Documentary film shows a better and peaceful Sulu

JOLO, SULU — For hundreds of years, Sulu has been held hostage by poverty, distraught and instability brought about by the seemingly infinite war between the Muslim rebel groups and the Armed Forces. It is one of the scariest places in the Philippines as deemed by many.

But through the many years of suffering, the people of Sulu are now slowly seeing hope. This is what the the documentary film “Sulu” aims to show Filipinos and the rest of the world.

Directed by Al Jacinto, the film tells of young writer Arthur Sakaluran Abasalo who is born of a Muslim mother taking a trip to Sulu despite the dangers posed by Muslim rebels.

When in there, Abasalo saw how changed the province was having more livelihood opportunities, increased efficiency in the health and education sectors, progressive tourism and above all, peace and order.

In the film, Abasalo narrated how delighted he is to see this progress in Sulu.

“Iba na ngayon. Iba na pala.Nakita ko yung mga tao malaki na ang pinagbago. Yung mga mahihirap nabibigyan na ng biyaya,(It’s different now. I saw how people changed. The poor are given more opportunities).”

Talking to the locals and taking walks around town, he saw how the once conflict-stricken province is taking a turn for the better. “Masayang-masaya ako dahil nakita ko ang pag-unlad ng Sulu (I am very happy to see the progress of Sulu),” he says.

Seeing this documentary is a breath of fresh air. I could honestly say I’m as happy as Abasalo. The people of Sulu have suffered enough and it’s good to know that they are finally stepping away from the shadows of war and terror.

I hope this goes on especially today when we’ve just chosen our new leaders.

Kudos to director Al Jacinto and to all the people behind this wonderful film. May this serve as an inspiration to Filipinos that change does come and that our dream of a better nation might just be within our reach.

Al Jacinto is the Editor in Chief of The Mindanao Examiner. “Sulu” was first shown at the Kontra-Agos Resistance Film Festival held in 2007 at Robinsons Galleria. It was also also an entry in the “Cinema Rehiyon 2010: Alter Nativo”, which showcased the works of emerging filmmakers from various provinces in the Philippines. (Edzelle Peña)


Reference:

Link: http://loqal.ph/arts-and-entertainment/2010/07/03/documentary-film-shows-a-better-and-peaceful-sulu/

Link: http://www.spot.ph/2010/02/03/cinema-rehiyon-2010/

Link: http://loqal.ph/

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HUSTISYA: A Peek Into The Mindanao Examiner Documentary

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The breaking news say it all, eight Abu Sayyaf terrorists are killed on February 4, 2008, in a clash with government soldiers on a small fishing village of Ipil in Maimbung town in Sulu province.

It was a big score for the Philippine military in the war on terror. At one time, the military even reported that troops clashed with the groups of Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya, an Indonesian militant organization blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. The military celebrated the sweet victory.

But the victory is short-lived. It turned out to be a nightmare. Hours after the clash in the village of Ipil, seven civilians and an off-duty Muslim soldier lay dead.

The military said two soldiers were also killed and five others wounded in the clash. There are conflicting and many versions of what really happened in the village.

The military insisted there was a fire fight and that the village is an Abu Sayyaf hideout, but among those killed were children and teenager, including a village official, a seaweed farmer and a pregnant Muslim woman. Soldiers executed three of the victims, witnesses claimed.

The independent Philippines Commission on Human Rights says those killed were innocent civilians and that there were no Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the village as the military claimed. The human rights report detailed how troops attacked and plundered the houses of villagers. It has recommended the filing of criminal charges against the soldiers involved in the raid.

The families of the victims still cry for justice. The governor of Sulu wants justice too for the victims and vowed to file charges against those who are responsible in the killings.
In the village, some of the witnesses have spoken out about the killings.

In a place where poverty is a big problem, the wheel of justice barely moves, especially for victims of violence and extrajudicial killings.

And because of this, justice seems like a dream, but many are still hoping for a brighter future, where dreams shall become a reality and peace may reign once again in the land they call home.