Thesis (BA Communication and Media Arts) University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2023

Over the years, the realm of the Philippine cinema has involved plots and narratives about poverty-stricken people. As numerous independent films in the country made their way to the international stage and garnered awards, this portrayal of the poor's struggles has yielded much controversy. Various film critics questioned how the plots of some independent films unraveled without embedding a sense of empowerment for the destitute members of our population in the movie. That being the case, critics made use of the label "poverty porn" for using poverty as a central theme in these films. This study centered on one independent film titled “Pamilya Ordinaryo” (Ordinary People) and explored how it represented images of the poor in the Philippines. Starring Hasmine Killip and Ronwaldo Martin as Jane and Aries, respectively, the film depicts the life of a teenage couple who constantly find ways to survive despite their impecunious lives. Furthermore, it centered on today's realities, specifically on depicting a favorable image of the poor. Through Critical Discourse Analysis, this paper critiqued how the said film gave out harsh truths about society and how it exploited images and struggles of the poor to capture the public's attention. Given this arises the problematique of objectifying the protagonists and aestheticizing their plight, and emphasizing the poor's suffering in the local scene. This study revealed that the film “Pamilya Ordinaryo” exploited the plight of the poor communities in the Philippine setting but failed to put forward genuine resolutions to attenuate the pressing issue of poverty.