In line with the global celebration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the University's Center for Human Rights Education in Southern Philippines, together with the Department of Philosophy and Humanities of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), and the Office of Councilor Capangpangan, held a special campus screening of the Grace Simbulan-directed film documentary 'A is for Agustin' at the CASSalida Theater. Guests also had the unique opportunity to hold a question-and-answer segment with the film Director.
The documentary revolves around Agustin, who is in his late 40s, an indigenous man living in a remote corner of the Philippines, and has a talent for singing and playing the guitar. The first segment of the documentary heavily underscores the fact that Agustin never had the opportunity to learn, read, or write, and even identify the amount in the paper bills.
When his boss repeatedly cheats him out of his wage, Agustin enrolls himself back in public elementary school—in grade 1. Although this never became a simple task as he had to switch between his two realities—focusing on his school or working day after day to make ends meet. As meeting all ends becomes increasingly complex, he contemplates whether to continue his journey or, instead, pass the opportunity to his son.
After the film screening, the audience was given a chance to talk and throw questions to the brain behind the film, Director Grace Simbulan.
When asked what motivated her to push for the story of Agustin and why she thought it was an important narrative to share. The Director shared with the audience how after film school, she was given the opportunity to make a film with a Human Rights NGO that wanted her to make a mining documentary in the remote location of Agustin. There she realized that the mining corporations threatened the indigenous peoples in the area; thus,
I needed to find a way to touch on the mining problem of the area without actually focusing on mining,
the Director expressed.
Talking about the primary problem faced in the story and how she navigated the mining troubles, Simbulan narrated that she
The following questions directed towards Ms. Simbulan were anchored on her experiences during her immersion in Agustin's community, her most challenging and heartbreaking moments in the eight-year run for shooting, the process of securing and building consent and interactions, and the benefit the community felt and received from the film.
The question and answer segment was cut short as there were time constraints, and was thus wrapped by Prof. Lynrose Genon, the head of the Center for Human Rights Education in Southern Philippines, who expressed her gratitude to the Director thanking her for "using your art in telling the story of this community."
In a quick discussion with CASSayuran, Faculty from the Department of Philosophy and Humanities, and the moderator for yesterday's film screening, Mr. Ian Embradura, shared some thoughts regarding the film screening. He explained that the Department of Philosophy and Humanities had been organizing film screening activities at the University even before the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Embradura mentioned how
When asked why 'A is for Agustin' was chosen to be featured in this film screening, he shared that it was just a random google search, and from there, he saw 'A is for Agustin.'
Talking about the primary problem faced in the story and how she navigated the mining troubles, Simbulan narrated that she
focused on the predicaments of the indigenous peoples…We touched on the different problems that they faced which [were] lack of representation in the government…and education that recognizes their indigenous knowledge, and practices, and not just any form of education that comes from the West na hindi naman naangkop sa kanila at hindi naman nagagamit.
The following questions directed towards Ms. Simbulan were anchored on her experiences during her immersion in Agustin's community, her most challenging and heartbreaking moments in the eight-year run for shooting, the process of securing and building consent and interactions, and the benefit the community felt and received from the film.
The question and answer segment was cut short as there were time constraints, and was thus wrapped by Prof. Lynrose Genon, the head of the Center for Human Rights Education in Southern Philippines, who expressed her gratitude to the Director thanking her for "using your art in telling the story of this community."
In a quick discussion with CASSayuran, Faculty from the Department of Philosophy and Humanities, and the moderator for yesterday's film screening, Mr. Ian Embradura, shared some thoughts regarding the film screening. He explained that the Department of Philosophy and Humanities had been organizing film screening activities at the University even before the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Embradura mentioned how
it was a way for us to have a contribution and celebration, especially that sa Department din namin is [emphasized] yung art talaga and it is also important to have a narrative that would allow us to see human rights in a more immersive experience.
When asked why 'A is for Agustin' was chosen to be featured in this film screening, he shared that it was just a random google search, and from there, he saw 'A is for Agustin.'
I wanted to reach out to this Director, kasi the story hindi siya yung parang typical [of] what you think of human rights violations, it is a more nuanced look at how human rights on the ground is not felt, or not felt by a lot of people. When I saw the trailer and read about it, I thought that this deserves to be shown here, kasi nag reresonate din naman talaga siya sa immediate community natin,
Mr. Embradura expressed.
Grace's first feature-length documentary A IS FOR AGUSTIN (2019), sparked conversations about the challenges Indigenous peoples face, including lack of access to and poor quality of education, particularly an educational system that recognizes their Indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices. It premiered at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in S. Korea and was shown at numerous international film festivals in China, Italy, France, New Caledonia, the Philippines, and the US. A is for Agustin was also featured in CNN Philippines' Top 10 Filipino Films of 2019.
The special campus screening began on December 06 and ran until December 07.
This year's celebration of Human Rights is spearheaded by the University's Center for Human Rights Education in Southern Philippines in partnership with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), Department of Extension (DE), Gender and Development Resource Center (GADRC), Center for Culture and Arts, College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), Office of Councilor Capangpangan - LGU Iligan, Center for Local Governance Studies (CLGS), Mindanao History, Heritage and Indigenous Learning Center (MHHILC), Department of Political Science, Department of History, Department of Sociology, Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Department of English, and Political Science Society.
Grace's first feature-length documentary A IS FOR AGUSTIN (2019), sparked conversations about the challenges Indigenous peoples face, including lack of access to and poor quality of education, particularly an educational system that recognizes their Indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices. It premiered at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in S. Korea and was shown at numerous international film festivals in China, Italy, France, New Caledonia, the Philippines, and the US. A is for Agustin was also featured in CNN Philippines' Top 10 Filipino Films of 2019.
The special campus screening began on December 06 and ran until December 07.
This year's celebration of Human Rights is spearheaded by the University's Center for Human Rights Education in Southern Philippines in partnership with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), Department of Extension (DE), Gender and Development Resource Center (GADRC), Center for Culture and Arts, College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), Office of Councilor Capangpangan - LGU Iligan, Center for Local Governance Studies (CLGS), Mindanao History, Heritage and Indigenous Learning Center (MHHILC), Department of Political Science, Department of History, Department of Sociology, Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Department of English, and Political Science Society.
About the Author
Reggy Bartido
Reggy H. Bartido is a Senior BA Sociology undergraduate student of the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). At the present, Reggy holds the post of Editor-in-Chief of CASSayuran - the official publication of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of MSU-IIT. That said, Mr. Bartido’s undergraduate thesis (on-going) primarily revolves around Environmental Sociology studies and Sustainable Development, areas that are part of his research interest that also includes Youth Studies and Political Sociology.
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