outside the Philippines to assert their rights to gender equality. Personal experiences and life stories about survival, hope, and the continuing struggle of the community in the Philippines.

The film gleans into the lives of Filipino LGBTQIA+ migrants in the Netherlands and expounds on the value and importance of creating an inclusive and safe Philippines for the gender marginalized groups.

  • Rhadem Musawah
    Director
  • Sophia Balod Lorenzo
    Writer
  • Nimruz De Castro
    Writer
  • Luna Obcial
    Writer
  • Chris Sta. Brigida
    Producer
  • Mikhail Pineda
    Film Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 23, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rhadem Musawah

An indigenous Muslim gay documentary filmmaker and human rights activists. I am also a member of PhilSilat Association under Philippine Olympic Committee, Changemaker Alumnus of Thomson Reuters Foundation, Core Member of Vote Pilipinas under the Philippine Commission on Election, and boardmember of MUJER LGBT+ Organisation. Consultant for international government on humanitarian programs in the Philippines.

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Director Statement

I have made a lot of film and video content for international agencies focus on gender marginalized groups like the LGBT Community in the Philippines but little do hear stories about Filipino LGBT in diaspora. There are many cases of abuse in the Philippines on top of the unequal and unjust treatment towards the LGBTQI+ community, which lead to having our skilled workers leave the country to seek for a better life. Our stories in the Philippines is always centered on Filipino in the country, we rarely see the stories of those who left.

I always say this, that PRIDE is a protest. We continue to march and protest until no one gets left behind. But as an artist and human rights activist, i do my protest thru art, by giving awareness, visibility and empowerment to the movement thru the untold stories mostly people do not understand or refuse to understand. Ignite the movement by knowing our strenghth and limits and to me, i do it with stories that matters! While i dont agree that PRIDE should only be celebrated in certain month when abuses, injustice and oppression happens everyday for the entire year. And going back, this film and this story is a good communication format to represent, bring awareness and to call everyone to act on the issue.