Desap

Desap is a new song dedicated to the desaparecido, to their family and friends, and to the continued quest for justice. Written, arranged, and performed by yours truly. Click here to listen.

Remember the disappeared, struggle for justice!

Desaparecidos, a human rights organization of the families of victims of enforced disappearances held a solemn program at the Baclaran Church to remember the disappeared and at the same time register their call for justice. Nothing has changed in the human rights situation even under the new Aquino administration which already registered almost 20 victims of state-sponsored extra-judicial killings and 2 cases of enforced disappearances in the first hundred days. Music performed by Jonathan and recorded for the play Mrs. B, a monologue about enforced disappearances.

Filipinos condemn attack on Freedom Flotilla

Filipinos join the whole world today in condemning the Israeli forces’ attack on the Freedom Flotilla. Activists led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the local chapter of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) picketed the Israeli embassy in Makati City to protest the attack on pro-Palestine activists who were part of a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Maza Ako! –Angel Locsin

Watch video of actress and women’s rights advocate Angel Locsin on why she will vote for Liza Maza this May 2010.  Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo both came from progressive partylists and have a long history of defending the interest of the Filipino people in various fields of struggle.

I think this was taken during MAZALine, a nationalist fashion shoot together with Sandra Araullo, triathlete, model, and daughter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chair Carol Araullo. Video from Sinagharaya’s YouTube channel.

Two-Star Mark

Photo by Raymund Villanueva

Two-star Mark
by Atty. Alnie G. Foja

(NOTE: This is the second essay Atty. Foja has written about the illegally detained health workers, a. k. a. the Morong 43, and forwarded to her friends and colleagues to publish online. Click here for the first essay.)

Yesterday was my second trip to Camp Capinpin. The visit was organized by Gabriela and Gabriela Women’s Party and arranged by the Office of the good Senator, Jamby Madrigal. It was dubbed: “Women Lawyers and Women Legislators visit the Women Detainees” with the objective of probing deeper the allegations of sexual abuses committed against the women detainees and getting first-hand details from the women-detainees themselves.  

Inescapable Conclusion

Merry Mia-Clamor, M. D. in a radio interview during the Court of Appeals habeas corpus hearing. Photo by Raymund Villanueva

Inescapable Conclusion
by Atty. Alnie G. Foja

Today, I was awakened with thoughts of Doc Merry and Rey. Doc Merry (Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor) and Rey (Reynaldo Macabenta) are two of those illegally arrested at a health training in Morong, Rizal and who are now being illegally detained at Camp Capinpin.

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)

The Advocacy of Angel Locsin

Angel Locsin listens to stories of militarized communities in an evacuation center in Munai, Lanao del Norte with Suara Bangsamoro's Amirah Lidasan (left). Photo from PinoyWeekly

Recently, Angel Locsin in partnership with other Filipino celebrities organized an online auction for the benefit of Typhoon Ondoy victims. But even before that, Angel has been active with her pro-people and women’s rights advocacy.

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.

Remembering the Disappeared

Today, Aug. 30, is the International Day of the Disappeared. In this video, Bulatlat.com honors the men and women who have fallen victim to enforced disappearances in the Philippines. Click to browse the video at the Bulatlat.com website.

Measures Measured

In November 2008, the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers foundation embarked on a second fact finding mission in the Philippines to find out if the human rights situation had improved since the first fact finding mission in 2006.

“Measures Measured” is Kodao’s 15 minute video documentary about the “International Verfication and Fact Finding Mission on Attacks Against Filipino Lawyers and Judges” conducted 2008 in coordination with the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and the Counsel for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL). Click here and watch at the Kodao website.

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.