In the nascency of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok (Thailand), the Philippinesโour motherlandโjoined the propitious international confederation. It was one of the founding member countries, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The establishment of ASEAN purported to promote regional stability, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange among entailing nations. The Philippines’ participation in the transnational axis has helped enhance diplomatic ties, aggrandize economic growth, and strengthen regional collaboration in various fields.
The ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ (๐๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐), along with other collegiate institutions, was with one heart in participating in this commemorative celebration. In deference to the ASEAN gala and to achieve one of its coalescing objectivesโcultural exchangeโthe SPAMAST’s Director for ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ข๐ซ. ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ helmed the exhibition of three ASEAN-inspired films that garnered innumerable accolades upon their release, within and across ASEAN circumference. In the cavalcade of films viewed by its internal constituents, various cultures were presented and acknowledged through cultural integration that was apparent in every film.
Starting from Birdshot (2016) Philippines; which concentered on Diego, a rural caretaker, who shows his 14-year-old daughter Maya how to shoot a gun to learn self-sufficiency. She ends up killing an endangered Philippine eagle, bringing unforeseen and frightening consequences into their quiet life.
Next was Headshot (2016) Indonesia; which showcases the story of a man suffering from amnesia who washes ashore and a young doctor nurses him back to health. His past resurfaces to haunt them both in a violent fashion.
Lastly, Iloilo (2013) Singapore; highlights the scene of the pregnant Hwee Leng Lim and her husband Teck as they hire a Filipino live-in maid for household chores and to help with their son Jiale, whose behavior has deteriorated since the recent death of his grandfather.
After the film showing, viewers were tasked to ventilate their sentimental realizations and pinpoint their observations of the distinct cultures that were apparent in every film.
๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: David C. Saycon
