Article:
“Tagaytay 5” retells story of abduction in ‘RIGHTS’
Recently freed political prisoners collectively known as “Tagaytay 5” recounts how they have been tortured, following their abduction and illegal detention, in two of the Public Service Advertisements (PSAs) included in RIGHTS Volume 2 (RIGHTS v.2).
Based on the account of “Tagaytay 5” member Axel Pinpin, “ Tula ” is a reenactment of their interrogation wherein Pinpin was subjected to psychological torture after their military interrogators aggressively poked and cocked a gun at his head. Bonifacio Ilagan, acclaimed playwright and director played the role of Pinpin, while theater actor Art Acuna portrayed the role of the interrogator.
Boasting the acting prowess of celebrated artists Joel Torre and Chinchin Gutierrez, “Awit” meanwhile renders in a creative treatment, the torture experienced by Tagaytay 5, which at large represents that of other political detainees.
RIGHTS v.2, a compilation of independently produced and human rights-themed short films, is an offshoot to last year’s RIGHTS that had faced blatant state censorship after MTRCB’s X rating. This form of repression, however, only inspired new filmmakers to produce more human rights films.
King Catoy, Project Head and a member of the multimedia collective Southern Tagalog Exposure, describes RIGHTS v.2 as an open and continuing call for filmmakers to participate in the growing movement to defend and uphold human rights.
“The growing number of victims of political killings and enforced disappearances, and the continuing criminalization of political offenses and media repression only give us more reasons to expose through our works the worsening human rights situation in the country,” said Catoy.
The premiere and DVD launching of RIGHTS v.2 is set at the UP College of Mass Communication Media Center, UP Diliman on September 19, Friday at 6PM. Director Bibeth Orteza, multi-awarded screenwriter Doy del Mundo, film critics and UP Faculty Roland Tolentino and Sarah Raymundo, and “Tagaytay 5” member and poet Axel Pinpin cap the event as Reactors.
It would also be graced by personalities such as Editha Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos; National Artist Bien Lumbera; and renowned Director Nick de Ocampo, among others.
Timely of the Martial Law anniversary on September 21, RIGHTS v.2 likewise honors and commemorates the victims and martyrs of the fascist Marcos regime and heeds to continue the artistic struggle for justice and democracy.
Aside from “Awit” and “ Tula ”, at least 13 equally hard-line short films will be featured produced by emerging and established independent filmmakers and film collectives, namely: Artist’s ARREST, JP Carpio, Keith Sicat, J Pacena, Kodao Productions, Bon Labora, Emil Mercado, Ging Flores, Ron Papag, Ted Ferreras, Zig Dulay, Recci Bacolor, Sine Patriyotiko, and ST Exposure.
RIGHTS v.2 is produced by the Southern Tagalog Exposure and is co-presented by the UP College of Mass Communication- Student Council .
____________________________________________________________
Contact Person: Edge Genciagan | 0915 4640754 | rights.films@ gmail.com
|
