Sound bites may never be enough to awaken our public servants from deep stupor. Take the news for example. Everyday, we are bombarded with more than a dozen items about crime, poverty, or corruption. Yet it is perceived that only a handful of truly altruistic public servants act upon the problems the news presents. And the rest of them are in their posts just to, uhh, do some politicking.

So to stir the sensibilities of our public officials, three documentary films were recently re-released to demand some attention and real action to three pertinent issues—land, life, and traditions.

The first film, Teachers of the Highlands, was about the value of having a curriculum specifically designed for the Philippines’ indigenous folks. Produced by Asian Council for People’s Culture, the film aims to promote the value of protecting the vanishing tribal cultures of the country by educating the next generation of tribe members and leaders. Directed by Nonoy Regalado, Teachers of the Highlands was awarded the UNICEF Prize at the 30th Japan Prize International Educational Program Contest and was a finalist for the 2006 Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award.

Sa Ngalan ng Mina? Dos is a film about how politicians “sell” the country’s natural resources to big foreign mining companies. It showcases an audio recording of House Speaker Jose de Venecia telling the audience of the 2005 London Mining Roadshow how Philippine politicians are pushing for laws and other measures that would allow 100 percent foreign ownership of the country’s mining resources. In connection to de Venecia’s pronouncements, writer-director Girlie Brillantes questions the sincerity of political leaders to advance the economic situation of Filipinos by highlighting the sad plight of indigenous folks whose homes and livelihood were displaced by widespread mining activities. The film was produced by Alyansa Tigil Mina and Philippines Misereor Partnership.

The last film, Bitter Sugar in Negros, shows the plight of Negros Occidental farmers in claiming the land promised to them by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Commissioned by the non-governmental organization Task Force Mapalad, this documentary reveals how landlords resisting CARP implementation harass or kill farmers and farmer leaders who were aggressively asserting their right to own land. Bitter Sugar in Negros was directed by award-winning director Hesumaria Sescon.

The films were simultaneously shown as DokyuTres at the 70s Bistro last November in an attempt to make the films available to a wider audience. The Moonrise Festival and the Center for Environmental Awareness and Education also joined in bringing these documentaries available for public viewing.•

Rona Lisa Co worked for a newspaper for OFWs in Japan