The Scent of Warmth

In the Philippines, albularyos (herbalists) and hilot (a traditional Filipino healer who uses hand manipulation) are sometimes seen as equivalent to “quack” doctors. Yet, for many Filipinos, especially in the provinces, they are the answer to a worsening illness and a universal problem: expensive medical bills. But does traditional Filipino medicine, or Gamutang Filipino, actually work?

Gio Gonzalves is a Filmmaker from the Philippines. He wrote, directed, and edited several short films and documentaries under the film production collective called Lakan Film Collective–a collective he co-founded where he serves as the Creative Director.

Some of his short films were screened and have won awards in several local film festivals such as the Cinemalaya Film Festival, CCP Gawad Alternatibo, Manila Broadcasting Film Festival, Mindanao Film Festival, Maginhawa Film Festival, Sundayag Film Fest, Calabarzon Film Festival, and the Metro Manila Film Festival. His short film Isang Gabi was also screened at the 1st Pakistan International Film Festival.

He has been lensing documentaries for Singapore’s Channel News Asia, Vice News, and Probe Productions. His short experimental documentary called Kambalingan won as the Best Documentary during the 2nd Manila Broadcasting Film Festival (2022) and 2nd best documentary during the 33rd Gawad Alternatibo (2021). His short film Konsumatumes was awarded Best Film and Best Director during the Ateneo Video Open (2022), and the same awards during the Industree TV Digital Film Festival (2020).

His recent short documentary, EDXiao, was exhibited during the 35th Gawad Alternatibo. He is currently filming his first documentary feature film about the Filipino Historian Xiao Chua and his role as a Public Historian.