Canadian Adobo

The decision of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to leave their modest comforts in the Philippines for the promise of a brighter future in Canada is examined through the raw and intimate lens of group therapy. This documentary captures the emotional struggles of parents striving to provide for their families back home, only to face the unexpected challenge of reconnecting with their children, who are also grappling with their new lives in Canada.

Building on his previous work, “KALINGA (Care),” filmmaker Kent Donguines delves deeper into the impacts of domestic workers’ migration, this time including the perspective of the children. Through candid discussions, the film explores untold stories of family bonds strained by distance and explores the complex journey of healing and understanding. A film that doesn’t just highlight the sacrifices made by OFWs but also provides a platform for their children to express their experiences—both the joys and the heartaches—shedding light on the multifaceted reality of immigration and the enduring hope for reconciliation.

Directed by Kent Donguines
Produced by Mackenzie Stannard, Kent Donguines, Jacob Crawford, and Bailey Wood

Director’s Bio: Kent Donguines is a Filipino-Canadian narrative and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. He is the CEO of Aimer Films Inc. and has produced the award-winning CBC short documentary, This Ink Runs Deep, which premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and produced the Telus Storyhive short film, Kalinga (Care), a documentary about the sacrifices Filipina nannies make to work in Canada. The short documentary had its World Premiere at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival and won the Kathleen Shannon Award from Yorkton Film Festival. Kent has worked for production companies in Canada and the Philippines, including Cedar Island Films Inc., Black Cap Pictures (Ten17p), Viva Entertainment, and Star Cinema. His latest short film, funded by Harold Greenberg Fund, BC Arts Council, Canadian Film Centre, CreativeBC, and the National Film Board of Canada, Paco received the Grand Prize of Stage32 Annual Film Contest and has secured a broadcast license with CRAVE. He’s currently developing the feature films, Error 404 and Four Four; and in post-production for the Telus Original documentary, Canadian Adobo. He is also an alumnus of the Canadian Film Center’s Norman Jewison Film Program – Producers Lab.