MANILA, Philippines - Dyslexia, a neurological learning disability often misinterpreted by parents and educators as a simple case of being slow, lazy or stupid, is the focus of an advocacy independent film which premieres tomorrow, March 5, 6 p.m. at the University of the Philippines Film Institute (Cine Adarna).
Sagip sa Ika-7 Hakbang shows a father’s inability to accept a dyslexic son and the trials the family go through. From the time the dyslexic child is taunted in school for not being able to write his own name properly, to the discovery of the disability, the film brings us to various emotions that make us understand the struggles one must overcome especially with an angry father and a submissive mother.
Written and directed by Jonah Anonuevo Lim, the film was a finalist for the feature film category at the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan Italy last November 2008. Lim, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication in Film, has also an MFA from Chapman University in California. He has won various film awards abroad including Best Foreign Film at the 2005 WYSIWYG Film Festival in San Francisco, for his film Kaibigan.
Will Angeles stars as the father refusing to accept his son’s disability; his wife is played by Gina Lumauig, and Rocky Arboleda plays Miguel, the son who struggles through dyslexia.
Sagip sa Ika-7 Hakbang hopes to educate people and help them accept and overcome dyslexia, said to afflict approximately 15 percent of school children.
The film is sponsored by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Alumni Association.
For details, call 981-8500 local 2678 or 0905-2871613 or e-mail ginalumauig@yahoo.com.