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.

Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Kent Donguines sets out in his filmmaking journey to reclaim an identity he feared was slipping away. What begins as a story of self-discovery unfolds into a powerful meditation on cultural memory and the lasting impact of colonial erasure.

Traveling from Canada to Buscalan, a remote mountain village in the Philippines, Donguines meets 107-year-old Apo Whang-od, the master Kalinga tattoo artist, and her apprentices. Through their stories, the film traces the ancient practice of tattooing as both a cultural and spiritual marker—one that was systematically suppressed under colonial rule. Once stigmatized, these tattoos have become potent symbols of pride and belonging for Filipinos at home and abroad.

Blending stunning cinematography, rich archival material, and thoughtfully placed interviews, Donguines offers a cinematic act of reclamation. The film is as much about reconnecting with heritage as it is about challenging the narratives imposed on a people. Visually striking and emotionally layered, the film stands as a quiet yet powerful act of decolonization, both personal and collective. -REELWORLD

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