NEW YORK—Because of its realistic treatment of one of the many ills that plague Philippine society, the film Dukot was initially banned last year by the Philippine government for showing.
After reaching a few compromises, the film was eventually shown, and subsequently began to reap awards. It has also been screened internationally.
The movie centers on a young activist couple (played by Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon) who were abducted and tortured in the Philippines by state security forces, also known and tagged in the film as "intelligence agents". Veteran film and television actress, Gina Alajar, plays an apolitical mother who slowly awakens to the reality of human rights violations after her daughter is kidnapped.
Over the weekend, the film has three screenings in New York City and Hoboken, NJ, sponsored by Bayan USA. The organizers also brought in the film’s lead actor, Allen Dizon, line producer Dennis Evangelista and abduction survivor Melissa Roxas.
Over a hearty Filipino lunch in the East Village, Dizon claimed that this film is something that he is very proud of because it changed the way he looked on society and the people around it.
"Hindi ko alam dati kung ano ba ang ipinaglalaban ng mga aktibista. Wala akong pakialam noon. Pagkatapos ng pinagdaanan ko sa pelikulang ito, masasabi kong isa na rin akong aktibista," the actor said.
With more than 50 films and a bunch of awards tucked under his belt, Dizon believes that the film introduced him to become more socially aware.
"In making the film, it seemed that I got into one awesome schooling about human rights. I am humbled by the unbelievable reception of our audiences, most specially by activists whose lives are devoted to fighting for human rights," he said.
Producer Dennis Evangelista couldn’t agree more.
A veteran of in the film industry who earned his chops as a scriptwriter for both television and movies, Evangelista was initially adamant about the film because its focal point is not something that the movie-watching masses in the Philippines would support in droves.
"We had to do this film, to show what’s really going in. We knew it wasn’t going to be a big hit but we went and made it anyway. It has definitely inspired me to be on the lookout for meaningful stories in the future," Evangelista said.
Among the projects that Evangelista and Dizon are collaborating with are Sigwa, a film on the First Quarter Storm and activism during the Marcos years and a still-untitled film on the rampant media killings in the Philippines.
Asked if they weren’t afraid to be branded as activists because of this newfound calling, the two remarked with a resounding no.
"Funds for movie-making is a huge problem in the Philippines. I now feel sad that the little that there is, is spent on films that say nothing about what is happening around us," Evangelista added.
For Melissa Roxas, watching the film was a difficult thing to do since it brought her back the memories of her abduction in the Philippines.
"The film realistically depicted what happens in those situations. I found it very, very difficult to watch, but it was necessary," she remarked. Roxas was abducted in La Paz, Tarlac last year by agents of the Philippine military and she was held in secret detention and tortured for six days.
( Published October 29, 2010 in LifeEASTyle Magazine p. 2 )
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