Human Rights Online Philippines

The director Joel Lamangan has helmed films, movies, and stage plays but his mode of expression this Monday morning, February 24, was, plain and simple, his words.

Representing the Director’s Guild of the Philippines, Lamangan appeared at the senate hearing for the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN and spoke about freedom of expression, a subject very close to this artist and activist’s heart. He said he was saddened by the fact that the discussion before him was not about how freedom of expression can be broadened and deepened but how it can be curtailed— which is the equivalent of shutting down the biggest media network in the country.

Lamangan’s filmography includes a lot of comedies, and romantic and domestic dramas, but he’s also behind many socially relevant works such as The Flor Contemplacion Story, Bakit May Kahapon Pa? and Mila.

Below is his full statement before the Senate:

“Ang Director’s Guild of the Philippines po ay narito upang ating bigyang pansin ang isang nakalulungkot na bagay na nangyayari sa atin. Ako po ay nalulungkot dahil sa pagpupulong na ito ay ating dini-discuss ang pagpatay sa isang plataporma na nagbibigay, naglulunsad ng kalayaan sa pananalita, kalayaan sa pamamahayag, at kalayaan sa pagpapahayag.

Nalulungkot ako at dumating tayo sa ganoong panahon. Sa halip na ating pag-usapan kung paano payayamanin ang mga plataporma na maglulunsad ng mga kalayaang ito, idi-discuss natin ay pagkitil at pagpatay dito. Hindi ba’t yun ang kalungkot-lungkot?

“Kaming mga direktor ng pelikula at telebisyon at tanghalan, ang aming mga materyal na pinagkukunan ng aming kwento ay ang buhay ng tao. Ang araw-araw na katotohanang nakikita namin sa lansangan. Ang araw-araw na nakikita namin mula sa aming paggising hanggang sa aming pagtulog. Yun ho ang batayan ng aming sinasalaysay na kwento na aming shine-share sa daan-daang mga manonood.

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