Hunghong sa Yuta (2008)

A MINDANAO FILM FOR THE NATION
BY BIEN LUMBERA
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE

“EARTH’S WHISPER” AS the English translation of the title of Arnel Mardoquio’s film about war and peace in Mindanao easily cues us on how to read this story about a clutch of deaf-mute children in a mountain community consisting of Christians, Muslims and lumads, and the teacher from the city who introduces them to the alphabet and numbers. War between rebels and the military has devastated the community of Hinyok, its most telling casualty being children born without the ability to speak and hear whose fathers are now intent on training them to become fighters to defend their land. Vigo Cruz, artist and toy-maker, answers a posted notice about Hinyok’s need for a teacher, and his work with the children brings joy and hope to the young war victims and their mothers. Read complete review

THE GHOSTS OF WAR
BY GIGI JAVIER ALFONSO

WE CAN ONLY see the vestiges of war and the clouds of the coming wars. We see the victims—children and women left behind after bullets and fire ravage their homes, towns and men. We can only try to thickly describe the lives of those who are left behind to be able to make meanings of death, fear and pain. The ghosts are those who have been swallowed by the rage of war who will forever be around merged with the everyday lives of those who remember their loss. Read complete review