The voice that needs to be heard

It is said that Michael Eisner, the former chief executive officer of Disney, would include children during Disney’s “gong” (brainstorming) sessions. In one of these sessions emerged the concept of Lion King, an insight that supposedly came from a child. (I am not sure if this is a true story or an urban legend!) 

The point I’m trying to make is that it is important that we listen to the voice of the “babes” because it is often raw, true and brilliant. I am a staunch supporter of children’s rights in the Philippines where their voices need to be heard by elders and leaders.  

My friend Ellen Ongkeko Marfil directed and produced the movie Boses, which was a Cinemalaya entry in 2008. It was based on Froi Medina’s Tinig sa Dilim, a second-prize winner at the Cinemalaya 2007 scriptwriting competition.  

Boses is a poignant story of a battered child Onyok (played by Julian Duque) who loses his ability to speak after being beaten by his abusive father (Ricky Davao). He is brought to a children’s shelter run by Amanda (Cherry Pie Picache) where he forges a friendship with Ariel (Coke Bolipata), a concert violinist who became reclusive after the death of his girlfriend (Meryll Soriano). After listening to the beautiful melody that emanates from Ariel’s violin, Onyok learns how to play the musical instrument and discovers his gift of music.  

One of the memorable lines from the movie comes from the character of Cherry Pie: “May mga magulang na handang magbago at pilit na nagbabago. May mga ama na gustong humingi ng tawad at may mga anak na handang magpatawad.”

I remember bumping into Ellen after the movie’s screening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). She introduced me to the child actor. I suddenly knelt before the boy and Ellen and gushed shamelessly on how brilliant Julian was in his portrayal of the boy, Onyok. 

According to Ellen, the Department of Education recently gave an advisory on the film as a possible advocacy tool on child protection.   

Onyok’s story happens in real life. It can be the story of your relative, your friend, your next-door neighbor and of countless abused children who suffer violence in silence because of fear. Everyday we come across this kind of story. We hear it on radio, watch it on television and read about it in newspapers and on social media. 

Boses won top awards from the Golden Screen Awards, Gawad Tanglaw Awards, Star Awards in 2008. It was screened across the country in schools, communities, and parishes in partnership with different organizations like UP, Ateneo, Assumption, FEU, TUP, Pasay Children’s Network, CBCP, Couples for Christ and Aksyon Para sa Kapayapaan. 

The movie also competed and was exhibited in various festivals, schools and communities abroad including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Hawaii, Vancouver, India, Korea, Hong Kong, Geneva, Zurich, Madrid, Yale University and University of Alberta.

Boses received rave reviews from critics, child welfare advocates and international programmers. “An extraordinary film from the Philippines. It is my personal choice. My favorite and a must-see,” enthused Church Boller, executive director of Hawaii International Film Festival. 

“Boses takes a grim situation (child abuse), matches it with high-art therapy (classical music), and unfolds the narrative with a strong dose of pleasure, as startling in its effectiveness as it is unexpected… betokens not just some of the best moments of the local industry, but also that of classical Hollywood,” remarked Joel David, a professor and critic. 

Indeed, watching this heartwarming tale about friendship between an abused boy and a reclusive violinist is life-changing. It can change the way one views people. It can change the way one looks at himself. Boses changed me in a way that I look at pain now with hope and courage.