Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

by Orly Gravador

Matagumpay na inilunsad ang ‘BEINTE SINGKO: A Festival of Memories, Creation of New Stories’ sa St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City nitong nakaaraang Setyembre 20, 2011 kasabay ng pagbubukas ng Photo Exhibit bilang paggunita sa pagdeklara ng Martial Law.

Ang ‘Beinte Singko…’ ay isang proyekto ng TFDP na naglalayong ipalaganap sa mga kabataan ang Karapatang Pantao at ipaalala sa kanila ang pinaka-madilim na bahagi ng ating kasaysayan. Kinapapalooban ng photo contest na pinamagatang ‘Tinamaan Ka Ng Lente’ at pagsusulat ng tula ‘Berso sa Kalsada, Tula ng Paglaya’; ang ‘Beinte Singko…” ay magtatapos sa araw ng pagdiriwang ng International Human Rights Day sa Disyembre 10, sa pamamagitan ng isang palabas at konsyerto.

Photos by Rommel Yamzon

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Youth for Rights (Y4R) together with partners and members in several campuses held series of photo exhibits to commemorate the 38^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos in September 21, 1972.

“We cannot avoid but reminisce the dark years of Philippine history so that we may never ever forget the supposed lessons learned by our people. We remember, so that the atrocities of martial rule will never happen again.”  Emmanuel Amistad, TFDP Executive Director said in a statement.

“Gintong Yaman ng Sinirang Bayan” is a satirical play about dreams, lives and relationships of families in a community in Northern Luzon that is being affected by the impending mining operation in the area.

The play is set in a barrio in Nueva Vizcaya during the course of a foreign mining company’s application in the province. The residents of the community find themselves with differing stands and opinions regarding the mining operation which poses to offer the residents with a golden opportunity.

Ruben, in his search for the golden dream and his quest to make it big, grabbed the scholarship grant from the mining company, much to his mother’s dismay.  Other inhabitants of the community engage themselves in heated debates regarding the positive and negative effects the mining operation will bring.  

Ruben must decide.  Will he go after his golden dream despite the disapproval of his loved ones and the destruction of his native land?  What is the truth behind his father’s death and what will its implication be on Ruben’s decision?

Interfaith Youth Camp
a project of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)

May 12 to 17 2010
Cor Jesu Seminary
Sta Filomina, Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte