JOURNAL: RIZZA © MENDIOLA
Back in February 23, 2011 - a leap worth
considering a life time commitment started. It was during these days when a
director asked me to work with her on stories about female combatants on two opposing
phases - the military and the leftist. At first, I am hesitant to try this luck
due to security reasons and time constraint given. It’s totally far from the week
long preparations on series specials that I usually work with on environment
programs. It was twelve midnight back then. I have to decide within an hour
time frame. Later, I found myself equipped with cameras, a director, two
cameramen and a driver heading towards a military camp. Permits were already
secured. I am about to take another angle of my journey as a journalist.
We went uphill a remote barangay. Realities
strike. Apart from the time and directions given to and by the field director
and cameramen, I was able to interact with people in this nomad area. Fortunate
enough, hearth warming approach leads me to unfolding the stories of
individuals that distinctly captured my attention. Aside from the facts written
and published on books, life on field could be verified by the voices of the
unheard. It was during this day when I tend to understand and re-connect
individual ironies between soldiers, leftists, the nomad community, the
government, and even those activists who are not in the areas. Life for them
has its own claim, my role as a journalist is not to take sides but to
understand who these individuals are, their group convictions, and even
individual sentiments. Weigh things.
Crossing
in between mountains of Rizal, Dumagat tribes line up to receive medical supplies
and relief goods in a sitio that is accessible to heavy vehicles and
volunteers.
Children
seldom interact with people outside their tribal community in upland Rizal.
Thus, seeing soldiers wearing uniforms put apprehensions on their first glance.
In my perspective of having a similar
ratio of a soldier and an activist serving and transpiring under what they
claim to be as reality, most write-ups about activism dwell on street appearances
with placards stating what they want to address, and in rebel attire with long
guns uphill. With similar end, much from the military side focuses more on local
and international military exercises, trainings and even presidential visits. Both
heard less on the real situation in their respective barracks and settlements;
individual struggles; and even triumphs. As a wandering journalist, I wish not
to take sides on what has been known by the majority, on what media usually
plays on radio and television. It’s like unfolding the unknown, understanding
the extent of their allegiance, and unveiling what media airtimes cannot
accommodate.
Influenced
by worn-out second hand clothes donated in their upland community, Dumagat
families no longer use their traditional clothing.
Soldiers
volunteer and act as barbers in upland communities where basic services
including hair cutters cannot be found.
My commitment begins on this phase. Currently,
I am working on a personal photo documentary project about the unheard day in a
life - lived experience of soldiers who act as front-lines during insurgencies
and military operations. A good story cannot be gathered in a quick span of
time. It takes a lot of effort in immersing oneself and understanding the real
situation under any circumstances. During off from the production seen, I
usually travel from the city uphill to their respective base camps observing,
listening, documenting and immersing. More to unfold, this article is only
a bon voyage on my whereabouts.
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