GORGY RULA
Naglabas ng open letter sa Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) ang direktor na si JL Burgos.
Inilagay niya ito sa Facebook page ng pelikula niyang Alipato at Muog (Flying Embers and Fortress), ngayong Agosto 23, 2024, Biyernes.
Ang 96-minute documentary na Alipato at Muog ay isa sa sampung full-length films na nag-compete sa katatapos na Cinemalaya Bente: Loob Lalim Lakas (Agosto 3-11).
Tinatalakay ng pelikula ang pagdukot sa kuya ni JL na si Jonas Burgos, isang aktibista, sa isang mall noong 2007 at ang patuloy na paghahanap ng kanyang pamilya sa kanya.
Read: Docu film tungkol kay Jonas Burgos, 17 years in the making
Naipalabas ang Alipato at Muog, maging ang iba pang competing films ng Cinemalaya XX, sa mga sinehan ng Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Trinoma, UP Town Center, Market Market, at Greenbelt.
Pinagkalooban ito ng Special Jury Prize sa awards night ng 20th Cinemalaya filmfest.
PG (Parental Guidance) ang rating nito para sa screenings during the filmfest.
Pero X ang rating ng MTRCB sa Alipato at Muog para sa commercial release nito.
Read: Cinemalaya XX awards night: highlights and sidelights
JL BURGOS APPEALS TO MTRCB
Ang Facebook post ni Direk JL ay may title na A LETTER OF APPEAL TO THE MTRCB.
Ang MTRCB ay pinamumunuan ng chairman nitong si Lala Sotto-Antonio.
Ang nilalaman ng liham: “For the past few days, I've received messages of support and encouragement to keep the fire burning — people who were touched by the embers of our film Alipato at Muog.
“I was hopeful that the search for my brother, Jonas, would turn a notch after the ‘success’ of the film.
“The last 2 days of our screening, reports reached us that different cinemas in different malls were jampacked.
“Morale was at a record high but those hopes were quickly dampened by the news that Alipato at Muog was given an X rating classification.
“Films that were given such rating are deemed NOT SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING according to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
“A week ago, we applied for a permit for Alipato at Muog to be classified fit for public viewing, unfortunately, the result was not what we hoped for.
“On August 22, 2024, the 1st reviewers — which is composed of three (3) members of the board — disapproved our film from public exhibition.
“According to the reviewers, the reason for such classification is because ‘The film tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly-constituted authorities.’
“We from the whole team of Alipato at Muog would like to appeal the decision of the board.
“We will have it reviewed for the 2nd time as soon as possible, even though we have to shell out a huge amount of money just to have it reviewed.
“We are not a big production house, FYI. Alipato at Muog is independently produced film with grants from the Cinemalaya Foundation and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
“We will abide by the processes of such undertakings as we have done from the very first day of the search of my brother.
“We will also submit the documents of the Jonas Burgos case that they are asking from us.
“Hindi naman po siguro kayo babalikan ni General Año, hindi naman po siguro nya gagawin yon dahil lamang sa isang dokumentaryo.
“Kaya kami ay nakikiusap, please open your hearts and be the voice of the voiceless.
“Please stand for what is right and what is just. Because when that happens we can truly say we live in a democratic country where there is no censorship and there is freedom to express one's thought without fear or favor.
“We might still get an X rating but for the people who have been following our story know that we will never go away.
“Kaya po may ganitong istorya ay dahil may ganitong mga pangyayari. Walang mali sa paglaban, may mali kaya may lumalaban.
“Naninindigan, 'JL Burgos.'”
JERRY OLEA
Dumalo si Direk Joel Lamangan sa gala premiere ng Alipato at Muog noong Agosto 6, Martes ng 5:00 P.M. sa Cinema 2 ng Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Si Direk Joel ang nagdirek ng pelikulang Burgos (2013) na pinagbidahan ni Lorna Tolentino bilang Edita Burgos.
Co-stars ni Lorna sa nasabing movie sina Allen Dizon, Ina Feleo, Rocco Nacino, Dimples Romana, Bangs Garcia, at Kerbie Zamora. May special participation doon si Tirso Cruz III.
Read: Mrs. Edita Burgos believes Lorna Tolentino was destined to portray her in the film Burgos
JOEL LAMANGAN ON ALIPATO AT MUOG
“Inimbitahan ako nung nanay nina Jonas at JL, si Edita, na manood ng Alipato at Muog,” sabi ni Direk Joel nang makatsikahan ko nitong Agosto 23, Biyernes, sa Cash n’ Carry mall sa Makati City.
“Maganda iyong Alipato at Muog. Gusto ko! Antapang! Pinangalanan ang mga may kinalaman sa pagkawala ni Jonas Burgos.”
Ano ang feeling niya na na-X ang Alipato at Muog?
Napakunot-noo si Direk Joel: “Naku! Diyos ko! Ang MTRCB ay instrumento ng state para ganyan, i-censor ang mga bagay-bagay na would say something against the government.
“Kagaya niyan, yung military. The military has something to do with it… Siguro ayaw nilang ipalabas, kaya nila ginaganyan-ganyan.”
Irerekomenda ba niya sa mga manonood ang Alipato at Muog?
Mabilis na tugon ni Direk Joel: “Oo, lahat! Oo, maganda kasi talaga siya. Maganda. As a documentary form, it’s beautiful, it’s good! Maganda siya as a docu.”
SYNOPSIS OF ALIPATO AT MUOG
Ito ang buod ng Alipato at Muog: “The abduction of Jonas Burgos in 2007 was brazen — done at noontime in a crowded mall.
“As his family launched their search, a car plate brought them face to face with powerful forces. “Despite insurmountable barriers, anonymous informants have dropped leads and even provided the last known photo of Jonas in captivity.
“Edita, the 80-year old mother, and her filmmaker son lead the long and arduous fight for justice.
“Presented through testimonials of their lawyer, a reporter, a former Justice Secretary and Human Rights Commission Chair, and witnesses who agreed to appear on condition of anonymity, combined with animation and never-before-seen footage of the family’s relentless search, the documentary film weaves the stories together to uncover the truths, however painful, about the brother’s disappearance.”
NOEL FERRER
Maliban sa pagiging direktor, si JL Burgos din ang cinematographer at editor ng Alipato at Muog.
At co-writers sila ni Bernardine de Belen.
Bahagi ng mensahe ni Direk JL bago ang gala screening ng Alipato at Muog noong Agosto 6: “Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa inyong lahat na dumating.
“Nais ko pong magpasalamat, kahit maulan, trapik, napakalayo sa ating lugar ang lugar na ito ay nandidito pa rin kayo.
“Kaya nais ko po talagang magpasalamat sa inyo. Palakpakan po ninyo ang inyong sarili.
“Dahil kahit na anong lakas ng ulan, kahit na anong layo, ay nandidito pa rin kayo para sa katotohanan.”
Emosyonal na pinasalamatan ni Direk JL ang mga katuwang niya sa pagbuo ng Alipato at Muog.
Naluluhang pahayag ni Direk JL: “Ang pelikulang ito ay siyempre para kay Jonas. Kasama ko ang pamilya ni Jonas.
“Si Yumi. Si Yumi po, makikilala nyo siya mamaya nang mas malalim. Siya po ang anak ni Jonas.
“Si Me-ann, andidito rin po siya, ang asawa ni Jonas. At siyempre po, yung nanay ko, nandidito po sa harapan. Tayo ka po, say ‘hi.’
“Kasama ko rin yung pamilya Burgos, andidito, hindi ko na kayo iisa-isahin. Wave-wave na lang.
“Siyempre, wala naman tayo rito kung hindi naman ako pinapasok ng Cinemalaya sa festival na ito, kaya nais ko pong magpasalamat sa Cinemalaya.
“Taos-pusong pasasalamat po ito na naging bahagi kayo ng paghahanap kay Jonas.
“Hindi ko alam kung nandito yung mga representative ng FDCP. Nung kami’y nagsimula, si Direk Joey Reyes ay bahagi ng monitoring committee pero… na-appoint siya to FDCP chair.
“Merong pagkakataon, habang wino-workshop namin ang pelikula, kami po siyempre ay kinakabahan dahil political ang content ng aming pelikula.
“Tinanong namin kay Direk Joey, ‘What if the state refuses to show us?’ And he said, ‘We will fight for you.’ Kaya salamat.”
