A moving portrait of Filipino Amerasians: the sons and daughters of Filipina sex workers and American servicemen stationed at Subic Bay, once the largest US naval base outside mainland USA. Left By The Ship is a beautiful documentary that follows the lives of these Amerasians over the course of two years as they struggle with discrimination, family problems and identity-related issues, trying to overcome a past they are in no way responsible for.

When the Subic Bay base closed in 1992, thousands of Amerasian children were left behind. Unlike Amerasian children from other countries, Filipino Amerasians were never recognised by the US government. It is estimated that there are at least 50,000 Amerasians are living in the Philippines today. Abandoned in early life, living with the stigma of being illegitimate children, unable to escape prejudice due to their physical features, they are teased with the names of ‘Iniwan ng Barko’ (which means left by the ship).

What is it like to be an Amerasian in the Philippines today? When your basic birthrights have been denied, what kind of future can you build for yourself? How do perceive yourself when everyone can see, by just looking at you, that your mother was a prostitute and your father has abandoned you?

Winner of the Social Justice Award at the Disorient Asian American Film Festival
Certificate of Excellence, Sky Fest
Silver Ace Award, Las Vegas Film Festival
Winner Cinema Doc Prize, Festival dei Popoli
Winner Best Subject Matter, Cinema.Doc circuit