In the episode, photographer Francisco “Paco” Guerrero explores the little-known area of Peñafranda in Nueva Ecija, spending a couple of days in this community of about 26,000 people, meeting its characters, and simply giving rural life a try. An ample source of rice, this town is known for its delicacies: espasol, polvoron, puto, and sapin-sapin. The country’s farmers are among the most important people in The Philippines since they make food available to us.

Historically, many revolutionaries came from the small town of Peñaranda such as their sons, Gen. Urbano Lacuna and Col. Pablo Padilla, both fought alongside Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Curiously, many of the country’s famous Padillas trace their roots to this town, among them National Artist for Music, composer Felipe Padilla de Leon Leon (1912–1992).

The editing for these episodes were done in a slower, more cinematic fashion, on such gorgeous scenery as rice fields, rivers and skies filled with storm clouds.

Music Used:

Small Town Philippines pt. 1
Furnace: Up Dharma Down
Two: Up Dharma Down
All Your Children Want for Dinner is You: Encounters with a Yeti
Delayed Breathing: Up Dharma Down
Blessed: Up Dharma Down
The Cold is Warmth: Up Dharma Down
Layag: Up Dharma Down
REVEAL: Sugarcoats and Heartbeats: Up Dharma Down

Small Town Philippines pt. 2
Furnace: Up Dharma Down
The Cold is Warmth: Up Dharma Down
All Year Round: Up Dharma Down
Me and My Bicycle: Popular Days
Two: Up Dharma Down
REVEAL 1: Intro: Sleepwalk Circus
REVEAL 2: Return, Saturn, Return: Up Dharma Down