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‘Boses’ brings message of hope, healing

November 14, 2008 00:55:00
Jude Bautista
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from its first international screening at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival last month, the movie “Boses” had its first community screening recently at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, Manila before a cheering audience of young kids eager to listen to the violin played by someone who could be their favorite playmate or neighbor.

The touching story of a mute child who finds his ‘voice’ by learning the violin has, by now, endeared audiences on both sides of the Pacific, with its message of protecting the rights of children crossing class and national border boundaries.

Director Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil was concerned initially that the first foreign viewers of “Boses” might not be as receptive. Her other concerns: if the subtitles could not convey the meaning of the Filipino dialogue or if they did not like the genre.

But then she saw the audience in tears, just like the audience at the Cultural Center of the Philippines where the premiere was held.

Similar emotions surfaced at Don Bosco as Tondo residents were treated to a mini concert by Julian Duque, the real life violin prodigy who played the role of Onyok. Prized musician Coke Bolipata, who played the role of his teacher, also gave a free introduction to the violin and classical music to about 1,200 children in the audience.

After the showing, Julian was practically mobbed by instant fans.

The sight of a young violinist treated like a rock star is proof of the effectiveness of “Boses.” Underprivileged children are not exposed to classical music and to see them appreciate it in this manner encourages organizers to put up more play dates.

Said Joyce Alcoreza of the Tondo Asenso Foundation: “It is our honor and privilege to show this film in Tondo. We hope we can get other sponsors for another screening at other zones. If we can show it again it’s going to touch even more lives and draw even bigger crowds. Don Bosco helped us a lot. This is the best venue we could get in this area.”

Alcoreza thought of showing “Boses” in their community after watching a trailer of the movie on YouTube. Their foundation, Tondo Asenso, was put up to help their community find a better way to help themselves.

Battling desperation

“What we want to do is to empower the people to create change within themselves,” she added. Their primary concern is battling the feeling of hopelessness and desperation in their community.

The foundation puts up projects for mothers like parenting classes. It also runs a reading center for pre-schoolers and has reorganized youth groups.

“Boses” is the perfect film for Tondo Asenso’s message of hope and promotion of children’s rights.

Alcoreza added: “Here in Tondo, entertainment is quite an effective medium since it’s a guaranteed crowd drawer. We can talk about children’s rights, nutrition, education and other topics. It’s very important that adults are aware that children have rights. Adults have a responsibility to protect these rights. A film like ‘Boses’ is a great tool to educate more people effectively.”

And Tondo, in particular, is “the perfect place” for showing the film. “I’d hear parents tell the teacher: ‘Pag makulit yung anak ko, batukan niyo ha! Kahit gulpihin niyo yan. Minsan, talagang matigas ang ulo niyan (When my child is stubborn, cuff him. Even if you beat him up. Sometimes, he is really headstrong),” said Alcoreza.

“Here in Tondo, they take it against the teacher if she or he is kind to children,” she continued. “It’s something we need to improve to help raise awareness of children’s rights. You can see that the children want to express themselves. They are either afraid or angry.”

Issues

Marfil clarified that “Boses” actually represents a lot of issues and not just child abuse. “We meet this abuse of power everywhere, in the work place, in your own home, in the street, everywhere. You think it’s just a child’s issue, but it’s not. If you teach children well, they can stand up better to abuse of power when they are adults.

Alcoreza said it is “Boses” message of healing that makes it a memorable film. “We are all broken spirits. We can heal ourselves through healing other people also,” she stressed. “Sometimes we’re not even aware of it but it happens. It’s one of God’s gifts.”

Boses is a Cinemalaya entry in 2008 produced in cooperation with Unicef, Casa San Miguel, DSWD, the Council for the Welfare of Children, NCCA and FDCP and also stars Ricky Davao, Cherrypie Picache and Meryll Soriano. On Nov. 18, it opens the four-day film festival at the Far Eastern University in Manila. On Nov. 26 and 27, Bantay Bata brings the movie to Naga for Ateneo and Sta. Isabel students while on Nov. 28, Aksyon Para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan sponsors the event at SM Megamall at 5:30 p.m.

Under a socialized marketing scheme, the organizers are pre-selling to schools and organizations for possible bookings in malls and other venues that will be announced later.

Come December, “Boses” screens in West Hollywood for the Women’s International Film Festival. Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, the movie is endorsed by the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines for viewing by students.

Interested parties may please write to boses08@gmail.com or call Laarni at 0919-8274100.

(Bautista is a freelance writer and photographer who has been covering the independent film and music scene.)

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