lucky_dhenj: May 2009

AIDS
Ending the Epidemic

DIRECTOR
Robert Dean

CAST
Anthony Fauci, MD
National Institute of Health

Helen Gayle, MD
Centers for disease Control

Steve Kovacev
With HIV

Lisa Howard
With HIV

David Howard
Husband of Lisa

Paul Vorberding, MD
Center for AIDS Research

Lonnie Morries
Inmate

Buck Monroe
Inmate

Charles Coleman

Steve Crohn

Peter S. Kim

Gary Nabel
Vaccine Research Center

Don Francis
Pres. Vaxcen

Anita Adams
Vaccines Volunteer

Gerry Guild
With HIV

Tom Schroeder
Vaccine Volunteer

Elizabeth Chiment
Teacher

Danielle Walker
Student

Tom Cuates
Center for AIDS Prevention

Jowhara Shabazz
Student

Ryan Lindplol

Tony Douangviseth
Student

Brandon Diaz
Former student

Elizabeth Lonnecker
Teacher

Travis Lee
Former student

SYNOPSIS

It is a movie about the people who became the victim of AIDS/HIV. It is where the American people describe on how the cells affected by the virus. They explained here on how they invented medicines to avoid the spreading of the virus in the body. It took many kinds of medicines to avoid it.

For Lisa it was hard for her to have this kind of disease because she had three children. She must not forget to drink her medicines. She did not know how long her life will last so she writes a letter for her children.

In this movie, you can also see the volunteer people of AIDS/HIV. Even though they know that they might be affected by this disease they continue to help the people who have a HIV. But every last week of the month they went in hospital to have their check up and inject an anti-HIV virus for their safety.

The teacher teaches the students the disease AIDS/HIV for the safety and security of their students so that they will protect themselves from this disease. Same through with the people inside the jail, some inmates helps them from this disease.

The American people also had a candle lighting against this disease because there are many people who died because of this disease.

COMMENT

This movie can help many people on how to protect themselves from such a disease like this because they will learn here the ways on how to avoid it.

It was a good movie because you can see here the kindness of Americans who help their co-American people. And I can say that they have a unity because they help each other to fight the disease. They have also candle lighting for those who affected by this disease.

“BABALIK NA SI MA’AM”(Documentaries)

“BABALIK NA SI MA’AM”
I WITNESS

HOST
Howie Severino

CAST
Regine de Ocampo
DH and Martial Arts Teacher

Mercy Elegaro
DH and former teacher

Alice Cheung
Employee of Mercy

Ambrose Cheung and Samantha Cheung
Mga Alaga ni Mercy

Raul Roco
Secretary of Education

Daisy Mandap
Editor in chief. THE SUN

Sammy Saludares

Rizalyn Abello
Teacher and former DH

Dr. Edna Diaz
Superintendent, DepEd

Hermie Aquino
Teacher

Josefa
Pricipal

Erlinda Reyes
Superintendent, DepEd

SYNOPSIS

In Hong Kong, Howie meets domestic helpers who were once teachers in the Philippines. They gave up their teaching vocation to seek better paying jobs abroad. But when a government program offers them the opportunity to return to the Philippines with the assurance of work in public schools, some of them grab the chance.

The center of the story in "Babalik na si Ma'am" revolves around Mercy Elegado who, after working in Hong Kong for more than a decade, decides to resume other profession among kin back in Isabela.
What makes Mercy's story memorable are her relations with the Cheung family, for whom she had been working for six years before she decided to return home. Moving indeed were the scenes showing Mercy and her three young wards in the course of their lengthy parting, with Mercy wondering how the youngest, for which she had been caring since his birth, would fare at night without her at his side.
At the airport, the children and their mother embrace Mercy, with the mother telling Mercy that she must return to Hong Kong soon to visit them "this time not as an employee but as our friend."
But as Severino says, "Mercy had been looking after a family in Hong Kong, in Isabela, she would be looking after the children of an entire barangay." "Babalik na si Ma'am" closes with a scene in which Mercy walks among her students, all of them calling out to her: "Bye, Ma'am, bye Ma'am," surely the culmination of a dream she had nursed through the lonely years in Hong Kong.

COMMENT

This is a story of the OFW in Hongkong. Being a DH in abroad is not easy. You need to suffer a lot. You need to get far from your family in order to gain money and it is not easy for a mother to left her family. And the bitter of it is to sacrifice their profession.

Pinay DH's in Hong Kong longing the chance to be called 'Ma'am' by their students, instead of having to call their employers 'Ma'am' every day."

I can say that these teachers are true heroes because despite of a big salary and dollar money in Hongkong they chose to go home in our country to practice their profession and serve their co-Filipinos.

And I salute these teachers who want to work in their own mother land, our country the Philippines.

“BATANG KALAKAL”(Documentaries)

“BATANG KALAKAL”
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

HOST
Maki Pulido

CAST
Liza Asnan
11 y/o girl

Aling Virginia Asnan
Mother of Liza

Jaymark Morillo
10 y/o boy

Jiboy Ruiz
6 y/o boy

Gloria Toledo
“tinuluyan ni Jiboy”

Aling Naty Yumul
Mother of Michael

Mayor Recom Achiveri
Caloocan City Mayor

Patricia Luna
DSWD-NCR

Atty. Anni Sagisag
UNICEF

Dr. Bong Catral
Bernardina National Hospital

SYNOPSIS

“Batang Kalakal" tells the unforgettable story of 11-year old Liza Asnan. Despite an empty stomach, she wades through the murky, garbage strewn river everyday to scavenge for plastic and tin cans to sell at the junk shop. She is determined to continue going to school, though her classmates laugh at her because her shoes are filled with holes and her mother says they can no longer afford to send her next year.

Liza goes to the school with empty stomach. She did not have breakfast. When she was awake she takes her bath and goes to school with nothing.

Her notebook that she has using was her notebook since she was in grade 1 because they can’t afford to buy new notebook. She was thrifty in using her notebook. She makes her writings compress so that she can use another page for another lecture.

After her class she goes to the river to get plastics and tin cans that can be selling. She did not mind the whether she was wound by the broken bottles; she did not mind the dirty river all she was thinking is on how she can get money for her foods.

Only 12 pesos was the price of the plastics that she gets from the river.

Although her classmates laugh at her she has achievement in the room. She was an honor student.

COMMENT

“Batang Kalakal” was a story of Liza Asnan. While watching this documentary I felt pity to Liza. Because she needs to suffer a lot in order to take her food and buy things that she needs in the school.

I can say that she was a courageous child. Despite of an empty stomach, Liza goes to school without any murmur to her mother.

Liza went to school with a shoe with holes and her classmates laugh at her. Despite of this laughters, Liza don’t mind it instead she pursue her studies and she was an honor student.

“SA TUNA AT GINHAWA”(Documentaries)

“SA TUNA AT GINHAWA”
I WITNESS

HOST
Sandra Aguinaldo

CAST
Donny Sonoron
Fisherman

Rosalie Sonoron
Wife of Donny

Amparo Sonoron
Mother of Donny

Lorlie Ann Sonoron
Elder daughter of Rosalie and Donny

Nonoy Peritos
Fisherman

Elsie Peritos
Wife of Nonoy

Jerry Nodalo
“Kapitan ng Bangka”

Amy Nodalo
Wife of Jerry

Danny Asis Jr.
15 y/o fisherman

SYNOPSIS

“Sa Tuna at Ginhawa" tells the dramatic stories of tuna fishermen at sea…and the families they leave behind.
Though the lives of many of their companions have been claimed by the Pacific Ocean, the menfolk of Visayan Village in Quezon province continue to go off in search of the elusive giant tuna.
Aguinaldo joins a group of these fishermen as they eat, sleep, and catch tuna in the open sea for days on end. Her cameras capture their struggle to survive. Meanwhile, their families face agony and anxiety as they await the return of their fathers, husbands, brothers.
Big rewards await those who catch the valuable tuna – but Sandra discovers not all fishermen enjoy such luck. Many fishing boats they passed along the way had no catch. And one gripping sequence of the documentary shows a fisherman’s boat almost dragged underwater by the strong tides.
Sandra went home first and the fishermen left in the sea. After eight days the group which she left before arrive. They caught only ten pieces of tuna in eight days for eighty three thousands. They need to divide it among themselves.

COMMENT

How hard being fishermen was. You did not know what will happen to you in the middle of the sea while searching for your living. You did not know when your life will be.

But the fishermen don’t mind this instead they continue fishing. They don’t even mind although their companions claimed their lives by the big tides of the sea. They only mind what will they have if they ill not go fishing.

Fishermen know that fishing is likely playing between life and death, to survive or not. But even though they know it, there are many Filipinos whose livelihood is fishing.

Well at least it is a better job than to be a holdaper. But the only problem is you do not know when your life will be claimed by the big tides in the sea.

“SA MATA NI EKANG”(Documentaries)

“SA MATA NI EKANG”
I WITNESS

HOST
Kara David

CAST
Ekang
4 y/o girl

Allan
Father, Holdaper

Melay
Mother, Runner of “shabu”

Aling Lita
Grandmother, “Bugaw”

Benjie
Uncle, Smoker and Drunkard

SYNOPSIS

The documentary of Kara David entitled “Sa mga Mata ni Ekang” is a story of an ordinary child who is about 4 years old. There is nothing special about her except the people around her.
Her Father is a pedicab driver who turns out to be a holdaper in the evening. Her Mother on the other hand is a drug pusher and user at the same time. She was also used to be a prostitute. Her Grandmother is a myrmidon which is also known as “bugaw”. While her 15 year old uncle is a smoker, drunkard and a computer addict.
Actually Ekang isn’t alone. She is not the only victim in the story. She has a little sister who is just a month old.
According to them they used to be rich, but because of carelessness and being irresponsible they didn’t used their money wisely. Instead of using it for business they used it in casinos and other things that are not important. That is the reason why they decided to be what they are.
Ekangs’ future depends on herself alone. If she chose to be like her family then we can’t blame her. But according to her mother, Melay do not want to see her children doing such things like she does before. She wants to give her children a good future. And now she was regreting why she didn’t continue schooling when his father died. She questioned herself why she does something that can destroy her future.

COMMENT
As I watched this movie, I pity Ekang because she doesn’t deserve this kind of situation at her early age. I ask myself why it happened to her. Is it because of poverty?
It’s true that in reality we are suffering from poverty and we cannot deny it. The situation of Ekang’s family is not easy. Her father was a pedicab driver in the morning and holdaper in the evening, her mother was a drug pusher, drug user and became prostitute, her grandmother was “bugaw” as they called and her uncle was smoker, drunkard, and computer addict. Yet, we cannot judge their family why did they choose this kind of situation.
Because of poverty they did this kind of illegal activities for their living. But do you think, this kind of job is only the solution to escape or to rise from poverty? Of course not.
If Melay continued her studies after the death of her father she might not regret today. Maybe her family is happy today. But as I said we cannot blame her. They chose this kind of situation, and we cannot dictate them.
Only one thing bothered me, what will happen to Ekang and to her little sister? Well, only the two of them can decide what will future they want to have. If they will choose to follow the footstep of their mother or they will follo the right way to a good future.
Ekang’s life should be an inspiration to those who feel that life has been unfair to them. And I was lucky with my family, eventhough it is not a perfect one at least we have a better future than what other family have.

BASURERO “Kung-Hei Bachoy”(Documentaries)

BASURERO “Kung-Hei Bachoy”
I WITNESS

HOST
Jay Taruc

CAST
Alma
“mambabachoy”

Jennifer
Bachoy queen

Jessie de Gusman
“tambakero”

Adoracion Baloran

Tabian Baloran

Ronald
“batang-tambakero”

Proceso dela Cruz

Luzviminda Garfile

Jaime Placides
Former “tambakero” and owner of junkshop

Fr. Benigno Beliran

Angela Villacorta

SYNOPSIS

Basurero is one of the most recent episodes. It tackled the basic problem in urban areas – garbage. Jay Taruc gave basurero story a human face by telling the stories of different basureros – people who live off garbage.
The first case study was a family who lives in an overpass in Cubao. They are called “Magbabatchoy.” They look for food in the trash – usually from fast food restaurants. They ask permission from the guard if they can get the garbage left by the customers. They get the left over chickens, fish or vegetables, which they re-cook. But sometimes they eat it on the spot. Nakakasukang isipin but that’s reality for the mambabatchoy.
The night they covered that segment, there was a dare. They prepared a plateful of leftovers and asked Jay Taruc to eat with them. Jay Taruc tastes the food that they called “bachoy”.
Jay Taruc also did a bit of role-playing during the production of Basurero. He played the part of the scavenger and He spent two hours in the dumpsite looking for plastic bottles and cans. He earned P7 for a basketful of trash.
These are the life of mambabachoy and basurero. It is not easy for them to find food for their hunger. They need to suffer a lot to get some food. The mambabachoy needs to wait for the leftover foods of the customers in the fast foods or in the restaurants.
The basurero life is also difficult. They need to tiisin the bad smell of the garbage to get plastic bottles, cans and other things that can be sell. If the tracks of garbage are coming the basureros are waiting. You need to be alert so that you can get more than the others.

COMMENT
How difficult being a basurero and mambabachoy was. You need to suffer a lot to have food a day.
I think these kinds of situations are difficult to stop because some Filipinos are living because of what they get from the garbage’s. And for the mambabachoy, they survive because of the leftover foods.

“KALUSUGAN”(Documentaries)

“KALUSUGAN”
PHILIPPINE AGENDA

HOST
Arnold Clavio

CAST
Di
5 y/o boy

Baby Gugu
Mother of Di

Joel

Ga Bandara
Mother of joel

Deweg Bandara
Father of Ga

Dr. Elvis Crispino
Municipal Health Officer in
South Upi Maguindanao

Dr. Jose Sabili
Philippine Medical Association

Lydia Marcos
TB Patient

SYNOPSIS

Philippine Agenda discovers one town in Maguindanao whose residents have never seen a doctor. Thus, simple sickness like scabies becomes fatal for children. The nearest health center is four hours away by foot. And even if they decide to go there, they will only get paracetamols and vitamins good for ten people!

Di was a 5 year old boy but if you will see he is like a 2 year old boy. This is just because they don’t have sufficient food; they just eat “kamote and kanin” two times a day.

Joel has a “galis” in his body but because the hospital was too far from their houseJoel was not yet seen by the doctor. But Municipal Health Officer Dr. Elvis Crispino walked a kilometers to see Joel and he gave him medicine.

The program also witnessed the last few days of one TB patient, Lydia Marcos. Before her last breath, she mustered the strength to gripe about her empty stomach and her problems about the high prices of medicines. Until the end, she was not able to buy the medicines that were supposed to save her life.

The government must give the five percent budget of the country for the health problem but they only provide the one percent.

Arnold Clavio also personally probed into the miserable situation of some hospitals, specifically in Bacolod and Metro Manila. In Bacolod, he observed that patients have to bring their own cushions or mats and lie down on the cold floor because hospital beds and rooms are already full.
The hospital cannot accommodate all the patients. Some of them are laid in a cartoon because of insufficient tools and beds. And because there are many patients the doctor have ten patients instead of three patients only a day and same through with the nurses.

Filipinos are suffering in this kind of situation because of poverty. Some don’t have foods to overcome their hunger.

COMMENT

This episode is definitely an eye opener on the deterioration health condition and health system in the country.

Filipinos are truly suffered from many different problems. The problem from health is one of the situations that the government must overcome because there are many Filipinos died from different illness because the public hospitals cannot handle all the patients and because of lack of technology to use.

If the government can only provide the 11.4 billion pesos for the department of health the one percent of the National Budget I think we can minimize this situation.

BUTO’T BALAT(Documentaries)

BUTO’T BALAT
I Witness
(by:Riz Soletario)

Host
Kara David

Cast
Angela Repato
19 yrs old daughter of Lina Repato

Lina Repato
Mother of Angela Repato

Jerymy

Aling Jenny Tangco

Mang Pitong Tangco

Salvacion Hansol

SYNOPSIS

In a country that boasts of rich natural resources, there's a shocking reality that still needs government and citizens’ attention. Kara David finds extreme cases of malnutrition and reveals its shocking extent in the country.
The Philippines ranks second to the African average in terms of malnutrition, and first in the Asia-Pacific region. United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) studies show 29% of African children are malnourished, while Filipino kids follow closely at 27%.
I-Witness finds one of the worst manifestations of this problem in a town in the Bicol region.
Mercedes is Bicol’s seafood capital. Each day, bountiful catch of fish arrives on its shores. Ironically, although blessed with rich marine resources, there are extreme cases of starvation among some locals.
Angela’s family relies on fishing for a living. If her father gets no catch, they would not have anything to eat. At 19 years old, Angela was reduced to skin and bones and was bed-ridden for more than three months. Soon after this documentary was made, the girl succumbed to death because of severe malnutrition.
According to surveys, with four in 10 children considered malnourished. Bicol has the worst case of malnutrition among the country’s regions. Not far from Angela’s house, one may indeed find some other kids who have suffered the same fate.
It pains Mang Ciriaco, a market stevedore, that abundant catch of expensive fish pass through his hands but he never gets the chance to actually serve them to his own children. Forhis work, he earns an average of 30 pesos a day — money that can hardly afford him to buy the sub-standard fish sold in the market at very cheap prices. Mang Ciriaco carries the heavy burden of feeding nine children.
The constant lack of decent meals has greatly manifested on his children. His six-year old son Joey weighs only that of a three-month old baby, while his 14-year old son Jeremy weighs only that of a two-year old boy. When examined by the local health workers, it was found out that Jeremy's lungs, due to severe malnutrition, struggles to use his lungs to breathe.
Kara David also encounters babies whose stomachs have never known milk, with their parents resorting to instead giving them coffee.
Malnutrition also exists among children in the National Capital Region. Instant noodles have become today’s poor man’s diet. Not only are these affordable to families, who only get by with 30 pesos a day, but it can also makes them feel full easily.
The estimate of five million Filipino children suffering from severe malnutrition proves to be largely alarming. Finding a long-term solution to the problem can never be realized if we refuse to acknowledge that this issue exists.
Dr. Cecilia Florencio of the University of the Philippines sums up what may become its repercussions: "Malnutrition can be passed on to generations. Right now, these kids are the only ones affected. But if your really think about it, these kids will be our future generation…and they are malnourished."

If you walk in any place within the manila territory you will see the Filipinos suffer from this kind of problem; Malnutrition. We cannot deny that malnutrition is one of the biggest problems of our country. It is difficult for us to fight this problem because we have a over population in our country. The government is not capable of financing all our needs in malnutrition because we have insufficient money to use. Why? First because of the corrupt government officials and malnutrition is not only the problem of our country especially today where our country is suffered from economic crisis.

The only way to regulate malnutrition is to discipline ourselves. A family must only have a 1 or 2 children. If the family having a lot of children they must stop bearing siblings because they will only suffer in the future if they will continue to bear siblings.

COMMENT

It’s true that nowadays, many children’s are suffer from malnutrition especially to those people who are in squatter areas. As I want the movie I’ am thinking what will happen to our country if all of us will suffer from such a problem like this. Since the people from squatter areas are lacking from financial aspect they divide their small amount of money in order to buy noodles or some other foods that can buy by their money in which a percent of nutrition can only get in that foods. And since they are over populated in their family they share their insufficient foods to reach their hunger. So in general malnutrition cause by poverty, over population in a family and lack employment because they don’t have a good work that will finance their expenses everyday.

This movie will awake the Filipinos in malnutrition problem. If they will think on it they will enlighten themselves on how to regulate this kind of situation. And those who suffer in this problem they must moderate having affairs or use contraceptives in order to stop bearing a lot of children.

EDUCATION(Documentaries)

EDUCATION
The Philippine Agenda
(by: Roy Consulta)

Host
Jessica Soho

Cast
Maricel Padera
Student of Palanas National High School

Sheila Padera
Sister of Maricel and Student of Palanas National High School

Madeline Valencia
Techer of Palanas National High School

Nalin
Student of Palanas National High School

Jovelyn Almanzar
Teacher of Teofilo National High School

Merlina Arabis
Student of Teofilo National High School

SYNOPSIS

Its 3 o’clock in the early morning. The youngsters are about to hike. They have their important mission and they are still a bit far from their destination. It took almost 3 hours of walking. And at last they finally reached their destination. The school. Maricel Padera is one of the students of Palanas, Masbate walking everyday for more than 7km to go to school.

Not all schools are far compared with Maricel’s school. Though it cant be denied that there were still many young students who still walk for 6 to 7 km away from the school everyday. Maricels older sister Sheila is even one of her classmates. Inspite of their experiences going to school they are still determined to pursue their education. Even though there are no teachers available, a fellow student thought them. They also lack of teachers to teach. They even write their lectures in torned blackboards because they have only one book.

Despite of unavailability of books, there is also classroom shortage. They wish to go to college but they might not reach these goal. Their dream to reach college seems to be like far as their school.

The Teofilo Elementary High School in Miyabas, Masbate maybe just only one flick and it will be totally ruined. Masbate thye 2nd poorest province in the country, Aside from being scarce in resources, they also suffer from lots of problems in education. On the other hand there are determined individuals. Merlina is one of them. She’s 52 y/o but she just started her high school. She is even older than her teacher and her classmates are just like her childrens. Masbate High Schoos are really having a lack of teachers, unavailability of books, have a weak foundation of rooms and having a torned blackboards.

The life of students in Masbate is not easy; they suffer a lot before they will arrive in their schools. There are also students who are older than her teacher and her classmates are just like her children. And she did not mind on it instead they pursue studying until they will finished high school.

As of now there are many children who are not capable to enter in school because of poverty. So if I will compare it to present situation it is better to go in school with torned blackboards, and have a weak foundation of rooms than to never.

It is difficult for ordinary people like us to improve this kind of difficulties without the help of the government. And I can say that we cannot surpass all of these problems if the government officials are corrupting our wealth. So all we need to do is to fight the corrupt government officials and bring all these things unto God.

COMMENT

Since our country is facing an economic problem, it is possible that education problem will be happen to all of us if we don’t know how to manage things well. In this case many students are sufferings in order to study and finish schooling. They walk kilometers a day in order to reach their school. It is not easy to walk a long distance and arrive in the school with no teacher, with a torned blackboard and with a weak foundation of classrooms. But I can say that the students who suffer from these difficulties must not mind all of this, all they going to do is to focus and study their lectures well to have more knowledge and learn how to give importance to the things they have.