Public display of charity/QCinema – now showing

I’m not one to mock any effort of others to help others. In fact, I have written once or twice that we should encourage everyone to be charitable, to be generous and especially after so much damage to lives and property brought about by typhoons and calamities.

But last Monday morning, I found myself wide awake at 4:30 a.m. and after a futile attempt at going back to sleep, I was reminded that such an occasion is one of those “inconvenient times” when God wants our attention. It actually makes sense because at those times he actually gets our attention, and we have no distractions.

So, I walked over to my desk, took out my Bible and found the book marker on the book of Matthew, Chapter 6, which teaches us:

“Take care that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward himself openly.”

I have to say that the lesson was quite timely given all the individuals, organizations and groups busy running their respective fund-raising drive, collecting donations, etc. for all the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

All that is good except when it comes to the part where the organizers, collectors or contributors get all the attention, all the honor, even the misplaced gratitude of victims and evacuees who have no idea that what they received came from anonymous individuals, simple people quietly doing their share for others or, worse, from taxpayers’ money!

People condemn politicians for placing their names and images on bags containing relief goods, we call them out for “Epal” acts when we see their names on streamers during outreach efforts, etc. But what about organizations, foundations or groups who call out for donations and end up getting all the credit and looking benevolent and popular? Some groups even squeeze all the airtime or media values for delivering such items.

I remember a time pre-Covid when some people I knew were fed up with the politics of relief goods and operations, so they promoted an alternative way of helping: adopt a family/adopt a barangay or find a person, relative or associate within the disaster area and focus on helping them.

Instead of channeling their assets to NGOs or media outlets, they created their own system where they established connections and contacts on the ground with real people and actual faces.

A number of churches and small groups did this, and it resulted in a more targeted, accurate delivery of needed help, towards their community and not “strangers.” This also helps reduce the burden of government and since the recipients are smaller and personal, the assistance is done on a longer term and not just “parachute food drops.”

The most beneficial aspect in this strategy is the personal connection it establishes between the giver and the recipient. But it also provides a real engagement or reason for getting out of bed in terms of activity. To begin with, the system initiates involvement and interaction. Churches support sister-churches, athletes, business people, etc.

I still remember people we met and worked with during typhoons Sendong, Ondoy and Yolanda. We moved on from the difficulties and now celebrate life or share meals. Try it.

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Moving on to a more pleasant topic, thanks to the limited mobility caused by Kristine, I managed to catch a movie I did not even know was actually showing. It was unadulterated escapism and entertainment that did not require me to burn brain cells.

But if you are the type who wants more from cinema, imagine a festival that “uses cinema to portray different point of views, ideology, identity, politics” – that is what Ed Lejano, festival artistic director, promises QCinema 2024 will deliver.

QCinema embarks on their 12th year of hosting what has been recognized as the Philippines’ best film festival for the seventh consecutive year by the Society of Film Reviewers. To be featured are 77 films across 12 sections, including four competition categories, documentaries as well as current works by female film directors.

One particular film of interest will be the documentary “Lost Sabungeros” based on the disappearance of cockfighters believed to have been kidnapped and summarily executed for involvement in fight fixing. The documentary which I think is produced by GMA Pictures and Public Affairs will surely raise the hackles of certain controversial cockfighters and operators, not to mention government and police officials.

Attempts have been made to block the airing or showing of the film documentary, which is why in the beautifully rendered promotional “poster” there is a tag line, “WALANG MAKAPIPIGIL SA KATOTOHANAN.” God willing, the public will still get to watch the film early November. But just so people know, there is such a great interest in the festival that when the organizers made the festival badge for P1,500, everything sold in less than 20 hours.

Congratulations to all the organizers, supporters, specially the Quezon City government and Mayor Joy Belmonte. It won’t be long before QC rightfully becomes the historical and future film capital of the Philippines, just like Hollywood. See you at the movies!

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