The Gift of Barong

Thank you for visiting our myspace site. The film continues to spark interest in areas and regions where many Filipino communites reside. Stay tuned for upcoming screenings. Most recently, The Gift of Barong screened in Mati the capitol Davao Oriental, Philippines. For those who can't wait for a screening in your area, "The Gift of Barong" is now available as a Video On Demand (VOD). Visit www.suncastTV.com for details and information. The DVD is now available so you can watch it yourself or with friends and family. DVD's are $20./copy plus $4. shipping and handling. Make checks payable to Sonlight Surfshop, 575 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, Ca 94044 (memo line: Gift of Barong DVD). Allow 7-10 days delivery after receipt of payment. You can also order online by going to www.stokemaster.com
The documentary film The Gift of Barong: A Journey From Within originated from a very innocent and surprising experience from one of the main characters, Dan Moreno. The day he accompanied his parents to a town fiesta in South San Francisco, his parents asked him to wear his barong. (A barong tagalog is a handcrafted shirt made of jusi and piña that is worn by the Filipino as a sign of integrity, respect and pride. While wearing the barong, Dan awakened a deeper consciousness that set him on a quest to reconcile his American character to his Filipino heritage.
The Gift of Barong is a story of two generations of Filipino-American surfers as they travel to the Philippines for the first time to experience first-hand how it is to be Filipino. Dan Moreno and Jon Villar are the two surfers who never find value in their own heritage, until now. Their trip to the Philippines is a total immersion in a unfamiliar culture, which they have relied on hearsay and written articles. They will come face to face with the real Filipinos in their own native space. Dan and Jon will integrate with the communities, play Filipino music, eat native fruits and delicacies and surf the islands with the locals.
At the end of their trip, both surfers will provide us with highlights of their physical, emotional and spiritual experiences. The Gift of Barong is not only a surfing odyssey, but also a journey of culture reconnection, identity crisis and personal healing.
The Gift of Barong has screened at numerous film festivals including the San Diego Asian Film Festival, CineManila Philippines, Chicago Filipino American Film Festival, Pan Asian Film Festival, Calgary Canada, and the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival where it was awared Best Cinematography. In addition, the film has screened at the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Conference in Hawaii, San Diego Fil-Am Trade and Cultural Expo, the University of Hawaii/Hilo and UC Santa Barbara, California.