Ang Guro Kong Hindi
Marunong Magbasa
(My Teacher Who Doesn’t Know How to Read)
Bacolod Tour
The film Ang Guro Kong Hindi Marunong Magbasa (My Teacher Who Doesn’t Know How to Read) top billed by actor/ public servant Alfred Vargas, is one of the finalists of Cinemalaya 2017. This indie movie is a film with the advocacy on the value of education. It is a story about the passion that one man can give to be able to educate children in barrios affected by war and poverty.
Last Monday, the cast of this film composed of Kiko Matos, Loren Burgos, Paul Sy, Lorraine Salvador and Liane Valentin came to Bacolod City for their provincial tour with of course their director Perry Escano, who is also a proud Bacolodnon. At the press conference, Direk Perry said that they have already visited Bacolod Tay Tung High School, his alma mater. After meeting the press they are also scheduled to visit other school campuses and do radio station tours to promote this Cinemalaya film entry.
The director is eager to share his film debut which shows how poverty can deprive children of education which others sometimes take for granted. “Ipinapakita sa movie kung paano ang teknik niya (Aaquil, an illiterate farmer played by Alfred Vargas) na kunwari marunong siya at napapaniwala niya ang mga bata, pero ang totoo hindi talaga siya marunong.”
According to Direk Perry there are also some critics that can’t seem to appreciate the content of this movie. As a film maker and writer, what can he say about this? “Kaya ko ipinapakita ‘yung violence kasi ‘yun talaga ang totoong nangyayari sa Mindanao at sa ibang far-flung areas kung merong war. Pag nahuli ang rebelde, tino-torture sila at pag nahuli ang military, ganoon din ang ginagawa. So, kailangan kong ipakita ang shots na ‘yun para makita ng mga tao kung paano mag-hirap ang mga soldiers natin. So sa MTRCB sa first review parang unfair for us film makers kasi na X ito (rated X). For me, nawawala yung artistic side ko, so ipinaglalaban ko pa rin ‘yan sa kanila at ipinasa ko pa rin kung ano yung dapat. Binigyan kami ng second review. Yung trailer nyan ay dalawang beses na rated X yan.”
For Direk Perry, Ang Guro Kong Hindi Marunong Magbasa is a film that students and also parents must watch. That is why it pains him when some people don’t understand the message he wants to convey. “It is an educational film and as a film maker medyo insulting talaga kasi yung gusto kong art na ipakita sa tao, na kailangang ipakita ko kung paano rin naghirap ang mga soldiers natin.”
Other cast members are combined talents from different TV stations. Loren Burgos and Paul Sy (aka Wally Waley) are both from ABS-CBN. Liane Valentin and Loraine Salvador are seen on TV at GMA 7 while Kiko Matos also does indie films and sometimes appears on TV.
I already watched the trailer and my heart cries out for the children undergoing trauma because of war particularly in Mindanao. I thought, the children in the city are lucky to get the education they need, play and stroll freely in the mall, eat in their favorite restaurants and own high-tech gadgets. While these child warriors do not have the luxury of even going to school and having a decent place to live in.
Photo lifted from the official Facebook Page of this film.
At an early age, they are trained to fire guns, fight battles and save their lives. I asked Direk Perry why he chose this kind of plot. “You know, when I was young, I was given a good education and went to good schools. When I learned about child warriors and did my research on them, I felt the need to do a film that can inspire others to value the education that they have. As you watch the film, you will see how difficult it is for the children to go to school because of war. They are deprived of the right to education and learn. I hope parents will also watch this so they can impart the teachings to their children.”
Ang Guro Kong Hindi Marunong Magbasa (My Teacher Who Doesn’t Know How to Read) will be shown nationwide on December 6, 2017 with a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes and produced by MPJ Entertainment Productions.
