ALAGWA
Being a part of the production crew of direk Ian's first film The Leaving, I was impressed and proud after watching his 2nd film ALAGWA. It was raw, full of intent and had a personal treatment to it. In a bottle, the story is about a boy and his dad living a semi under priviledged life, going by life a day at a time. Story peaks when his boy went missing starting his mad search for his boy leading him to see different horriffic revelations. This is when we are taken to this reality that human trafficking is real, it has been happening before and it is still happening now. Casting was well thought of. Jericho played true to his character as though he read his part a hundred times. Bugoy has surprised me with his acting skills and resonance. I really recomend all my mommy friends to watch the movie. Not to share my threatened state but just to be aware and be careful with regards to trusting our surroundings.
This is really happening
A movie, though made truthfully and realistically is just a movie. As direk Ian tweeted me "it was made to create awareness and not scare". But watching it indeed scared me and probably of anyone who has a child, more for those who have little ones. We hear about human trafficking here and there but never really from a person's own account. It has been happening for years. In fact I still remember my pops telling me as a child that if I wander off on my own, someone will kidnap me and pluck my eyes out and turn me into a beggar somewhere in India. But what is the government doing about it? What are we doing about it?
It can happen to anyone
As I wrote earlier, a boy was taken in Rockwell. Where else of all malls could you feel that your child is safe? And who is exempted from this threat? I know it can happen to me, to us, but after this eye opener, I will not let it. First thought I had was, what in evil's name do these people involved took or drank to be able to do these horrors to a child? To their families? To the people who love them? Do they have children as well? So never ever let your child out of sight, out of an arms reach when going out public places even in villages and places that you are very familiar with. Never trust your caregivers even though they have been in your service for years. They might not be in on it but they are still vulnerable.
What we can do
There are several NGOs that are fighting human trafficking but I know of the Visayan Forum Foundation that actively participates in the fight against human trafficking. You can find them here www.visayanforum.org
Please spread the word, let your family and friends know that this is happening and we might be able to make a difference by saving our children from this heinous crime.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/ALAGWA-movie-Official-Page
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