My Voice, My Thoughts, My life…

I found this in myUSTe (myuste.ust.edu.ph)

*according to Sir Alex, the schedule is not yet final and it’s open for revision and changes

Voces inocentes is a 2004 Mexican film directed by Luis Mandoki. The plot is set during the Salvadoran Civil War in 1980, and is based on writer Óscar Torres‘s childhood. The film serves as a general commentary on the military use of children. The movie also shows injustice against innocent people who are forced to fight in the war. It follows the story of the narrator, a boy named Chava. (Wikipedia)

The Circulo Hispano Tomasino,the official Spanish club of the University, held its yearly event “Fiesta de Pelìkula” at the UST TARC. The event showcased different spanish films that can be watched by members and non-members of the organization.

I watched a Spanish film called “Voces Inocentes” at around 8 in the morning. The film was great and gave me an insight of how the people lived in times of war. It also shows how the military utilizes the youth to increase their numbers against guerrilla. How the military’s power can violate even the rules of the church. back then, children are forced to join armies even if they do not wish to partake in the war. In times of war, people can change for the better or for the worse. And finally, courage can be seen even in times of chaos and destruction.

I can relate some of the events ,that happed in the movie, to real events that happened here in the Philippines.

• In the People Power Revolution, the church will always side with the people, especially in times of problems and lost of hope. ( The Priest, protected Chava from the soldiers; The Priest, pleading the soldiers to release the children)
• How brutal the Japanese soldiers were in WII. They would kill even children. (The soldiers killed Chava’s friends without hesitation)
• Children were involve in the Military and Guerrilla in WII. ( Boy’s were forced to join the army but Chava and his friends joined the Guerrilla)*
• Marcos banned radio stations from playing songs and televising the voice of the people. ( The soldiers banned some radio stations because it transmitted Guerrilla songs and news)

I felt sad for Chava, because his friends were killed in front of him (Except for Antonio who at first did not what to join the military but finally willingly joined it), he lost his home due to the military burning their home, his crush died in a fight between the military and the guerrillas. but i found funny moments like the child-like demeanor of Acha ,the antics of the bus driver, Ricardito calling every man his mother meets as “Papa”.

NOTE:

* in the movie the Military and the Guerrillas are fighting each other; In the Philippines during the WII, the military and Guerrilla worked together to fight against the Japanese Soldiers. I just stated the slight similarities.

I watch this in the auditorium, just me, no one else in the auditorium (except the technician, but he leaves the auditorium once in a while). It felt a bit creepy all alone in the auditorium, the lights are off and the previews of some other movies are in the horror genre. I hope the Next time i’m gonna watch, some one is with me, because it’s slightly nerve-wracking to watch a movie with no one else to watch with or have a small chat with.