Film about disappearance gets FAMAS nominations

MANILA — Alipato at Muog, a documentary film chronicling the journey of the family and the human rights movement to find peasant organizer Jonas Burgos, is nominated to multiple categories of the prestigious Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS).

“This nomination acknowledges not only the creative side of the film, but—more importantly for us—it also recognizes its message of truth and justice,” JL Burgos said in a statement sent to Bulatlat.

The nominations are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Editing. The production team, led by its director JL (brother of Jonas), successfully challenged the “X” rating initially given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) last year.

Jonas has been missing for more than 18 years since April 28, 2007, abducted at the Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Quezon City, by suspected military elements. The documentary depicted the layers of impunity that the Burgos family suffered, including the absolving and the promotion of the military elements implicated in the disappearance.

Premiered at the 2024 Cinemalaya, the film continues to be shown in various universities and communities in coordination with the marketing of Pulang Langgam Media Productions.

“Yet, as we celebrate this recognition, Jonas is still missing. Many others have been abducted even after the film was made,” JL said.

He also honored the families of the disappeared, highlighting their continuous search together to surface all the victims. “Para sa kanila ito. But the ultimate award would be finding our loved ones.”

For decades, enforced disappearance has been a continuing practice in the Philippines. Under the Marcos Jr administration, there are 15 victims recorded by the human rights group Karapatan. 

In fact, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Expression Irene Khan called on the Philippine government to release and complete the investigation into enforced disappearances and to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. This is the only major human rights treaty that the Philippines has not yet ratified.

“I hope and pray that many more will carry the cause of human rights. Sana maging kaisa ang  mga kapwa alagad ng sining sa pagiging boses ng mga hindi makapagsalita,” JL said. (DAA)

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