Call for unconditional release mark artist Ericson Acosta’s birthday

Last May 27, a year and three months after the illegal arrest of artist Ericson Acosta, family, friends and fellow artists mark his 40th birthday with a simple celebration of lugaw and the collective wish for his unconditional release from detention at the Calbayog provincial jail in Samar.

The fund raising activity was held at the UP Balay Kalinaw and was well participated with friends and celebrities taking turns in performing, giving updates on Ericson’s case, and serving lugaw to guests.

Serve the People: Lugawan para sa Kalayaan was organized by the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) in cooperation with the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA). They call for the general, unconditional, and omnibus release not only of Ericson Acosta but all political prisoners in the country.

First posted at the Philippine Online Chronicles.

The Beta Epsilon Fireworks at the UP Diliman Lantern Parade 2009

I had fun watching and filming the fireworks display my father’s fraternity sponsored during this year’s U. P. Lantern Parade. Wishing everyone a productive 2010!

Sine Direk at the UP Film Institute

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.

Paalala sa bagong Iskolar ng Bayan

Here’s UP Faculty Regent Dr. Judy Taguiwalo’s speech during yesterday’s welcome ceremonies for UP Manila freshmen. Photo from Dr. Taguiwalo.

Pagpupugay at Ilang Paalaala sa mga Bagong Iskolar ng Bayan ng UP Manila

Maalab na pagbati sa inyo, mga bagong estudyante ng UP Manila.

Tulad sa iba sa inyo rito, promdi ako, taga Negros Occidental, nang pumasok sa UP noong 1965. Pero di tulad sa inyo, di ko kinailangang pumasa ng UPCAT para maging estudyante ng UP. Sa panahong ko, awtomatikong makakapasok ang mga Valedictorian at Salutatorian ng mga high school. Sa panahon ko, P165 lang yata ang tuition and miscellaneous fees at P30 lang ang buwanang bayad sa dorm. Kaya kahit galing ako sa public school at wala masyadong kaya ang mga magulang ko na mga public school teacher, nakatagal ako at nakapagtapos sa UP Diliman.

UP Diliman is against Charter Change

Here’s Dr. Judy Taguiwalo post of the UP Diliman community’s collective statement against charter change and for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Dr. Taguiwalo is a faculty regent of the University of the Philippines.

The UP Diliman community will participate in the Ayala, Makati people’s protest against con-ass tomorrow, June 10, 2009. A press conference and short program will be held at 1:30 pm at Quezon Hall lobby by the UP Diliman contingent prior to joining the Ayala rally.

UPCAT

Cinema One Originals’ winning film “UPCAT” will be screened at Indiesine on Robinson’s Galleria from June 10 to 16. UPCAT is a story of two highschool buddies who believe that passing the UPCAT is their passport to fulfilling their dreams. The movie is directed by Carlo Roman Olivarez with screenplay written by Inna Miren Salazar and Alfred Geoffrey Reyes.

Movie trailer and ABS-CBN’s review at the end of this post.

Judy Taguiwalo: Social Worker and Activist

Here’s a short video I made in 2007 about Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, an activist social worker since the First Quarter Storm and a political detainee during Martial Law. I did the editing, and Cindy Cruz-Cabrera together with class WD211 took care of collecting the materials needed for the production.

The video was a surprise made for Dr. Taguiwalo by her students and was shown before she presented her dissertation “Babae, Obrera, Unyonista” in August 2007. At present, Dr. Taguiwalo is a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, an officer of the UP Academic Union, and a convenor of Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change.

Sundial

In 2006, me and my father Monram came up with “Sundial”, a video documentary about the UP College of Engineering. The project was commissioned by the alumni organization of one of the largest fraternities in the College of Engineering, the Beta Epsilon.

Pelikula sa UP, pakikialaman narin ng MTRCB?

Reposting from Pinoy Weekly Online

SA UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute ipinalalabas ang marami sa pelikulang hindi pinalad na bigyan ng magandang rating ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Karamihan dito’y tumatalakay sa usapin ng pulitika, kahirapan, kabaklaan at seks. Pero waring pati ito’y nais na ring pakialaman ng MTRCB.

An Engineer for the Masses

Today is my father’s 65th birthday. I am reposting the tribute me and Marion wrote for Ingenium, the annual publication of the UP Alumni Engineers. This essay was first posted online on my father’s blog and was printed on Ingenium 2007. Before the final version was published, we of course solicited criticisms from Monram himself. Hehe!

Monram's classic pose. This was the photo used for Ingenium 2007.