'Aswang' director Alyx Arumpac reveals meaning behind drug war documentary title

Alyx Tarumpac made a powerful documentary on the Duterte administration's war on drugs called "Aswang." 

In an interview on "The Howie Severino Podcast," she explained her word choice for the title of her movie, saying "aswang" was the first the first thing that came to mind during her research, when she first saw photos and images of bodies wrapped in plastic. 

"When the first images came up graphics, photos or itong mga nakabalot — nu'ng una ko siyang makita 'yun ang naisip ko," she said.

"Kasi 'yung idea ng aswang parang pananakot lang din siya, e. Ginamit siya previously at our history. Mag-iiwan ng patay sa daan para matakot 'yung mga HUKBALAHAP or something," she added.

According to Alyx, she recognized these deaths as a "blatant display of violence."

"It was spreading a message — sending a message. Ayun. Although at the very beginning when I wrote it, I wasn't really sure if it was gonna be carry through, if it was gonna end up as an aswang," she said.

Alyx said it also served as a guide since it would have been "very easy to fall into a certain kind of film if you don't have this idea."

"It could easily have been a very journalistic film — mas for broadcast and that's perfectly okay," she added. "That probably would have been easier to distribute such a film."

However, Alyx said "if you think about 'Aswang,' then you know that's more of towards this creative documentary genre."

The creator hopes her film will continue to be relevant to viewers decades from now, like how this cinema from the '80s still is for those in this generation.

"I would really be happy if 'Aswang' can be seen that way as well from decades on," she said. "It' a very clear depiction of life under Duterte's regime."

According to the filmmaker, "Aswang" is being shown by schools in a lot of classes.

"We're very open to that. I wish a lot of people could watch it and a lot of people will keep on watching it in the future," she said.

When asked if she could envision her documentary film as an evidence at the International Criminal Court's investigation, she said "Yeah. Well, to make it hold water in court, mas specific kasi 'yung requirements."

"Not sure if puwede itong sabihin pero straight from the same card, all these things. So mas strict sila in terms of using video and photos as evidence for that," she said. "But I think they have definitely seen the film anyway very early on."