Ampatuan Massacre Fact-Finding

Kodao Productions‘ joined the National Interfaith Mission for Peace and Justice in Maguindanao which started in January 22 and will end on January 26, 2010. The activity was organized by KARAPATAN, Kawagib, and Kalinaw Mindanao. The mission went to the massacre site in Brgy. Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao province where 57 individuals (including more than 30 journalists) were brutally murdered last November 23, 2009. Click for photos by me and Raymund Villanueva.

Of course we also have photos of our light moments during the caravan and fact-finding mission. Check them out: January 22 Briefing | Scenes around Cotabato City | A Tour of Cotabato City | Ampatuan and Maguindanao Scenery | Light Moments at the Fact-Finding Mission | Maguindanao Coverage (Raymund Villanueva’s Photo Album)

Dukot (Desaparecidos) premieres on Nov 19

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.

Dukot revives Brocka genre

"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”).

Poster: “Sa Hamon ng Panahon”

Here’s the poster of Kodao and UCCP’s drama documentary “Sa Hamon ng Panahon”. Poster layout by Azureus Aragones. See you on Sept 18 1PM for the premiere! For details, visit the Kodao website.

Documentary Drama about Human Rights in the Philippines (Trailer Available)

We will soon be having the premiere of Kodao Productions and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines’ documentary drama “Hamon ng Panahon”, written and directed by Bonifacio Ilagan.

Follow Kodao on twitter or add the Facebook fan page and stay tuned for  announcements.

You can watch the trailer at the KODAO website.

“Dukot” screening at Montreal Filmfest

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.

Activists fear MTRCB’s “X” rating on film about enforced disappearances

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.

“Dukot”: Courageous Movie Tackles Worsening Rights Abuses in Philippines

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.

Dukot (Desaparecidos) Music Video Trailer

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.

Melissa tells her story of abduction and torture

In this two part video, listen to Melissa Roxas as she narrates the story of her abduction and torture by alleged members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last May 19-25, 2009. Earlier today, she held a press conference (4:30 PM June 27, Los Angeles timezone) to describe the human rights abuses she endured while being held for six days in an alleged military camp. The press conference, which was held at the Echo Park United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California was streamed live over the internet.

Melissa Roxas, an American human rights advocate of Filipino descent, is the first known American citizen to have become a victim of abduction and torture in the Philippines, a country which has drawn international condemnation for state-sponsored human rights atrocities. She is a member of BAYAN USA and HABI ARTS, a cultural group also based in the United States.

You can watch part two here.

Pursue Justice for Melissa, Juanito and John

From Joel P. Garduce’s notes.

Pursue justice for Melissa Roxas, Juanity Carabeo, and John Edward Handoc through to the end!

The unprecedented surfacing of abducted activists MELISSA ROXAS and JUANITO CARABEO, who were kidnapped by likely state security forces along with still-missing JOHN EDWARD HANDOC (who was misreported earlier to have been surfaced already) was a clear democratic victory for freedom-loving Filipinos–and their mass movement–who dared come together in various ways (including raising a collective hue and cry right here in Facebook) to condemn the terrorist acts against the three.

Melissa was tortured by the military

Here’s an update on the abduction of Fil-Am activist Melissa Roxas and companions Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc. Bayan and Karapatan held a press conference earlier today showing Melissa’s affidavit and announcing her filing of the Writ of Amparo.

Fil-Am activist surfaced; New case of abduction

In a Twitter post a few minutes ago, Bulatlat.com reported that US citizen Melissa Roxas, a Fil-Am activist abducted by suspected death squads of Arroyo regime, has been surfaced. Her two companions, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc, are still missing though. Bulatlat follows-up on the abduction with this article.

About two hours ago, Bulatlat.com reported a new case of abduction. “Mario Espiritu,organizer of peasants and workers in Mindoro Oriental, has been reported missing by Karapatan-Southern Tagalog” reports Bulatlat in an earlier Twitter post. “Espiritu,52, has been missing since May 23, Glen Malabanan of Karapatan-ST told Bulatlat.com. A quick reaction team has been sent by Karapatan-ST to search for Espiritu. The team is now in Mamburao, Mindoro Oriental.”

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

Campaign to surface Melissa, Juanito, and John Edward

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

Please join the Facebook cause for the campaign to surface Melissa Roxas, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc, the three activists abducted by the military in La Paz, Tarlac last May 19, 2009. Join the FB cause by clicking here.

You can also sign the online petition addressed to US President Barack Obama; US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney; US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; US Senator Barbara Boxer; and California State Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg.

Bayan calls on Gov’t to surface Fil-Am activist

Melissa Roxas, a Fil-Am activist was abducted by the military last May 19 with Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

Re-posting an urgent news release from BAYAN (sent today) regarding the military’s abduction of Melissa Roxas, a Filipino-American activist doing volunteer work in the Philippines. (see Facebook cause and online petition for the campaign to surface the three activists here)

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is calling on the Arroyo government, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to immediately surface Melissa Roxas, an American citizen of Filipino descent, and a member of BAYAN-USA and the cultural group Habi Arts based in Los Angeles, California.

Roxas was abducted last May 19 at around 1:30 pm in Sitio Bagong Sikat, Bgy. Kapanikian, La Paz, Tarlac. She was with two other volunteers, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

Police violently disperse farmer’s camp-out

Photo from Arkibong Bayan

Yesterday afternoon, police and security personnel violently dispersed the peaceful camp-out of farmers at the south gate of the House of Representatives.

Dukot (Desaparecidos)

Reposting from the Cinemanila Yahoo Groups. You can watch Dukot’s music video trailer here.

Dukot (Desaparacidos):
A timeless, fearless film on human rights violation

Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L.”, Lino Brocka’s “Kapit sa Patalim (Bayan Ko”) and “Orapronobis” are but a few in the short list of significant, political, Filipino films by master filmmakers, which reflected the sentiment of their times.

ATD Entertainment Productions in partnership with CDP Events and Entertainment Productions will resurrect the “political film” genre when the principal photography starts soon with an important, fearless and timeless piece: “Dukot (Desaparecidos).”

"Dukot (Desaparacidos)" is written by Bonifacio Ilagan, a Palanca-awardee and chairperson of the First Quarter Storm Movement

Palparan should be in jail, not in congress

For Facebook users who still haven’t joined the cause please click here to do so. As of 12:29 AM, April 28, the Facebook campaign against the “butcher-general” Jovito Palparan has already registered 1,493 members. In parallel with the street protests, the online campaign was launched immediately after the Supreme Court ruling that made Palparan a member of the House of Representatives.