Keep Children and PWDs Safe

In a world where material greed, wars and strife become dominant, and where spirituality is relegated to the background; where respect for life and human rights seems dissipating, becoming rarer or a thing of the past, children becomes most vulnerable. Who in this world is safe when even in broad daylight, innocent people gets raped, robbed, and/or massacred and mutilated; where cyberspace is freely explored by anyone from the most sacred of subjects to the most heinous ones; where the military [with some exceptions of course] and those who should police us to safety are themselves involved in some crimes being perpetrated to the citizens they pledged to protect. For reasons at time beyond comprehension, and seems Biblical, everything seems to come to an excess, crashing and crushing down age-old values and respect for self and others.

ABUSE as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary are as follows: 1) to use wrongly or improperly; 2) to maltreat; 3) to attack with insult, or revile. I personally define abuse as “doing something more than it should be,” “going beyond a defined boundary,” “over indulgence.” In whichever way the word is defined, there is something negative or wrong in its connotation.

Keep Them Safe Group_Batch 1: (Seated--MM, on extreme left; Liw Caldito, third from left; Atty. Chato Gallo, third from right)

An outcome of the present state of the society is the birth of Keep Them Safe Now, a movement initiated by Atty. Rosario Olivas-Gallo which was born out of a commitment to keep children, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from different forms of abuses—CSA (child sexual abuse) especially. Last November 28, I attended Module 1 of Keep Them Safe Seminar Series on How to Prevent CSA. It was held at Balay ng Alumni, UP, Diliman and facilitated by Atty. Chato herself. Two Deaf friends—Alma from Filipino Women’s Health and Crisis Center and Rommel Agravante, my FSL teacher at DLS-CSB SDEAS now a scholar at the UP College of Fine Arts were among the attendees, largely composed of members from differend NGO groups here in Manila. I attended it being a part of Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children (SEADC) headed by Liw Caldito. SEADC was the beneficiary of the event. As a new member of the group, I thought that I should attend the seminar to familiarize myself with something I know little about. I first met and was introduced to Liw during the screening of my film Silent Odyssey last September 2008.

SEADC group

She was familiar to me because my lens caught her during the Celebrations into Force of UNCRPD in May ‘08. Reviewing my copy before any screening made me familiar with most of the people in my film. My getting involved with Deaf Pinoy Kaleidoscope, an association of 7 active Deaf organizations made me personally encounter those I virtually know through the footages that I shot at that time.

Anyway, my apathetic and lethargic mind to the happenings around has actually awakened me and my interest in the real situations that affect my subjects moving me to continously work for their welfare in whichever way I could as an advocate for their cause. That is where making my films led me to. That is how I was transformed. Learning of their woes against the society and the government made me feel for them. Since the power of film I believe is very strong to transmit to the concerned those woes, I myself got empowered and have built the conviction to carry on with what I have started. I have a lineup of films to do actually that focus on the special people.

What sort of astounded me to learn from the seminar was that CSA does not just mean rape, or physical assault and molestations of the victims.  Just throwing malicious or lascivious looks at the victim are already forms of CSA. Other myths about CSA were taken up one by one: Not all victims are girls; that victims do not know the perpetrators [actually 75-80% know them]; abusers are usually poorly educated or economically poor; that children and disabled are not frequent victims of CSA; all CSA abusers are male; that children lie, make up or imagine sexual abuse; that there is no need to fear if you live in a nice, supposedly safe neighborhood; that children are already safe if they are told to say NO when one touches their private parts; that if the boy was aroused or the girl did not complain, there is no CSA,; that boys are less traumatized than girls; that abused children will show physical evidence; that repeated interview can implant false accusations in children’ s minds,  etc.

Getting “educated” about CSA would help lead to action I believe, and bringing the seminar to places where children are liable to be victims and their families because of innocence would help a lot. Tying it up with projects where community based rehabilitation [CBR] groups are active should be considered as they go to provincial nooks untouched or unseen by the national government. I believe that the local or barangay unit of the government could do its share with the cooperation of Department of Social Welfare so that awareness of CSA could be propagated, really disseminated. Pamphlets maybe distributed in the absence of a seminar or while a seminar is still being planned. Awareness would help make everybody observant, more cautious of people around us. Lay people will know and be more open to the subject, and if taken up matter-of-factly and explained by a lawyer herself, the legal viewpoint would undeniably be very useful. The seminar is most timely, especially for PWDs, who are common victims because of their physical disability, especially now that the UNCRPD is being enforced and that the Philippines is a signatory to it.

Learning new knowledge, truth and information about the subject in focus is the first step to involvement. Getting committed to its cause is another matter of course but if that knowledge would help move a person into changing his false beliefs, it is already a positive step towards empowerment–of self first and foremost. The rest follows…

Collection Building: Filipiniana Lumabas Na!!!

Sa wakas, naipanganak na rin ang aklat ng aking kapatid— Collection Building: Filipiniana! Ito ay idineliver kahapon sa bahay. “One down!” Isa na lang volume ang natitira pa para matupad ang pangako ko sa kanya noong siya’y nabubuhay pa.

Ang aklat na ito—ikaapat na volume sa Mga Ani ni Gani Series— ay para sa mga Filipino librarians, kanino pa nga ba? Lahat ng mga artikulo (napablis man o hindi) na kanyang sinulat ay puro Filipiniana sympre pa!!! Adik sa Filipiniana ang aking kapatid dahil lahat ng tungkol sa Pilipinas ay inaalam nya o kaya’y kinokolekta. Nitong mga ilang buwan lang ang nakakaraan, may mga nakita pa akong koleksyon nya ng mga samut saring trivia tungkol sa Pilipinas na pinamagatan nyang “BELIEVE ME OR NOT.” Hindi ko isinasama sa pagpapublish ang mga trivia notes nyang napulot kung saan-saan dahil palabasa siya at mausisa, kaya malamang ibigay ko na lang sa UP Main Library o kaya’y sa Cavite Studies Center ang anupamang mahanap ko kapag hindi natuloy ang pangarap ko na magkaroon ng Isagani R. Medina Library & Museum. Isang van na ng mga kung ano-anong bagay at mga libro na naligtas sa sunog dahil nasa kabilang bahay ang mga ito ang naipadala ko na sa UP Library pagkatapos matupok ang bahay namin noong 1998.

Ngayon ay mas masaya ang Pasko ko dahil natapos ko na ang isa kong “misyon.” Mai book launch ito ang susunod kong target na sana ay maganap sa first quarter ng 2010.

Film Editor’s Responsibility Limit

Last night, I went to a great, grand, wonderful wedding…a joyous one indeed! But my night was spoiled when the AVP that we prepared lost the sound that should have played at the end of it. Had it been wise for us to stop the showing? No! it wasn’t. What right have we got to do that anyway??? Have we that right? No! No! we don’t… A film editor’s work officially stops upon the film’s approval. Its projection is outside the responsibility of a film editor. Besides, who would want something like that to happen to a work you’ve spent time and many sleepless nights over, and one done with so much love and labor??? It was never to our liking. It was a most undesirable thing to happen! But it did happen. The moral lesson? Testing of sound and picture should have been done earlier.

Anyway, this afternoon, I will spend my first Christmas celebrations with Deaf friends, and day after, with Three Seasons if time permits us — being with them, I am sure would help offset or dispel the feeling of upset that I still harbor… but this things happen and I know shall pass.

Yaw Yan Master

I just interviewed the Yaw Yan Master and originator, Mr. Nap Fernandez, an octogenarian. What makes him be a part of my advocacines is the fact that he is a stroke victim, with half of his body now immobile. He reminded me somewhat of my brother Gani, the main difference being his overcoming his depression to continuously show his students the ability of his other hand to still incapacitate his “opponent.” He is a person with disability but he managed to demonstrate the power of his right hand to function still. I saw awe and fear in the eyes of his student when he was summoned to demo a skill with his Master involving the use of “paralyzing” his hand-wrist. I don’t really know how they call it. Reminded of his feelings the time stroke hit him, the GrandMaster sadly talked about how he wanted to end his life back then. But that was off the cam. And off the cam when tears fell from his eyes. He managed to overcome his feelings he said when he felt how much he is loved by his students and disciples. Now, he continues to serve as an inspiration to them. His only wish is for the recognition of Yaw Yan, as one of the Philippines’ national martial arts.

Yaw Yan’s name is taken from “Sayaw ng Kamatayan” which gives me the connotation that it is something dangerous or could probably be brutal. I haven’t seen any real fights. I just saw the demo today but what I saw was sort of a dance, in the way the fighters moved, kicked, jumped and swirled their bodies around before hitting with a kick. How different it is to Muay Thai is something I have yet to know. I do not know anything about it too. James,  my niece TingTing’s husband-to-be brought us, Joseph and I to Pasay Yaw Yan gym. It was through James that I first heard of YawYan.

I am not fond of sports but YawYan as the originator’s claim that it is an indigenous form of Filipino martial art got me interested in it. It is a “Filipiniana” subject that has to be documented and probably promoted if it is truly of Filipino origin. And for that alone, a contribution to make it known through a small film could be my contribution. I don’t know how far I would go with what I started today. If meant to be, as I’ve always believed, I would be led to finish it. And if I do, like the “Blind Architect,” this will be about a man’s ability over his disability, a triumph of will and spirit.

I once expressed that for a change from my films on sped people, I wanted to take a 360 degree turn and make a film on a sportsman. I hoped to make one on bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno, an abled-bodied person but I am not probably “destined” to work on that. Being led to a sport I know nothing about, and only recently heard, but whose leader with body that has been physically disabled seems to be really serving as an indication or a sign that in whichever way I turn my attention, I cannot just depart from my “mission” to focus on special people.

Déja vu_BenCab Museum

Writer-friend Janus Victoria and I took the opportunity to visit BenCab Museum last November 18, a place  one should not miss seeing. I had scheduled showing of Silent O the following day, November 19 at CAP Auditorium [See SO's Last Quarter Trail posting dated November 30]. We just dropped our things at Veniz Hotel [cozy and strategically placed hotel at reasonable price] when we reached Baguio City at noon time, and proceeded to the Museum some 10-15 minutes ride from the city. We wanted to meet BenCab but we knew all along that he wouldn’t be there because I met with Ms. Annie Sarthou some four or five days back to give her the DVDs and the master tape of “BenCab’s Haven,” the coverage of the museum’s inauguration shot by Kuya Romy Vitug that I edited.

From the last jeepney stop, we had to walk a few more steps down the road to reach the Museum located at Km. 6 in Asin. It was cloudy and the climate was just right for me as the cold didn’t chill me to death unlike the experiences that I had in the past, being a tropical creature who landed in Tokyo and Paris where I felt how it was like to be a frozen fish inside a ref’s chiller.

“Déja vu” literally! [French phrase meaning "already seen", and it refers to the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously. From "Wikipedia"] Editing “BenCab’s Haven” made me familiar to almost all the nooks and corners of the Museum, from the very sight of the entrance to the building which is actually the fourth floor of the Museum. However, physically being “in” it was still totally different from just seeing the actual place via footages. The senses of touch [actual artworks which of course I didn't literally touch but have seen the textures and perceived them], smell [coffee smell was dominant, at least for me, and fresh air of course; I can distinguish between Manila and provincial "smell" I guess because of unpolluted air], sight [beautiful paintings, traditional arts and crafts, some sculpted works and greeneries outside], hearing [the calm breeze, sound of the water gushing down the river streams, chirping birds from the aviary and the surroundings], and taste, yes! as there was Cafe Sabel where we had our merienda after enjoying seeing the sights inside and outside of the Museum. I enjoin you then to tour with me through some of the many photos that I shot [some others courtesy of Janus. Visit her facebook album for more].

(For more photos, click “BenCab Museum Garden” under FILM RESPITE on the right column).

To visit BenCab’s website, click bencabmuseum.org

Balimbing

Balimbing, n. (bot.) Averrhoa carambola: tree that bears fruit with five longitudinal, angular lobes [Source: Diksyunaryo Tesauro Pilipino-Ingles (1972) by Jose Villa Panganiban].

Balimbing is a fruit not so many find exciting and good for their palate to eat. It is like a five-pointed star when horizontally cut. If perfect in symmety, it will show the same “look” or the same “face” when turned around five-ways. The reason why it became a colloquial word to mean a “turn-coat” or “doble cara.” A person described as balimbing acts depending on the person he is with. Concrete examples of balimbings abound in the arena of politics. Politicians who can stay in power whosoever sits in the highest post have the quality of changing his principles and character as demanded by the one in power. Their past bickerings, word wars, at mala palengkeng pagbabangayan may turn into sweet relationship to serve their political ambitions.

Balimbing leaves

We have a balimbing tree—ligaw sa totoo lang— which grew tall and now bears flowers and fruits. The children in the neighborhood are simply not interested in them, probably because balimbing is unkown to them, as they are sold nowhere—neither in the smallest talipapa, nor in the biggest supermarkets. But I have observed that those who got used to its taste have started to search for ripe ones to pick and eat. The fruit tastes bitter when raw, sour while ripening and sweeter when ripe. It is juicy and crispy when newly picked up.

The most wonderful thing that happened was when I shot extreme close shots of balimbing flowers. Although as bunch of flowers, I already find them beautiful because of their colors, I still took the tiny flowers for granted…Until I have seen the shots that I took in my computer. I was delighted, felt real joy and praised God for His power to give beauty to the taken-for-granted creation. My joy was overflowing so much so that I have been compelled to veer away from my advocacines to write this so as to share with you what I am talking about through the photos that I shot and truly marveled at.

For more photos, click “Balimbing Wonders” on the right column under Film Respite.

SO’s Last Quarter Trail

Deaf Awareness Week is usually celebrated annually every November but this year it wasn’t that much felt because we were informed that the Department of Education has not issued a memo regarding the holding of celebrations. The reason probably why CSB Auditorium was fully packed especially on the last day of their week-long 15th year celebration. With or without a directive from DepEd, DAW has become an annual occasion most awaited for by the Deaf community. It must be noted however that DAW is an event being prepared by the hearing organizers. SDEAS DAW celebrations is something being initiated, manned, and organized by Deaf leaders themselves.

Nevertheless, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) led by its president Rack Corpuz managed to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week by holding a showing of Silent O in Baguio City last November 19. Julius Andrada, first PFD president assisted Rack in facilitating the event.

(Below)  Q & A after the screening. PFD President Rack Corpuz answered many questions mostly relating to sign language issues affecting the sector

As always, reactions were raised because of the real issues tackled in the film: Filipino Sign Language, oralism and importance of sign language to Deaf people as explained by World Federation of the Deaf President Markku Jokinen, and the fact that sign language is an index to their identity as a cultural linguistic minority group.

Five days later, on the 24th of November, Silent O was shown for the benefit of Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children (SEADC). Its showing at UP Manila in the fully-packed viewing room elicited good reactions from the hearing UP-Camp students, despite the fact that they may not handle any Deaf in their career. At least they must have realized how important sign language is to Deaf people and that forcing them to speak may not really help them to fully realize their capacities. It can never be doubted that sign language is the “language of the Deaf” and forcing them to speak and listen may hinder their full growth as Deaf persons should they try to adapt themselves to the hearing world. One student says she found the film enlightening. As pathologists, learning the cultural viewpoint of deafness might have given them a better understanding of Deaf’s unique world with its own language and culture. As they are being taught to correct, improve, probably address speech problems and defects, acceptance of the equality of sign language with spoken language must have been something they found very new, if not, surprising.

What I am happy about was the presence in the showing of sign linguist Dr. Liza Martinez, the most revered and respected hearing person by the Deaf community and considered to be the strongest voice and advocate on the use and recognition of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) in the country. Her positive reaction to the film was encouraging, and to me akin to an “imprimatur” as she pronounced before the UP Speech Pathology students her “verdict” on SO which she finally saw for the first time:

The film is a very significant contribution to information and to advocacy…I never thought I would see in my lifetime an interest in documentary by filmmakers who actually worked with the Deaf…I think when you walk out of here, you will remember this film and you will remember all the sentiments, the attitudes which were presented in it. Take home a sense of history, I think it is very strong in the film; a sense of diversity of the Deaf community; and continuing vision on things which are still to be done…I hope that you enjoyed, and learned, and most of all—you have taken it into your hearts what you have seen tonight.

(Front row) Dr. Liza Martinez in long sleeved-blue, printed blouse before the Q&A portion

I actually wanted Dr. Martinez being a sign language expert to be among the first to watch and comment on the film before any public viewing but because of her poor health then, she was unable to do so. I also wanted her to be in the film, either as a primary source of information or a consultant, unfortunately she declined for some personal reasons. It must have been a blessing afterall because with Dr. Liza in SO, people still advocating for ASL or SEE may prejudge SO as Dr. Liza’s vehicle to advocate for FSL. The fact that whatever you see in SO were all part of my real odyssey, products of my own research and own experiences largely earned while learning FSL and direct mingling with the Deaf and hearing persons who worked and continue to work for the welfare of the Deaf, others can say anything—good or bad—about it. So far, good and encouraging remarks, more than bad reactions came from Deaf and hearing audience. But SO should simply be taken as a hearing person’s journey into Deaf Filipinos’ world anyway. SO was just my means, my own vehicle to share what I saw on my way to the innerworld of the Deaf. SO is—as I have trying to aim at—a bridge that would connect us, hearing people to the Deaf. Later, I will post my treatise on the issue of “exclusion” or being “left behind” in my films as I walk my way to whatever destination I am led to.

Going a little more back in time, SO’s showing in Taguig City last October during the Cinemanila International Film Festival maybe considered a failure somewhat, but not completely so, if the measure would be based alone on the number of dozen people who came to watch it. It is because the 100% positive and favorite reactions that the film got from them quite offset it. An American viewer commended it to such an extent that he even offered to pay for its fee, if I would be willing, to enter it in a California fest in the US. The success was also due to the presence and full support of Deaf leaders, comprising the newly-formed fellowship organization of 7 Deaf groups called Deaf Pinoy Kaleidescope, and Ana Arce, first Deaf magna cum laude from CSB-SDEAS who also joined us to give a short and inspiring talk before the show. According to those who came, their friends could not come for the following reasons: due to schedule [sked was after 7 pm and held during a weekday]; accessibility or distance [Taguig is not in the city center; many Deaf live in Manila or Quezon City]; many have already seen SO in the many showings held at College of St. Benilde; documentary genre is not as preferred as narrative film feature, and, unfortunately, hearing audience, other than those in the family with Deaf are not ready to enter an “unknown territory.”

Nonetheless, the CineManila showing was a success and a big triumph for the Deaf community, considering the fact that finally, and for the first time in Philippine Cinema history, a Deaf Cinema program has been put up by an international film festival here to highlight Deaf presence in cinema.  For once, Deaf as lead characters or subjects in films got attention. Kudos to Dinig, Puntod and River of Dreams! I heard recently that more films with Deaf characters are on the grind…or about to grind. To those who will follow our trail: present Deaf people as real, not cardboard characters or laughing stock. Truly enter their world, and you’ll find many wonderful people.

Deaf Awareness Week Proclamation

[Yesterday, November 21, the 15th Deaf Festival of DLS-CSB School of Deaf and Applied Studies where I studied Filipino Sign Language was held. It was the last day of the week-long annual celebration of Deaf Awareness Week at CSB. Nevertheless better late or never...so I am posting this just the same.]

On November 8, 1991 President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation No. 829 declaring November 10-16 of every year as Deaf Awareness Week (DAW). In part it says:

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare NOVEMBER 10 to 16 of every year as “Deafness Awareness Week” under the auspices of the Philippine Institute for the Deaf and the Philippine School for the Deaf and other concerned organizations.”

I personally find it interesting why no Deaf organization at all was included and specified. Hmm! Probably PFD wasn’t existing at the time? Got to research on this, I guess….

(Click the link below to read Proclamation No. 829 )

proclamation-829

Speech Pathologists sponsor Silent O at UP CAMP

Honestly, I wondered how come students of Speech Pathology preferred to show Silent O over Alyana, my film on autism knowing how directly involved they would be to persons with autism when they start to work. In addition, Silent O slants on Deaf as cultural-linguistic minority group not on pathological or medical viewpoint that they are physically disabled.  To know from Liw Caldito that SEADC would be the beneficiary of the proceeds made it understandable to me. Weeks before that, someone from the UP Manila Speech Pathology group emailed me but they never mentioned anything about SEADC. They just asked what films on PWDs are available. I even told Liw about it not knowing that they were the same group Liw had been talking about before.

Even then, I still tried to find some other reasons that could justify their preference:  Probably I thought that they would want to know the other side of the coin, so to say. To know who Deaf people are and probably to know if what they are learning would apply, and eventually, probably decide to learn sign language because it is true that most persons with autism are non-verbal and basic sign language would be of use to facilitate communication. “Acting as if they [children with autism] are Deaf” is one of the symptoms of autism anyway so entering the world of the Deaf should be of real interest afterall. I just hope that when they enter the viewing room, students would also leave behind the fact that they are students of speech pathology. Their minds should be open, and be like sponges to absorb all the knowledge that they can possibly learn from the members of the Deaf community themselves. They will be learning something different because it is about a unique group of wonderful people.

Last night, Liw Caldito, SEADC Founder sent this email—

Here is poster on Silent Odyssey to be shown at the UP-Manila CAMP for the benefit of the Deaf… Prices are 80pesos for students and 150 for professionals. Tickets will be sold at the gate.

Proceeds of the film will go to:

Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children or SEADC

sponsored by The Collegiate Association of Speech Pathologists, UP

Press work pa rin at CIP

Press work of Collection Building: Filipiniana continues!

Rushing on the blueprint to get to the printer by Tuesday so that by the time I go to Baguio City for the screening on Thursday Nov. 19, of my docu Silent O, in celebration of Deaf Awareness Week, something will simultaneously happen…Hope I succeed in meeting my target deadline. Got back today, the blueprint from Nestor de Guzman, book’s copy editor but I have yet to give it to a friend for another “look.” Had printing experiences in the past– with regards the difficulty of being perfectly free from errors despite so “many eyes” that perused on it, most especially if there are many historical notes. So as to minimize that, with the hope as always that everything will be all right, and the book will be error-free, I ask those who are in no way involved in the project to read the third time as they usually look with fresh eyes.

I already got the CIP* (Cataloging-in-publication) from the National Library of the Philippines and as I’ve earlier posted, I’ll be placing here as well the book’s table of contents to give librarians some idea as to the book’s actual content. The book will be ready earliest by mid-December, latest first week of January 2010. That’s the target!

* Cataloging-in-publication (CIP) is a voluntary program of cooperation between the National Library and the publishers that allows the cataloging of Filipiniana books prior to publication.

Click below to see the table of contents and the CIP data:

Table of Contents_Ani IV

To know why CIP is important, click below

why-cip-data-is-important