Integrity Initiative Film Festival aims to rebuild country's 'culture of integrity'

MANILA, Philippines- As support to the government's efforts in fighting corruption, different public sectors united and launched the Integrity Initiative campaign.

“In a nutshell, what Integrity Initiative is the parallel effort of what government, under this administration, to address corruption in the public sector,” said Mr. Peter Perfecto, project director of Integrity Initiative and executive director of Makati Business Club. “We're trying to address governance in the private sector, we're trying to do our part in basically leveling the playing field and getting clean business to have the competitive advantage rather the other way around.”

Although he admits that “we have a long way to go,” they'll continue the campaign and “organize events that will encourage other sectors in society to get involved in rebuilding the integrity culture here in the Philippines.”

One of the projects that they had for the campaign is the Integrity Initiative Film Festival, where they screened movies that tackled corruption in the country. It happened Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7 and 8, at the Greenbelt cinema.

Kristine Kintana, program manager of Active Vista, explained that they were happy that the people behind Integrity Initiative campaign tapped heir organization to team up with this cause.

Active Vista helped the campaign to choose the films that were screened on the two-day film festival.

“We believe that one of the best way to communicate to the people is through arts, like film,” Kintana said.

Lovi Poe, the lead star in the GMA series “Titser,” graced the first night of the the film festival. The first three episodes of the show was screened during the opening night.

The Kapuso actress expressed her gratitude to her home network for entrusting to her such an “informative” show.

“First of all, I'm very happy to be part of Titser,” she said. “I'm actually very thankful because GMA-7... pinagkatiwalaan nila ako doon sa ganitong klaseng proyekto. First of all, it's very different from all the projects I've done before.

“Siguro nasanay akong gumawa ng mga proyekto na minsan, e, puro drama lang talaga. Pero ito, it's something different, it' very informative. For me, it's my way of giving back, my giving thanks to all of my teachers. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako na naging parte ako ng Titser.”

The other movies that was screened the next day at the Greenbelt Cinema are “Transit,” “Last Supper #3,” and “Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon.”

Transit is the story about a father who does his best to protect his child from being deported from Israel, after the Israeli government decided to deport the children of foreign workers.

Meanwhile, Last Supper #3 is based on a true story, which shows in a humorous way the complicated justice system in the country.

Lastly, Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon is a satire which showed how a neophyte public lawyer struggle to give clean justice to people, in a government that tolerates injustice.

Through these small steps, like the Integrity Initiative Film Festival, the Integrity Initiative campaign hopes to enlighten the public and encourage them to join the efforts in bringing back the country's “culture of integrity.”