THE Armed Forces is holding a four-day screening of 20 original short films dubbed “Kuwentong-Bayan,” that highlight the concept of Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan starting on Monday at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., Armed Forces spokesman, said that under the military’s Film Omnibus 2012 Project, Kuwentong-Bayan will showcase 20 original short films from 20 directors who are members of the Filipino Pictures Inc. (FilPix). “The short films are proud offerings of the FilPix to the soldiers of the Armed Forces who will be celebrating their 77th anniversary on December 21. Independent film directors Manie Magbanua, Jess Lapid Jr., John Red and Topel Lee were among the directors who joined the project which started last September,” Burgos said.
He said Kuwentong-Bayan is part of FilPix’s contribution to the military’s campaign to spreading the message of Bayanihan to win the peace. It is also envisioned to effectively show a different perspective on addressing the root cause of insurgency and social issues in the country. “The project seeks viewership from government agencies particularly the defense, security, law-enforcement and human-rights sectors, and from the private sector including human-rights and environmental advocacy groups; watchdogs like the Bantay-Bayanihan and the local media, tribal groups, youth organizations and religious groups,” Burgos said.
On Monday the AFP Film Omnibus 2012 Project screened the films Dumut by Director Manie Magbanua, KaKosa by Milo Paz, Luluah by Jess Lapid Jr., Kawal by EJ Salcedo and Bidong by 28. On Tuesday the films to be screened are Loida by J.P. Carandang, Asindero/Saglit by Ogi Sugatan, Kurap by Raymund Amonoy, Leleng by Mervyn Brondial and Corridor by Rey Gibraltar. Bahay Kubo by Ellen Ramos, Tuwan by Angelo Carpio, Masaligan by Ronald Bautista, Pusong Bato by Pam Miras and The Last Stand by Topel Lee will be shown on Wednesday. On Friday Ritmo by Remton Zuasola, The Last Revolution by Paolo Villaluna, Apok by Nap Jamir II, Ngayon ang Panahon by Jon Red and Negros: A Documentary on Velez-Malaga Farmworkers by Ditsi Carolino will be screened.
Gen. Jessie Dellosa, Armed Forces chief of staff; Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, vice chief of staff; and Lt. Gen. Gregorio Macapagal, the deputy chief of staff and the members of the Armed Forces Joint Staff attended the kick-off ceremony. Troops from the Armed Forces Major Services and their dependents; civilian personnel from the General Headquarters; guests from the Department of National Defense, National Police, Defense Press Corps and other groups also attended the event. “This undertaking between the Armed Forces and the Filipino Pictures Inc. is a clear manifestation of Bayanihan in action. It embodies the principles of the IPSP Bayanihan which enjoins all civilian partners and stakeholders in addressing issues and conflicts that hinder our nation from achieving continuous progress and development. We hope that this undertaking will help the AFP in raising the awareness of our people in participating more in our Bayanihan efforts to achieve our common goal of a just and lasting peace for our nation,” Dellosa said.
Looks like this activity is part of an overarching information campaign designed to support the Philippine military's OPLAN Bayanihan. The idea is to emphasize the positive objectives/goals of the program as well as highlight OPLAN Bayanihan success stories. In part this media effort may been intended to counter the relentless CPP/front group propaganda that seeks to discredit the OPLAN and the Philippine military along with it. Potential target audiences for these films include the media along with human rights, environmental, youth, tribal, and religious groups.
ReplyDeleteThe recent announcement of Sarah Geronimo as an ambassador for the Bayanihan program along with the release of an uplifting Bayanihan-related song sung by her suggest that the AFP is in the midst of conducting a fairly robust information opearations campaign in support of the OPLAN.