Legarda’s “Buhos” Climate Change Documentary Lauded

“BUHOS” – A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE PRODUCED AND PRESENTED BY SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA AT THE CINEMA 3 OF SM MALL OF ASIA SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 WAS CITED AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN EDUCATING THE ENTIRE NATION ON THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING TO OUR COUNTRY.
“It had to take Ondoy, Pepeng and Basyang for us to realize that climate change is not just a scientific and environmental issue, but an all encompassing threat to our basic human rights – food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself, “the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change told the theatre full guests from the diplomatic corps, academe, student leaders, environmentalists, NGO’s and local government officials.
Legarda who grew up in flood prone Malabon, made the worsening flood situation central to the theme of her new documentary on climate change, entitled Buhos (Downpour). The senator collaborated with acclaimed Filipino filmmaker and 2009 Cannes best director Brillante Mendoza, who lent artistic credence to produce a visually interesting, informative, and most importantly, moving documentary.
Buhos successfully demystifies global warming by bringing it down to the level of day-to-day living, offering easy to understand scientific explanations of greenhouse gases and climate change, as well as realistic ways of addressing this clear and present danger, in the context of Filipino living.
As chairperson of the Senate Standing and Oversight Committees on Climate Change, Senator Legarda principally authored and sponsored landmark environmental laws—the Climate Change Act of 2009, the Environmental Awareness Education Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act, among others.
Legarda, a UNEP laureate for environment and United Nations champion for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for Asia and the Pacific, has been the voice of climate-vulnerable nations like the Philippines and has called for “climate justice” for developing countries in various international fora.
Beyond her call of duty, Legarda runs a nationwide awareness and education campaign on climate change. She produced the docu-drama Ulan sa Tag-araw, children’s animation movie Ligtas Likas, and a United Nations documentary Now is the Time. Legarda implements an extensive tree planting program through Luntiang Pilipinas and mobilizes humanitarian aid to disaster-affected and poverty-stricken communities through Lingkod Loren. Last year, she reached out to thousands of families left homeless by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng through her missions.
“Buhos” was launched with the support of SM Cinema and will have additional special screenings in select theatres, schools and universities in the coming months.