As part of the college's fight for human rights and participation in the upcoming International Human Rights Day, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Communication Student Council (PUP-COC SC) inked a partnership with AlternaTV and handled a forum and film showing titled "KAMERApatan: Rights in Peril" held in the COC Audio Visual Room on Wednesday, December 7.
SC Councilor Angelica De Guzman opened the event by reiterating how this kind of program can ignite our fire in fighting against state attacks and sympathizing with the situation of the lower masses.
“Patuloy po tayong umattend [sa mga event na ito] at ipagtanggol ang interes ng masa", De Guzman stated.
Altermidya's Adrian Puse also emphasized the importance of these film showings and forums in making a difference for the oppressed.
"Ang goal lang naman natin sa pagpapalabas ng mga ganitong pelikula ay para mas mapakita natin yung totoong nangyayari sa mga kababayan natin,” Puse said.
Afterwards, COC SC President Ronjay Mendiola also gave closing remarks and invited the audience to attend the mobilization that they will organize for International Human Rights Day on December 10.
"Kung totoong gumagana ang huwad na karapatang pantaong binibigay nila satin, bakit may mga working student na nangangamba sa mga klase nila. Bakit may mga manggagawang nangangamba sa kanilang kikitain sa araw-araw", Mendiola uttered.
Mendiola and Puse also exchanged their views on how dominant media became a catalyst for the Marcoses' return in power and how critical alternative media can make a difference to give a different approach to journalism that society actually needs.
One of the films that was showcased in the program was Alyx Arumpac's "Aswang", which presented the violence and corruption by the police force during the war on drugs campaign by the Duterte administration.
The program was halted during the film showing due to an earthquake, but resumed after the organizers ensured that everything from the event was fine after the incident.
Meanwhile, "Ang Amomonggo sa Aton" (translated as "The Monster Among Us") by Vinjo Entuna depicted the struggle of Negros farmers against the mythical creature called Amomonggo during Martial Law. The short animated film showed how the military forces of then-President and dictator Ferdinand Marcos strategize all of their human rights violations and extra-judicial killings.
Illustrating the different forms of darkness the country has experienced through history and past administrations, the animated documentary “Lingkis” by Yvonne Elizabeth Salazar and Isabel Margarita Valenzuela used the personification of the mythical creature "Bakunawa" to describe the hardships of the Filipinos under fascism and attacks from the state.
Lastly, “Bullet-Laced Dreams," by Kristofer Bugada and Charena Escala, exposed the struggle for education of Lumad children, specifically Chricelyn, who also lost his father during their fight for their ancestral lands. The documentary inspired the audience by showing how she made it through all those obstacles.
When all four films were finished, participants in the program were also given the platform to express their views and takeaways from the films that they had watched.
Graphics: Cathlyn de Raya
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