Film on APO MABINI Showing July 28 at the Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park

From July 17-23, the annual celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week is held in the Philippines as a tribute to Apolinario Mabini, one of our national heroes. He was paralyzed at the height of his career as a lawyer. Despite that, he became the Chief Adviser of the first Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo. Mabini was our first Prime Minister, and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs. As part of the post-celebration of the NDPR Week, the National Parks Development Committee shall screen the one-hour educational documentary at the Open-Air Auditorium in Rizal Park tomorrow, July 28, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Admission is FREE!

Note that Apolinario Mabini was elected officer of the LIGA FILIPINA founded by Jose Rizal, another great hero after whom the place where it shall be shown, Rizal Park was named after. Rizal was executed at the then Bagumbayan, now called Rizal Park on December 30, 1896. Mabini born on July 23, 1864 died on May 13, 1903.

 

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Mabini the Mason with Contemporary Filipino Masons

Last Monday October 1, I got to show to Filipino Masons belonging to NCR-G my educational documentary on the life of Apolinario Mabini, one of our great heroes. It was held at Fort Bonifacio, a military camp. It was my first time to enter the Fort. Mr. Ray Noble, past Master of Muntinlupa City Masonic Lodge #414, and the Incumbent Grand Lodge Inspector for MW RQ Pagotan Lodge # 282 brought me to the venue. He with a few other Masons and their wives first previewed the film in September. It was held at the Masonic Grand Lodge in Manila. Those who watched PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon decided to show it to more members of the group. (see below)

Members of the 13 Masonic Lodges of NCR-

Mabini, first Secretary of Foreign Affairs and who could have been the First Secretary of Justice were not for his disability joined the Masonic group in 1892. He was called “Katabay” at the time. Many of our heroes during the Spanish regime were Masons, Jose Rizal included. Masons were anti-friars hence they were sought after by the Spanish authorities. It was because of their oppression of our people that masonry became popular in the country. Then and now, it continues to exist as a brotherhood. In fact, my father was a Mason too.The Masonic District NCR-G, under the Jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines is spearheading the event. Their Incumbent District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) is Very Worshipful Emmanuel Bravo.
MD NCR-G is composed of 13 Masonic Lodges:
1. Batong Buhay Lodge #27
2. Muog Lodge #89
3. King Solomon Lodge # 150
4. Wenceslao Trinidad Masonic Lodge #365
5. MW RQ Pagotan Masonic Lodge #282
6. Kagitingan Lodge #256
7. Gen. Artemio Ricarte Lodge #322
8. Jacobo Zobel Mem. Lodge #202
9. Palanyag Lodge #323
10. Dr. Felimon Aguilar-Las Piñas Lodge #332
11. Hadji Butu Razul Mem. Lodge #393
12. Muntinlupa City Masonic Lodge #414
13. Taguig Masonic Lodge #431

Through the Eyes of my Deaf Teacher

Foreground: my Deaf teacher Rey Alfred Lee. Behind him are members of the Silent Steps, Faculty staff of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, as well as GMEFI and UPSEC officers. Also in the photo is PULE film scorer Tumtum Mendoza [in white t-shirt with eyeglasses], a Person with Autism, standing between GMEFI President and me. 

Last August 25, PULE: UTAK ng REBOLUSYON, a documentary on our hero, APOLINARIO MABINI was shown for the benefit of the scholars of Gawad Metronian Educational Foundation, Inc. [GMEFI]. The film participants include Deaf students and members of the Deaf playgroup, SILENT STEPS. They interpreted in Filipino Sign Language for the first time after 1898, one of the popular writings of the docu’s subject entitled El Verdadero Decalogo/The True Decalogue.  It was voiced by a man paralyzed by Guillain-Barre Syndrome who read Mabini’s writings. The film was scored by a twice-exceptional Person with Autism, his first time to do  so.

The screening was held at the UP Film Center in Diliman, Quezon City. Members of the Deaf community from DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies where I studied Filipino Sign Language came to attend the screening. One of them was my Deaf teachers, Rey Alfred Lee, former President of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf. Below are some of the photos he took.

John Baliza Interprets for UPSEC Prez Lowe Crisostomo

Historian Dr. Bernardita Churchill, guest speaker with Febe Sevilla, interpreter

The Audience — Hearing and Deaf

How the Deaf clap

GMEFI Prez Evelyne Dominguez awards the certificate of appreciation to Myra Medrana [Deaf choreographer]

Rey and Me

Rey, Cath and JM [Deaf]

Members of the Filipino Deaf community

With the DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies students and faculty

Photos from UPSEC: Screening of PULE, August 25

Photos courtesy of UP Special Education Council on the showing of PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon, UP Film Center, UP Diliman, Q.C., a benefit film screening of a historical documentary about one of our great heroes, Apolinario Mabini sponsored by Gawad Metronian Educational Foundation, Inc. and UPSEC, August 25, 2017 in connection with the Celebration of the National Heroes Day, History Month and National Language Month

Here are some of the reactions to the film:

“Dahil sa “Pule,” mas nauunawaan ko na ang “big picture” ng pakikipaglaban ng ating mga bayani para sa kalayaan at kasarinlan. Napagtagni-tagni nito ang dati’y magkakahiwalay at kinakabisado lamang na kaalaman ukol sa ating kasaysayan.” — Neil Penullar, De La Salle University

“… an innovative and engaging way to present Mabini’s biography and the country’s history.” — Cecille Sicam, Autism Society Philippines Board of Trustees

“It was an eye-opening experience for me. There is no such thing as “dis-ability.’ I realized how big your advocacy is and how it truly makes a difference in the lives of the Deaf and the PWDs.” –— [emailed to me]

The SILENT STEPS started the program with a Prayer and interpretation of the Philippine National Anthem in Filipino Sign Language

[R to L]: Guest Speaker Myra Medrana [Deaf], GMEFI President Evelyne Dominguez, Historian Dr. Bernardita Churchill and Mirana Medina, PULE filmmaker

[Extreme Right]: Ex-DSWD Secretary Judy graced the occasion; Mirana on the extreme left

GMEFI President Evelyne Dominguez

At the Lobby of the UP Film Center before the Showing

Students from Bulacan

How to Clap – Deaf signs

GMEFI, MMC and UPSEC members

GMEFI and MMC Staff

Bahay ng Pagmamahal Visitors

In Preparation for the 2017 National Heroes Day

In August we celebrate the National Language Month, the History Month and the National Heroes Day.

We are all celebrating the three—in one film. I wasn’t thinking of showing it this month for all three reasons but for the last. However, when I come to think of it, in this educational documentary, I used Filipino, our National Language for the narration. And as the film promotes the use and recognition of the Filipino Sign Language as the National Sign Language of Deaf Filipinos, the timing is just perfect. They too have the right to celebrate the National Language Month afterall. Most fittingly, the subject is a historical figure and is considered one of our greatest heroes; paying him a tribute within the History Month, and as part of the celebration of the National Heroes Day [though days ahead because August 28 is a legal holiday] is seemingly pre-arranged.

Above is a grabbed frame from the one minute trailer that I have just finished now. The film is about Apolinario Mabini, the Brains of the Revolution. This is in preparation for the screening that we are going to hold on August 25 at the UP Film Center in UP Diliman, Q.C.

A Cultural Afternoon with Apolinario Mabini

The historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan where the First Philippine National Assembly of the First Philippine Republic was held on September 15, 1898. [MM with Even / 2017]

It was on February 23, 2017 when the partnership presentation by the Provincial Government of Bulacan and Gawad Metronian Educational Foundation, Inc. [GMEFI] was held at the Maximo Viola Hall, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos, Bulacan. The Honorable Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado [photo below] graced the occasion. He welcomed the select audience consisting of educators, cultural officers, art and heritage advocates, and members of Bulacan provincial art and tourism board.

Honorable Governor of Bulacan Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado delivers his Welcome Message to the Audience below

“PULE: UTAK ng Rebolusyon” an educational documentary which features the life of Apolinario Mabini, Chief Adviser of the First President of the Philippine Republic was introduced before its screening by Mirana Medina, board member of GMEFI and the film’s director. She gave background information as to why and for whom the film was actually made giving stress on the film’s inclusivity as it has narration in Pilipino, with captions in English and largely interpreted in Filipino Sign Language. Participants in the making of the film are Deaf students, a Person with Autism and a wheel-chaired man.  Gil Reoma, GMEFI Executive Director later joined to talk about what GMEFI does and asked how the partnership between Bulacan counterpart could be made possible so as to make the film’s content widely known to Bulakenos. The Malolos Congress was highly given importance in the documentary. There were good exchange of ideas during the open forum [photo below] as viewers saw the importance of the film, and history for our young students.

Bong, actor and heritage advocate

Gil Reoma of GMEFI talks about partnership

DepEd Officer gives his thoughts about the lost of interest on history subject by young students

Liberal Arts Professor of Centro Escolar University Marietta Alvarez reacts to the film

The select Audience / participants with the organizers.

GMEFI staff: [L-R]: Gil Reoma on the extreme left, GMEFI President Even Dominguez, 3rd from left, Mrs. Natividad Villano and Mirana Medina, GMEFI Board Members with the co-organizers from the Governor’s Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office  led by Mr. Ely dela Cruz, 4th from left.

A repost from gawadmetronian.org

Partnering with UP Special Education Council

The partnership between UP Special Education Council [UP SEC] and our foundation, Gawad Metronian Educational Foundation, Inc. [GMEFI] was finalized last February 9. They accepted our offer of collaboration in support of my educational documentary, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon. I had several UP groups in mind to choose from as partner[s] but it was UP SEC that I gave priority to because the participants in this particular film are special, and my subject, Apolinario Mabini, one of our great heroes is the recognized icon of Persons of Disability [PWDS] in our country.

I know that sped teacher’s training would be to maximize a person with special needs’ potentials. It so happened that in this film, the talents and capabilities of Deaf students as performers, and a Person with Autism who is a music genius are showcased. Our objectives aligned.

Though I was a little disappointed in my last partnership with UP SEC some years back, I still reached out to this group, since this time, I know that there would be a new set of officers. Comparatively, they appeared to be quite a happy lot too as shown in the photo below.

[L-R seated]: Joey Guardiano, Mela Mendoza, Cherry Nicdao, Lowe Crisostomo, Selina Sandiego, Mirana and Shaira Odono; Standing: Gil Reoma

Well, my first impression was that this batch is promising —and that they are going to be different. They initially showed enthusiasm and interest in the project, and I could feel that full COMMITMENT, unlike before would be there in their hearts. Still, I do hope that they would really put into practice good Service, awesome Excellence, and 101% Commitment to make our joint project a success.

I was referred to them by U.P. College of Education Dean Therese A.P. Bustos, my consultant in A MI PATRIA, a collection of Five Poems of Rizal in Filipino Sign Language. This is my fifth time to work with the UP College of Education – Special Education Area. The first time was when ALYANA was premiered in 2006.

Rendezvous with Deaf Students

February 3, Friday, Noon Time. CSB Bldg., Rm. M510. “Silent Odyssey” [2008], a documentary on Deaf Culture, History, and Filipino Sign Language [FSL] origin was finally  shown to Fourth Year students of Ms. Ana Arce upon her request. An arrangement since last year was made to have it shown during this semester. Ana is now a faculty member of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies [SDEAS]. I used to see her when she was still a student of SDEAS. That was a decade ago. I was making Silent O while at the same time studying FSL intended for hearing people under SDEAS’ FSL Learning Program. In fact, she was captured in one of the forums that I shot during that time for Silent O.

Ms. Ana Arce with her students

Anyway, some of her students who viewed the film are members of the Silent Steps, the school’s playgroup. I have worked with them in my documentaries on Mabini. After the screening, I have asked them: “What’s the most important thing that you have learned from the film?” “FSL!”, they retorted in unison. [Oh yes! I managed to communicate with them without an interpreter. Sounds unbelievable but my little knowledge of FSL signs helped a lot. I am not daily exposed to sign language so without practice, my receptive skill is honestly poor. Nevertheless, I survived the day].

I was happy of course because one of the main objectives of the film — to make Deaf appreciate their language, and know its origin has been met. Hoping too that with that understanding they would fight and advocate for its use and recognition. Moreover, I have seen again the timelessness and value of the content. It is as important as when I first showed it to the public nine years ago. I am sure the interest and significance won’t diminish for as long as FSL is not recognized here, and Deaf continues to experience discrimination. For sure, the interview with the World Federation of the Deaf President Markku Jokinen by Raphy Domingo greatly helped in making the students understand better the importance of sign language in their life, culture and identity as Deaf individuals.

Watching the interview with World Federation of the Deaf Markku Jokinen

As for me, the fight to advocate for the use of Filipino Sign Language and highlighting PWD’s abilities through my films has not yet ended. Currently, I am preparing for the showing of PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon. It is participated in by the Silent Steps, and music scored by a Person with Autism [PWA]. It is intended for hearing people so that they would get exposed to FSL, and hopefully get to appreciate and have an interest to learn it; in addition, to be able to listen to the first music scoring work of a PWA. Primarily meant for Deaf audience to give them full access to information about our hero, Apolinario Mabini, it was largely interpreted in FSL and fully captioned in English. DLS-CSB SDEAS and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts collaborated in its making. The latter must have been convinced by my rationale that Deaf’s culture and language should be respected as much as the Indigenous Peoples’ culture and language. After all, like the IPs, Deaf should be considered as a cultural-linguistic minority group.

May you all succeed!!!

“PULE” Visited the Department of Foreign Affairs Today

DFA Officers and Personnel who attended the special screening held at the CMOAS Conference Room, DFA Bldg.

The First Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Apolinario “Pule” Mabini visited this afternoon the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City through a digital documentary film about his life, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon / Brains of the Revolution.

The activity is part of the post-celebration of DFA’s 2016 National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. DFA’s HRMO-BWD, Wellness and Family Affairs Unit sponsored the screening. Some DFA personnel including Assistant Secretary Grace Relucio Princesa, Department Legislative Liaison Unit; Human Resource Management Office [HRMO] Executive Director Mardomel Celo Melicor, HRMO-BWD Administrative Director Lenna Eilleen De Dios-Sison attended the screening together with DFA Deaf employees from the Office of Consular Affairs. Director Melicor gave the welcome remarks in place of HRMO Assistant Secretary Maria Aileen H. Bugarin who wasn’t  able to come. Mr. Jose Mari “Knoy” Fedelicio of HRMO warmly welcomed us, and sent us off as well after the screening. He was served as coordinator re the film showing schedule. According to him, PULE is “a must-see for every Filipino who takes pride of our history and heritage.”

I was quite happy to observe the excitement Asec Princesa showed for having watched the docu as she pointed at the need for more personnel of DFA to watch PULE. She said: “This movie really makes me appreciate our First [Secretary]…” She ended up by giving encouraging words to the PWDs in the audience who found inspiration from knowing better their icon, Mabini, himself a person with disability: “…there is nothing to stop us from using our brain, our heart, as long as we have integrity, character. The sky is the limit for you, guys. So, I really hope that you will do more in the department, outside the department …and show the world that being Deaf is not a reason not to be successful…”

DFA Assistant Secretary Grace Princesa, Department Legislative Liaison Unit addresses the audience after the screening of PULE at CMOAS Conference Rm., DFA Bldg.

To all those who have found the time to watch the film, I would like to say thank you!!

With the organizers

With Director Melicor

A try in Filipino Sign Language Communication

Incidentally, PULE was also shown in the morning and in the afternoon today at Metro-Manila College in Novaliches, Quezon City with the aim of raising awareness about Mabini’s life, and the hope of sparking patriotism in the hearts of their Grade school students. The screening there will last until August 2.

PULE was intentionally made for the general audience but it is more intended for the youth whose sense of history is becoming near to nil. I also had the personnel of DFA in mind when I was in the process of making it knowing that very few must be knowing Mabini’s real contribution to our nationhood. Who he was was my guide when I researched about him. I must admit that I know very little about him before I embarked on the project except the fact the he is known as “The Sublime Paralytic” and “The Brains of the Revolution.”

[Photos above and at the bottom by Knoy Fedelicio-HRMO-DFA; Mid-photo by MM]

In Celebration of 2016 Philippine Independence Day, PULE Screens at Rizal Park Visitor’s Center

I just came to know today, that the showing of our documentary PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon / Brains of the Revolution will push through tomorrow, June 12, as part of the nation’s celebration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has informed me this week about the National Parks Development Committee’s interest to show our historical film on Apolinario Mabini, first Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister.

It is unquestionably timely since a segment that led to the declaration and proclamation of the Philippine Independence in 1898 is part of the docu. Venue is at Rizal Park Visitor’s Center in Manila. Moreover, viewers can relate to the historical significance of Jose Rizal [after whom the park was named] as his martyrdom is also included in the film. Rizal’s death was a turning point in our history.

Incidentally, the day Apolinario Mabini was summoned to come to Cavite by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, first President of the Philippine Republic was on June 12, 1898. Aguinaldo ordered the making of the first Philippine flag, and the composition of the national hymn by Julian Felipe in time for that celebration.

PULE was produced by Miryad Visyon in collaboration with DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) and the NCCA. It will be screened at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is free!

For photos when first screened at DLS-CSB Theater, click: https://advocacine.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/pule-screening-photos/