Documentary about a London Bus Driver who goes to Manila in the Philippines to experience what it is like to live and work as a Jeepney driver in Manila

• There are about 80 million people who live in the Philippines!

• There are 7,107 islands that make up the country of the Philippines. Amazingly though, there are only a few hundred of these islands that have people living on them

• There are over 70 different languages spoken in the Philippines with over 450 distinct dialects coming from those languages!

Filipino-American surfers travel to the Philippines for the first time and experienced first-hand how it i to be Filipino. Dan moreno and Jon Villar are the two surfers who never found value in their own heritage, until now. Their trip to the Philippines is a total immersion in an unfamiliar culture, which they have relied on hearsay and written articles. They will come face to face with the real Filipinos in their own native space. Dan and Jon will integrate with the communities, play Filipino music, eat native fruits and delicacies and surf the islands with the locals. At the end of their trip, both surfers will provide us with highlights of their physical, emotional and spiritual experiences. The Gift of Barong is not only a surfing odyssey, but also a nourney of culture reconnection, identity crisis and sersonal healing.

Directed by: Benito Butista + Produced by: Jocely Fomento & Dan Moreno

Mic3 sends in a tattoo of a montage artwork  by Samoan Mike from Sacred Center Tattoo which took 1 year in the making and still is in progress.

First and foremost, the portrait at the top is one of Jose Rizal inside the Sun of the Philippine flag that we know of now. Right below is a depiction of Lapu Lapu (Iliji  Rajiki), protector of the Philippine Islands against Ferdinand Magellan and other Conquistadors. Lapu Lapu is holding a Balisong or Kampilan and a shield or Pestle, more known now as the Kalinga Apayao shield. Mic3 had the markings of the Kalinga tattooed on Lapu Lapu himself although that wasn’t so in reality.

Future plans to add on to this masterpiece are rice pattys off to the right side of his body and Eskrima Fighters/Warriors within the area. Also 3 stones below the portrait will be added, representing the 3 main islands of the Philippines, and within them will be the Hail Mary Prayer in Alibata/Baybayin. Lastly the Philippine islands will be shaded in.

Bboy Mouse has represented the Philippines, flying the flag high in every move possible, all in his master plan to give back home, the recognition the Philippines deserves. Ereson ‘Mouse’ Catipon started bboying when he moved to England in 1996 from the Philippines, and has branded his name in UK bboying. In 2006, Mouse achieved his lifelong ambition and became the World Solo BBoy Champion!