MANILA, Philippines (August 2026) — For wheelchair users in the country, getting through a standard day requires an exhausting amount of personal resourcefulness because local cities simply are not built for them.
This systemic failure takes center stage in “Para-paraan” (Finding a Way Through), a short film finalist at the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Directed, written and produced by filmmaker and disability advocate Mae Chan Li, the ten-minute documentary offers an observational look into the life of Katrina “Kat” Hernandez. Hernandez is a para powerlifter, wheelchair user and the executive producer of the film.
Real life without a script
Instead of relying on dramatic narration, the film uses minimal dialogue and raw observation to capture Hernandez as she tries to complete everyday tasks. The story follows her as she attempts to withdraw money from a bank ATM, pick up medicine from a local drugstore and buy groceries. What should be simple errands quickly turn into a stressful sequence of constant adjustments.
Li shared that the project did not begin with an elaborate script because the obstacles were already everywhere. Poor urban infrastructure, including steep ramps, broken sidewalks, badly designed elevators and rough roads, turns routine outings into massive hurdles.
Stop praising forced adaptability
Through these quiet observations, the documentary highlights a frustrating paradox. Pinoys with disabilities are constantly expected to display resilience and adapt to environments that fail them, even though true accessibility should already be guaranteed. Li explained that the filmmaking process was about choosing which realities to frame and which negotiations to share.
Li, who co-founded the advocacy platform Kat Out of the Box with Hernandez, has spent years using digital media, community engagement and public education to fight disability stigma. With this film, she brings that fight to the big screen.
By showcasing these daily struggles at Cinemalaya 2026, the creators challenge audiences to look past the illusion of normalcy. The film makes a strong case for safer, more inclusive public spaces where people are fully empowered to live independently, rather than being forced to constantly find a way through.
For more context, check out fellow Cinemalaya finalist Silkscreen at astig.ph.
