Features Overview
Chocolates and Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines
The trailer of the documentary, Chocolates and Roses, directed by Erminia Colucci.
A Case Study on Visualizing Resilience
Project Title: Chocolates and Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines
Role: Editor
Category: Ethnographic Documentary
1. Project Overview
Chocolates and Roses is an ethnographic documentary resulting from a visual research project led by Dr. Erminia Colucci in collaboration with Dr. Dinah Nadera. The film explores how the absence of divorce laws and prevailing cultural barriers in the Philippines compound the trauma of domestic violence survivors.
2. The Journalistic Challenge
As the editor, the challenge was to weave together deeply personal, sensitive interviews into a cohesive narrative that was both culturally specific and universally urgent. The vulnerability of the survivors was respected while maintaining the raw impact of their testimonies.
3. Creative & Ethical Execution
Narrative Pacing: Balanced heavy, trauma-informed testimonials with segments highlighting grassroots resistance and resilience, ensuring the film didn't just portray "victims" but honored "survivors." Throughout the film, their voices drive the story.
Multimedia Integration: Through the integration of the legal and cultural context this helped to elevate the film from a personal story to a systemic critique.
4. Social Impact & Reach
Diplomatic Screening: On 25 November 2025 the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. screened the documentary to mark the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.
Official Recognition: Deputy Chief of Mission Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon Jr. noted that the film “serves as a mirror – reflecting the realities many women face and the struggles they often endure silently. But it is also a window – opening our eyes to the systems of support available.”
Alunsina (2020)
The trailer of the documentary, Alunsina, directed by Kiri Dalena.
Alunsina: A Documentary on the Human Cost of the Drug War
Project Title: Alunsina
Role: Editor
Category: Human Rights Documentary