“Ang Panday” (The Swordsmith) was adjudged Best Picture in the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and bested 6 other movies by cornering a majority of the awards handed out last night at the SMX Convention Center. The GMA Films/Imus Productions venture, which garnered 7 trophies in total, is also gunning to be the top grosser in terms of box-office earnings.

Selected as 2nd Best Picture of the festival is Star Cinema’s “I Love You, Goodbye” and following behind as 3rd Best is “Ang Darling kong Aswang.”

Here is the official list of winners:

Best Festival Picture: Ang Panday
2nd Best Picture: I Love You, Goodbye
3rd Best Picture: Ang Darling kong Aswang

Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dolphy

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

By Nickie Wang

Ang Panday is MMFF Best Picture in the 35th edition of the annual festival held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Dec. 28. Other winners are:

2nd Best Picture: I Love You Goodbye
3rd Best Picture: Ang Darling Kong Aswang

Best Director: Joel Lamangan (Mano Po 6)

Best Actor: Bong Revilla (Ang Panday)
Best Actress: Sharon Cuneta (Mano Po 6)

Best Supporting Actor: Philip Salvador (Ang Panday)
Best Supporting Actress: Heart Evangelista (Mano Po 6)
Best Child Performer: Buboy Villar (Ang Panday)

Best Screenplay:  Roy Iglesias (Mano Po 6)

Best Original Story: Vanessa Valdes, Anna Karenina Ramos, Kriz Gasmen (I Love You, Goodbye)

Best Cinematography: Lee Meily  (I Love You, Goodbye)

Best Original Theme Song: Ogie Alcasid, Ikaw Lamang (Ang Panday)

Best Make-up: Noel Flores (Shake, Rattle and Roll XI)

Best Production Design: Richard Somes (Ang Panday)

Best Sound Recording:  Albert Michael Idioma (Ang Panday)

Best Special Effects: Ryan Jay Santiago (Ang Panday)

Best Film Editor: Manet Dayrit (I Love You, Goodbye)

Best Musical Score: Von de Guzman (Mano Po 6)

Special Awards:

Gat Puno Villegas Cultural Award: Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love (Regal Films)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dolphy

Posthumous Award for Film Service and Excellence: Atty. Espiridion Laxa

Mahusay ang pagpapakita ng pagiging brutal ng karahasang pinawalan ng rehimeng Arroyo sa mga aktibista at maging sa mga manggagawang pangkarapatang pantao at mamamahayag – na, katulad ng mga aktibista, ay nagsisiwalat ng lagay ng mga mamamayan. Mahusay rin ang pagpapakita kung paano nilalaro ng militar ang opinyong publiko sa pamamagitan ng simpleng pagbaligtad ng mga kwento – imbes na militar ang gumawa ng isang bagay, ibibintang ito sa New People’s Army o NPA.

Nakatulong ang paggamit sa pagbabalik-tanaw at hindi pagiging linyar ng naratibo. Ang hinala ko, solusyon ito sa praktikal na problemang hinarap ng mga gumawa ng pelikula, dahil nga nakatuon ito sa tortyur. Naiadya nito ang mga manonood sa tuluy-tuloy na panonood sa karahasang dinanas ng magkasintahan sa kamay ng militar.

Mahigpit ang pagkakatahi ng istorya, at lalong dapat itong papurihan dahil ayon kay Bonifacio P. Ilagan, sumulat ng script ng pelikula, batay ang lahat ng laman ng istorya sa mga kwentong naganap sa totoong buhay – ibig sabihin, sa mga aktwal na dinanas ng mga aktibista sa bansa. Sa matatag na pagharap nina Junix at Maricel sa pagpapahirap ng militar – hindi nagsuplong, walang ipinahamak – maaalala tuloy ang iba pang katulad na kwento ng iba pang progresibo at rebolusyunaryo sa bansa.

Isa pang martir sa labanang iyun sa Panay si Antonio Hilario (TonyHil), inaalala ng mga kasama kahit ngayon bilang “utak pang-organisasyon” ng Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan… [S]ugatan si TonyHil. Sabi ng mga nakasaksi, inilibing nang buhay si TonyHil ng mga sundalo ng kaaway. Nang nakataas ang kamao ng pagbabalikwas, sumisigaw siya ng “Mabuhay ang Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas!” habang sadistang tinatabunan ng lupa ng kaaway. [Antonio Zumel, “Remembering the Martyrs,” 1992 nasa Radical Prose: Selected Writings, 2004.]

Sa mga hindi aktibista, ipinapakilala ng pelikula ang panganib na dulot ng cellular phone sa mga aktibista – na tumampok sa panahon ng paghahari ng rehimeng Arroyo. Para sa karaniwang tao, normal na gamit pangkomunikasyon lang ito at pinagmumulan ng kasiyahan sa araw-araw. Pero bukod sa narito ang mga taong kaugnayan ng isang aktibista, ginagamit din itong pang-tukoy ng kinaroroonan niya. Sa panahon ng rehimeng Arroyo, maraming kwento tungkol sa bagay na ito.

Sa isang probinsya, bago lumaganap sa mga aktibista ang kaalaman tungkol sa panganib ng cellphone, nagpupulong ang ilan sa kanila:
Aktibista 1: (Nakatingin sa cellphone.) Oh, bakit nagte-text ka pa eh kaharap lang kita? Tsaka narinig mo naman ang sinabi niya, bakit itinatanong mo pa ulit?
Aktibista 2: Hindi ako nagte-text.

Bagamat naipakita ng pelikula na wasto at makatarungan ang ginagawa ng mga aktibista, mas madiin ito sa pagsasabi ng isang punto: Na kung inaakusahan man sila ng kung anong kasalanan ng Estado, hindi sila dapat basta na lang dukutin o barilin, kundi litisin at ipakulong. Ito naman talaga ang pagtinging mas makakahatak sa mas marami para tumutol at lumaban sa pagdukot at pagpaslang sa mga aktibista.

Tiyak, gayunman, na mapapaisip ang mga nagpasyang maging kritikal sa pelikula kung bakit pinatay ng kapatid ni Junix ang militar na bagamat oo nga’t nagtortyur at pumatay sa kanyang kapatid ay dapat din sigurong iharap sa batas at parusahan batay dito. Hindi ba’t labag ito sa sinasabi ng pelikula?

Dito hirap ang maraming liberal sa bansa: ang igiit ang dapat habang kinikilala ang totoo – ang igiit na dapat parusahan sa batas ang mga inaakusahang nagkasala rito habang kinikilalang marami ang gumagamit ng dahas labas sa Estado para maghanap ng katarungan sa mga pandarahas ng militar.

Ano ang kaibahan ng liberal at Marxista?
Kapag nakakita sila ng pulubi sa kalsada…
Sasabihin ng liberal: Hindi gumagana ang sistema.
Sasabihin ng Marxista: Gumagana ang sistema.

Ang hinala ko, pinatay ng kapatid ni Junix ang militar sa dulo hindi bilang personal na paghihiganti, kundi bilang miyembro ng NPA. Ang pinangyarihan ng pagpatay – ang sabungan – ang batayan ko. May inilathala kasi dati ang Pinoy Weekly tungkol sa pagpatay ng NPA sa isang elemento ng militar na napatunayan nitong responsable sa pagdukot at pagpatay sa mga aktibista sa Bicol, na naganap din sa sabungan.

Pero ang hinala ko, hindi naunawaan ng mga manonood na NPA sa yugtong iyun ang kapatid ni Junix. Wala naman kasing anumang palatandaan sa pelikula na ganito nga. Pero NPA man o hindi, malamang na papalakpakan ang eksenang ito ng mga manonood – bunsod ng pagkasuklam sa pagpapahirap na ginawa kina Junix at Maricel.

Hindi makakawala ang Dukot sa paghahambing sa Orapronobis. Sila naman kasi ang pinakamatapang na mga pelikulang progresibo sa kasaysayan ng bansa. Pareho silang nag-endorso ng paggamit ng dahas, at nagpapatanggap sa mga manonood na may mga tao sa lipunan na naitutulak na gumamit nito – anuman ang paghusga natin sa kanila.

Lumabas ang Orapronobis noong 1987; ang Dukot, ngayong 2009. Pareho silang kumukwestyon sa “demokrasya” sa bansa. Pareho silang lumabas sa isang panahon ng paghupa ng pampulitikang panunupil – kumpara sa panahon ng diktadurang US-Marcos at kasagsagan ng pampulitikang pagpaslang ng rehimeng Arroyo.

May pagkagulat sa pagkamalay at pagkagalit na dulot ng Orapronobis – na ang mga porma ng pampulitikang panunupil na namayagpag noong panahon ng diktadura ay nagpapatuloy sa bagong rehimeng tinatawag na “demokratiko.” May pagkagulat dahil may pag-asang namamayani sa bagong rehimen, bukod pa sa ang militarisasyon sa kanayunan na isiniwalat ng pelikula ay hindi gaanong malaganap sa kaalaaman lalo na ng mga manonood na nakabase sa urban at ibang probinsyang hindi naging puntirya.

Bagamat may pagkagulat din sa pagkamalay at pagkagalit na dulot ng Dukot, mas dulot ito ng tindi ng brutalidad na ipinakita, na lingid sa kaalaman ng marami. May pangkalahatang kaalaman na kasi ang mga manonood sa isyu ng pampulitikang pagpaslang at pagdukot. Wala rin kasing namamayaning pag-asa sa demokrasya, kundi papadausdos na pesimismo at sinisismo rito at sa posibilidad nito sa bansa.

Kinakaya pa ng ibang bansa na panatilihin ang mga relasyon sa pag-aari sa pamamagitan ng mga pamamaraang tila hindi kasing-marahas tulad ng gamit sa ibang bansa. Nagagawa pa ng demokrasya sa mga bansang ito ang pagkamit ng resultang siyang dahilan kung bakit kailangan ang karahasan sa iba – sa partikular, ang tiyakin ang pribadong pag-aari ng mga kagamitan sa produksyon. [Bertolt Brecht, “Writing the Truth: Five Difficulties,” nasa Galileo, 1966.]

Ang problema sa Dukot, gayunman, ay nasa karakter na si Junix. Bukod sa pagiging masigasig na aktibista at marubdob na mangingibig, wala nang ipinakita sa pagkatao niya. Sa panahong tinotortyur siya at si Maricel, mas matatandaan siyang nagbigay ng palaban at matalas-sa-pulitikang mga pahayag. Na para bang sapat na tanganan ang mga pahayag na ito para maging matatag sa harap ng matinding pagpapahirap.

Sa tingin ko, hindi. Marami ang kailangan para maging matatag sa gitna ng tortyur at banta ng kamatayan. At ito sana ang naisama sa mga pagbabalik-tanaw sa buhay ni Junix: ang mga kwento ng katatagan ng mga naharap sa parehong sitwasyon, ang epekto ng pagtataksil sa mga kapwa-aktibista sa kanila at sa mga inoorganisang anakpawis, ang pagmamahal sa mga kasama at masa, ang mga biruan, at iba pa. Hindi naipakita ang paghango ng isang aktibista sa kultura ng paglaban at pagrerebolusyon sa bansa ng lakas para kaharapin ang pandarahas at banta ng pagpatay. Pwedeng sa ganitong konteksto umangat ang personalidad niya, o maipakitang nahubog.

Tampok ang paghahambing kung paanong mula sa pag-oorganisa at pamumuhay ay ikinahon ang katawan nina Junix at Maricel hanggang sa tuluyang pinatay ang mga ito at kung paano, sa kabilang banda at kasabay naman, umalpas ang katawan ng kanilang mga magulang sa tradisyunal na mga espasyo ng mga ito patungo sa paglaban.

Salamat sa mga manggagawang pangkarapatang pantao at sa buong kilusang progresibo, makatotohanan ang optimismo ng kwento ng pelikula: Na bagamat hindi mapapalitan ang mga aktibistang nagbuwis ng buhay, maging ang kamatayan nila ay pagkakataon para dumami ang mga lumalahok sa kilusang progresibo.

22 Nobyembre 2009

Sabi ni Jessica Zafra, kung sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas naganap ang forum ni US State Sec. Hillary Clinton noong dumalaw siya sa bansa, malamang na nabulabog ito ng “mga aktibistang bibigkas ng 10-paragraph na talumpati nang napakabilis, sa malalim na Tagalog, nang hindi humihinga.”

Sobra naman ito si Jessica, sabi ko. Kaya tiningnan ko ang press release ng League of Filipino Students, na wala sa website nila. Ang sabi, plano pala ng mga aktibista na magbasa ng bukas na liham kay US Pres. Barack Obama sa nasabing okasyon. Hehe.

May “An Inconvenient Solution” na pala, ang bidyo-dokumentaryo na kasunod ng sikat na bidyo-dokumentaryo ni Al Gore. Posible kaya ang sinasabi nito?

May rebyu si Prop. Sarah Raymundo ng pelikulang Capitalism: A Love Story ni Michael Moore. Heto naman ang rebyu ni Diwa Dimagiba sa Dukot.

May isinulat si Barbara Foley, kilalang progresibong akademiko sa US, tungkol “anti-komunismo ni Barack Obama.”

Heto ang talumpati ni Kong. Mong Palatino sa pambansang kumbensyon ng kanyang party-list na Kabataan. Heto naman ang mga punto ni Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo tungkol sa nasabing party-list.

Heto ang blog na laan sa ikalimang anibersaryo ng masaker sa Hacienda Luisita na naganap noong 16 Nobyembre 2004.

Patuloy pa rin sa paghahanap ang mga magulang nina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan. / PW files

And no, I am not writing the body of this text in Filipino. I confess that I cannot write a decent sentence in the national language (patawarin niyo po ako, sa totoo ay sinasanay ko pa ang sarili ko na magsulat sa Filipino – bigo ata ang paghulma sakin ng sistemang pangedukasyon sa larangang ito). And though I’ve been compelling myself to read Filipino texts these past months, I still find reading them difficult.

So why the title? For one, it captures the message of what I thought I would briefly mention here before all of this unnecessary rationalizations came up. Secondly, I actually take a fetishistic pleasure (sa kabila ng aking paghihirap) in the articulation of militant tracts in Filipino (ang mga islogan at agit sa partikular – mangahas, mangahas, mangahas na makibaka) in the same way that I enjoy apparently pointless K-Pop choruses – gee, gee, gee, gee, baby, baby, baby (not to mention the Korean lyrics of which I understand not a word).

Now that explains the linguistic discontinuity between the title and the body of this blog entry. But that is not important.

Pandarahas

These days, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that not a day passes without one’s hearing a report of a human right violation – be it extrajudicial killings, abductions, illegal detentions, massacres, harassment, etc.

And this is not just a matter of statistics (the human rights alliance KARAPATAN has documented over a thousand extrajudicial killings and two hundred enforced disappearances since the present regime’s assumption of power).

Just this semestral break and this is the news that greeted my brief homecoming, Karlo Cabahug and Cai Alvarico (both of whom I got the honor of working with in a few student advocacies when I was still studying in Cebu) were illegally detained by elements of the Philippine Army while they were researching on the conditions of peasants in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

Karlo and Cai are now free. The charge of rebellion filed against them was dismissed by the Prosecutor’s Office in Dumaguete City for lack of probable cause. They only spent more than two weeks in jail.

But not everyone is as lucky (swerte dahil hindi pinalabas ng militar na missing, atbp. – isa pang indikasyon sa perverted na kaayusan ng lipunan na umiiral sa kasalukuyan).

Last year, Rachelle Mae Palang, who I also got the honor of working with for a while when she was editor-in-chief of her college’s student paper and officer of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, became a martyr for the cause of social transformation.

It is often said that every Filipino has a relative or a friend or at least someone close who is working abroad. With the way things are going, I’m sure the day is not far when the same can be said of victims of the State terrorism.

Dukot

It is therefore good to hear that the recent film Dukot is tackling the pervasive issue of human rights violations in the country. I was told that Dukot will be shown sometime this November or December.

Written by Bonifacio Ilagan and directed by Joel Lamangan, Dukot follows in the tradition of the great Filipino classic films, such as Orapronobis by Lino Brocka and Sister Stella L. by Mike de Leon, that portrays the country’s ugly realities.

I hope Dukot becomes a truly material force not only for raising awareness (and mapping the contours of the present crisis) but also moving people to emancipatory collective action. Will be waiting to see the film. For now, we can check out the trailer and the soundtrack music video:

Dukot (Desaparecidos) is scheduled to have its premiere screening on November 19. Here’s another trailer of this timeless and fearless film about human rights violations in the Philippines written by Bonifacio Ilagan and directed by Joel Lamangan.

Dukot (Desaparecidos):
Fearless and Socially relevant film!

FANTASTIC Sad Timely Gripping Great story-telling Tour de force performances from the lead actors (Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon)

This is the verdict passed on Dukot (Desaparecidos) by the foreigners as well as the Filipino immigrants who saw its world premiere at the recently-concluded Montreal World Film Festival. This is based on the true stories of desaparecidos those abducted political activists and later summarily liquidated.

Some call it the Orapronobis of the new millennium—the political film by National Artist for Films, the late Lino Brocka, which reflected the rotten political system of the turbulent 70s.

Dukot portrays the ever-present human rights violation and extra-judicial killings in the Philippines. Those who have seen the advance screenings of the said film say: Gutsy Uncompromising in bravely pointing an accusing finger on the real perpetrators of these human rights violations This is the kind of film I love to do, says multi-awarded director Joel C. Lamangan. After reading Boni Ilagans script, I saw the materials purpose and authority Its a singular honor to do this film project. As filmmakers, we have advocacies other than entertainment, to show reality and make our viewers think about social issues confronting us.

I never deny—I was myself a victim of human rights violation thats why this story is really close to my heart Palanca awardee and Dukot scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan was himself a victim of abduction and torture, when he was a student activist and political detainee. His sister was forcibly abducted and hasnt been found since then.

Its a dream-come-true—that a film of this theme and genre usually avoided by mainstream producers luckily gets produced. This is not fantasy This is based on actual incidents and real persons Boni relates. Dukot will be exhibited first in various cities in Australia: Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, through the auspices of Philippine-Australian Union Link (PAUL), Action for Peace and Development in the Philippines (APDP), Migrante Australia, Migrante Perth, Migrante Melbourne, Philippine-Australian Womens Association (PAWA) and Philippine-Australian Youth Generation for Justice at Peace (PhGen); in New Zealand (courtesy of Migrante Aotearoa); in Japan (courtesy of Tokyo Center for Japanese-Filipino Families and Kafin Migrante); and in Nagoya (through the Filipino Migrant Center). Screenings are also being arranged for HongKong. It will have special advance screening in Cebu and Davao. Dukot begins its Manila run on December 2, in time for the Human Rights Month celebration. November 19 Thurs is the premiere night with three screenings at UP CINE Adarna Theater supported and will be brought to us by Anak ng Bayan partylist.

Dukot stars Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon. Also starring are Snooky Serna, Emilio Garcia, Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Felix Roco, Jim Pebangco, Raquel Villavicencio, Mon Confiado, Rico Barrera, John Apacible, Menggie Cobarrubias, Tony Mabesa, Richard Arellano, Benjie Felipe and newcomer Armaine Pagcu.

CDP Events and Entertainment Productions and ATD Entertainment Productions are co-producers.

FILMOGRAPHY :

Producers: CDP Events & Entertainment Production and ATD Entertainment Productions
Direction: Joel C. Lamangan
Actors: Iza Calzado & Allen Dizon with Snooky Serna,Emilio Garcia,Gina Alajar,Robert Arevalo,Felix Roco,Jim Pebangco,Raquel Villavicencio,Mon Confiado,Rico Barrera,John Apacible,Menggie Cobarrubias,Tony Mabesa,Benjie Felipe,Richard Arellano & Armaine Pagcu. Also starring : Ermie Concepcion,Pocholo Montes,Brian Arda,Christian Bondoc,Aris Lapuz, Leo Mier,Dennis Coronel.
Story & Screenplay by Bonifacio Ilagan
Executive Producer : Carina D. Pagcu
Supervising & Line Producer: Dennis C. Evangelista
Director of Photography: Monino Duque
Assistant Directors: Abdel Langit & Julius Alfonso
Production Designer : Edgar Martin Littua & Jens Peter Gaw
Music : Lucien Letaba
Sounds: Dodoy Ongleo
Publicity & Promotions: Dennis C. Evangelista & Lito Shalala Reyes
Production Managers: Maylyn Kaabay,Ellen Ilagan,,Bin Bondoc & Melon P. Antonio

Coastal-based group to show Dukot in fishing villages
by Gerry Albert Corpuz, Public Information Chief, Pamalakaya

Manila, Philippines- The public information officer of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday said they will ask film director Joel Lamangan and screen writer Bonifacio Ilagan for a free DVD copy of their latest collaboration Dukot, a film on enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, so they could show it to fishing villages in commemoration of human rights week in December.

“We are glad that the film Dukot was approved to be shown for commercial viewing because it would mean larger venue for larger audience. But in the case of the rural people like our small scale fishermen who don’t have the financial means to watch in commercial theaters, we will just ask for a complementary copy in the form of DVD and let it shown for free to the coastal people,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz.

Corpuz, who attended the special press preview of Dukot in My Cinema, Greenbelt-3 last Saturday upon the invitation of Ilagan, said the film should be viewed by the Filipino people for its courageous and powerful position against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and worsening human rights situation in the country.

Among the activists who attended the special screening were Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr., Beng Rivera-Reyes of Health Alliance for Democracy, Kabataan party list Rep. Raymond Palatino, Bayan Deputy Secretary General Ms Rita Baua and Bayan international liaisons officer Norma Binas.

During the open forum, Rep. Mariano congratulated the producers and the entire people behind Dukot, while Rep. Palatino described the film as powerful from the message of the film to the performances of the lead and supporting cast.

Bayan’s Reyes said the film is brave and intense and fast paced. He said veterans Gina Alajar, who played the mother of missing Maricel and Robert Arevalo, who essayed the role of Junix’s father in the movie were exceptionally good.

“ We are glad the MTRCB allowed the public exhibition of Dukot with R-18 rating. It is fine with us. But the sum of all our fears is still there because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the National Security Council headed by security adviser Norberto Gonzalez might intervene to compel the MTRCB to stop the commercial and even the independent exhibition of Dukot in the name of national security doctrine and politics,” Pamalakaya’s Corpuz added.

According to Corpuz, the film had its world premiere at the Montreal Film Festival in Canada and more international festival groups are inclined to invite Dukot for international exhibitions. He said the film will also be shown in the United States, countries in Europe, Japan and Hong Kong with the help of Migrante International.

“Let’s face it. The film Dukot is all about the worsening human rights abuses in the country and its strength lies on the fact that the independent film without batting an eyelash and pretensions pinpoints the Arroyo administration and the military as the perpetrators of these political crimes since this administration took political power in 2001. The film’s nationwide and international showing will really worry Malacañang and pro-Arroyo military generals,” Corpuz added.

The film is the latest collaboration of Palanca awardee Bonifacio Ilagan and multi-awarded director Joel Lamangan, the same team behind the highly successful and multi-awarded Nora Aunor movie–The Flor Contemplacion Story in 1995 that gave the superstar strings of Best Actress trophies the following year.

In the movie, actors Allen Dizon and Iza Calzado play the role of two young activists who were abducted by government security forces. The two leads were provided with strong support from a deep bench of multi-awarded actors like Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Raquel Villavicencio and Snooky Serna.

The Pamalakaya information officer said the independent film appeared to be an updated version of the late Lino Brocka anti-militarization film “Orapronobis” which was banned during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino for its scathing views on the military establishment.

“Dukot is the film of the millennium for its courageous and what you see is what you get criticism and denouncement of the Arroyo administration’s policy of silencing its critics through extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance of leftwing activists and critics. This film is a denouncement of Arroyo’s politically motivated heinous crimes against the activists in particular and the Filipino people in general,” Corpuz stressed.

Citing the consolidated human rights report of the human rights watchdog Karapatan from January 2001 to December 2008, Corpuz said the Arroyo administration is accountable for summary execution and arbitrary killing of 991 activists and the enforced disappearance of 201 activists during the same period.

He said the administration and the military were also accountable for cases involving the torture of 1,010 activists, illegal arrest and detention of 1,852 leftists and critics, physical assault and injury to 29, 976 persons and threat, intimidation and harassment to 79,755 activists and ordinary people during the same period.

Corpuz said a total of 868, 096 people were forcibly evicted and displaced in the countryside in the course of the operations of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya 2 since 2001.#

"Dukot" writer Bonifacio Ilagan at the premiere of Kodao Productions' "Sa Hamon ng Panahon", a documentary-drama on human rights also written by Ka Boni.

Re-posting the article written by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For the trailer, click here.

“Dukot (Desaparecidos),” a film based on true accounts of human rights violations and extra-judicial killings, brings back the political film genre, which was made popular by directors Lino Brocka (“Bayan Ko” and “Orapronobis”) and Mike de Leon (“Sister Stella L”).

The film had its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival in Canada, where it reportedly drew raves for its “great storytelling, thematic urgency, technical competence and tour de force performance of lead actors.” It will be shown in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong before it opens in Metro Manila on December 2.

Meanwhile, it was screened last night at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3, Makati City, ahead of the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, being marked tomorrow.

Palanca awardee Bonifacio P. Ilagan, who wrote the film directed by Joel C. Lamangan, says it “could very well be the first full-length film to deal squarely with the current phenomenon of human rights violations in the Philippines.”

The film opens with a prologue: Bong, a detainee, is tortured into cooperating with his captors. (He and Roxy, another detainee, will be held by the military to become their assets in the counterinsurgency campaign.) A year passes.

Junix, a student leader, is abducted by the military because he is listed in its so-called Order of Battle. On the early morning that he disappears, he meets up with his girlfriend Maricel, a former student activist, who works in a call center. News spreads fast about their disappearance.

Coming all the way from Davao, the parents of Junix team up with Sonia, Maricel’s widowed mother, to start a search. With a human rights group and other people’s organizations, they make the rounds of military camps, morgues and common graves.

They seek the intervention of the courts, to no avail, until a damning piece of evidence is uncovered against the military. Meanwhile, Junix and Maricel undergo untold torture.

In the search for Junix and Maricel, the story of their activism and romance unfolds.

The military establishment presents Bong and Roxy to claim that Junix and Maricel are actually rebels who have been abducted by their own comrades because of some grave offenses against the movement.

Produced by CDP Events and Entertainment Productions in partnership with ATD Entertainment Productions, it casts Allen Dizon and Iza Calzado in the lead roles, supported by Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Emilio Garcia, Felix Roco, Jr. and Snooky Serna.

Here’s the screening schedule of Sine Direk feature-length films at the UP Film Institute. Sine Direk is composed of six feature-length films and part of the fund raising efforts of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

JOEL LAMANGAN’S FUSCHIA
SEP 22 TUE, 5PM

Main Cast: Armida Siguion-Reyna, Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, Robert Arevalo

Mameng, an elderly woman causes a big scandal in a small community when she takes in her terminally ill husband who left her for 40years while still living with her current partner, her husband’s best friend. But even as gossip surrounds her, she begins to find the strength within herself to speak out against the town’s corrupt mayor.

SOXY TOPACIO’S DED NA SI LOLO
SEP23 WED, 5PM

Main Cast: BJ Forbes, Dick Israel, Elizabeth Oropesa, Gina Alajar, Manilyn Reynes, Roderick Paulate

A large dysfunctional family gathers together to mourn the death of the family patriarch. But getting in the way of their genuine grief are a bunch of superstitions about the dead, and the family’s inability to deal with their issues in a civilized way.

LORE REYES’ LITSONERO
SEP 24 THU, 5PM

Main Cast: Karylle , Maricel Laxa, Michael de Mesa, Paolo Contis

An accomplished chef returns to the country from Macau. Accused of forgetting his roots, he is faced with a challenge from his uncle: make the best lechon, or suffer the consequences.

PEQUE GALLAGA’S AGATON & MINDY
SEP 26 SAT, 5PM

Main Cast: Chase Vega, Cherie Gil, Desiree Del Valle, Dina Bonnevie, Louse de los Reyes, Pilita Corales

Agaton & Mindy is a coming-of-age story about 2 young dance scholars. A timid young man and an impulsive girl being urged by their teacher to tap into their wild sides for inspiration, and eventually falling in love amidst interventions.

MARYO J. DE LOS REYES’ KAMOTENG KAHOY
SEP 28 MON, 5PM

Main Cast: Nash Aguas, Robert Villar Jr., Sharlene San Pedro, Yul Servo

A sudden outbreak has consumed a small town in Bohol, where people and children have been harmed of a deadly poison. The culprit, cassava cakes made by an elderly woman who may have accidentally used a pesticide in her cooking.

MEL CHIONGLO’S BENTE
SEP29 TUE, 5PM

Main Cast: Emilio Garcia, Iza Calzado, Jinggoy Estrada, Richard Gomez, Snooky Serna

A corrupt mayor summons one of his bodyguards to assassinate an overly critical radio commentator and a student activist on the run with his girlfriend.

SINE DIREK CULMINATION
SEP30 WED 5PM ONWARDS

Found this on Malcom Guy’s twitter post, a link to the World Film Festival’s screening of “Dukot (Desaparecidos)” a film about extra-judicial killings in the Philippines written by Boni Ilagan and directed by Joel Lamangan.

They have actually posted schedules. Check the site out: click here. Boni Ilagan by the way is also a member of Kodao Productions and creative consultant for most of our videos.

Aside from “Dukot”, Ronaldo Bertubin’s “Last Viewing” will also be screened at the film festival in Montreal. PEP writes about “Last Viewing” as a comeback film of Janice de Belen, who is cast as a crematory supervisor who learns to deal with the death of a loved one. The film is written by Romualdo Avellanosa, who also wrote Bertubin’s Kurap Sikil and Lovebirds.

Watch the music video trailer of Boni Ilagan and Joel Lamangan’s “Dukot” here.

Here’s a press release from the fisherfolk organization Pamalakaya Philippines.

The public information officer of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday said the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board ) might give an “X” rating to “Dukot”, an independently produced film about the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of political activists under the present administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The sum of all our fears is that President Arroyo and the National Security Council headed by security adviser Norberto Gonzalez will compel the MTRCB to stop the commercial and even the independent exhibition of Dukot in the name of national security doctrine and politics,” says Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

According to Corpuz, the film was invited by organizers of the Montreal Film Festival in Canada and more international festival groups are inclined to invite Dukot for international exhibitions.

“Let’s face it. The film Dukot is all about the worsening human rights abuses in the country and its strength lies on the fact that the independent film without batting an eyelash and pretensions pinpoints the Arroyo administration and the military as the perpetrators of these political crimes since this administration took political power in 2001. The film’s nationwide and international showing will really worry Malacañang and pro-Arroyo military generals,” Corpuz added.

The film is the latest collaboration of Palanca awardee Bonifacio Ilagan and multi-awarded director Joel Lamangan, the same team behind the highly successful and multi-awarded Nora Aunor movie–The Flor Contemplacion Story in 1995 that gave the superstar strings of Best Actress trophies the following year.

In the movie, actors Allen Dizon and Iza Calzado play the role of two young activists who were abducted by government security forces. The two leads were provided with strong support from a deep bench of multi-awarded actors like Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Raquel Villavicencio and Snooky Serna.

The Pamalakaya information officer who saw the trailer of Dukot in the alternative news online Bulatlat.com said the independent film appeared to be an updated version of the late Lino Brocka anti-militarization film “Orapronobis” which was banned during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino for its scathing views on the military establishment.

“Dukot is the film of the millennium for its courageous and tongue-lashing critique of the Arroyo administration’s policy of silencing its critics through extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance of leftwing activists and critics. This film is a denouncement of Arroyo’s politically motivated heinous crimes against the activists in particular and the Filipino people in general,” Corpuz stressed.

Citing the consolidated human rights report of the human rights watchdog Karapatan from January 2001 to December 2008, Corpuz said the Arroyo administration is accountable for summary execution and arbitrary killing of 991 activists and the enforced disappearance of 201 activists during the same period.

He said the administration and the military were also accountable for cases involving the torture of 1,010 activists, illegal arrest and detention of 1,852 leftists and critics, physical assault and injury to 29, 976 persons and threat, intimidation and harassment to 79,755 activists and ordinary people during the same period.

Corpuz said a total of 868, 096 people were forcibly evicted and displaced in the countryside in the course of the operations of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya 2 since 2001.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said Arroyo’s sponsorship and strong adherence to the politics of national security has endangered the commercial and alternative exhibition of the film. He said as far as they are concerned, they want the film to be shown in commercial theaters, universities and other schools without cuts.

“We will keep our fingers cross, but definitely we will join protest once Malacañang and the military direct the MTRCB to stop the showing of Dukot. We will not allow Arroyo and her cabal of suppressors to deny the rights of the people to public information and to truth, justice and accountability,” he said.

Pamalakaya said it is going to send a national memorandum to its 43 chapters all over the country and to its network of international organizations to sponsor the showing of Dukot in whatever form like commercial, alternative or “guerilla showing” in promoting the film both here and abroad. It said once it gets a DVD copy of the film, it will show Dukot in peasant and fishing communities where there are chapters of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pamalakaya.

Here’s a review of Boni Ilagan and Joel Lamangan’s “Dukot” written by Ronalyn Olea of Bulatlat.com. You can watch the trailer here.

Dukot’s fearlessness emanates from its depiction of the truth about the worsening human-rights situation in the Philippines today. As Bonifacio Ilagan, the scriptwriter, put it: “It minces no words in pointing out the real perpetrators” of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Dukot (Desaparecidos) is no doubt the most courageous full-length Filipino film ever produced in decades.

The collaboration of Palanca awardee Bonifacio Ilagan and multi-awarded director Joel Lamangan resulted in a powerful film that continues the tradition of Lino Brocka and Mike de Leon — that is tackling socially relevant subjects and politically charged themes.

More than a love story, Dukot provides a human face to the statistics of human-rights violations in the Philippines. Allen Dizon and Iza Calzado play the role of two young activists who were abducted by state security forces. What happens to them during their captivity is a combination of real-life stories told by the fortunate few who managed to escape from or were freed by their torturers.

Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo and Raquel Villavicencio were able capture the agony of parents waiting and searching for their missing loved ones. In their characters, one could get a glimpse of what Edita Burgos, Evangeline Hernandez, Erlinda Cadapan, Concepcion Empeño and many more mothers and fathers and relatives of victims of enforced disappearances, or the desaparecidos, went through.

(Dukot is a Filipino word that means to reach in to take or pluck something out of something, say a pocket. The word also has come to mean abduction.)

Also among the cast are Snooky Serna, Emilio Garcia, Felix Roco, Jim Pebangco, Mon Confiado, Rico Barrera, John Apacible, Menggie Cobarrubias, Tony Mabesa and Armaine Pagcu.

Ilagan proudly said that members of the cast have been enlightened by the film. In a special session with the cast, Karapatan’s Ruth Cervantes and Desaparecidos’s Aya Santos, whose father remains missing to this day and whose mother had been imprisoned and falsely charged with common crimes, discussed the human-rights situation in the Philippines. During the production stage, the actors had the chance to interact with families of victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Ilagan told Bulatlat that it was Lamangan who asked him to do the film early this year. Lamangan has been invited by various people’s organizations in several activities espousing human rights. He performed one of the poems of former political prisoner Axel Pinpin in the simultaneous event in Manila during the historic Permanent People’s Tribunal Second Session on the Philippines in March 2007. The international tribunal indicted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo guilty of gross violations of human rights.

After the recent limited screening of the film at the Adarna Videotheque at the University of the Philippines, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera congratulated Ilagan for the courageous script.

Executive producer Carina D. Pagcu of the film who runs the CDP Events and Entertainment Production said she cried after reading the script. “I got scared, too for its courage and honesty. I talked to my husband. We agreed that this may not earn but we’ll pull it through. We’ll try the international festival circuit and the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Win or lose, we’re doing a significant movie.”

Dukot’s fearlessness emanates from its depiction of the truth about the worsening human-rights situation in the country today. As Ilagan put it: “It minces no words in pointing out the real perpetrators” of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Both Ilagan and Lamangan recognize the possibility of the film not being shown in the country. The reasons are obvious, Ilagan said. The country’s censors had given X ratings — thus effectively banning them from public exhibition — on films that tackle not only sex or violence but such issues as extreme poverty and social injustice.

Brocka’s Orapronobis, a similar film dealing with human rights situation under the Aquino regime, was banned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Still, they are optimistic. “It must be shown here. We want the Filipino people to be able to watch the film in major cinemas here,” Lamangan said.

Finally, here’s Boni Ilagan and Joel Lamangan’s “Dukot (Desaparecidos)” music video trailer posted on YouTube. “Dukot” is a timeless, fearless film about human rights violations in the Philippines starring Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon.

HEAVENLY TOUCH – the newest masterpiece of Joel C Lamangan, dgpi as it journey the life of a masseur in this lates ensemble by DMW Entertainment Inc.

Starring: Paolo Serrano, Marco Morales and Gwen Garci. Introducing: Joash Balejado.  The film opens on May 13, 2009 on selected movie theaters including Cinerama Recto, Robinsons Galleria and Manila.  I have attached the trailer below for your pure enjoyment.

I cant wait to watch the film!!!!

After the sensational gay-themed movie “Walang Kawala”, Joel Lamangan is at it again with another daring pink film entitled Heavenly Touch.

This new film by Lamangan explores the controversial happenings inside an all-male massage parlor which is run by a syndicate, led by Jeffrey Santos. Frontal nudity king Marco Morales will once again showcase his anatomy together with scandal king Paolo Serrano. Sexy actress Gwen Garci is also in the film as well as newcomer Joash (pronounced as Jo-Ash) Balejado. 19-year-old Joash who is a business management student from Rizal Technological University (TRU) is the winner of 2008 Mr. Lakan male pageant and “Heavenly Touch” will be his fire baptism under the hands of veteran gay director Joel Lamasan…errr…Lamangan. Marco, Paolo and Joash will play the role of masseurs with a predominantly male customers.

Video Link: Heavenly Touch – Movie Preview

 (From left to right: Joash Balejado, Paolo Serrano and Marco Morales)