"WHERE were you 30 years ago?" was the very question I had in my mind while watching the first screening of Writing Thirty, a documentary produced and directed by visual community theater artist Angelo Aurelio and edited by Hendrix Sanchez, John Bhyil Barrozo and Natie Batinga.
With social distancing measures strictly followed, the Baguio City Multi-Purpose Hall turned theater stretched its seating capacity to a maximum of 70 viewers per screening. I watched with my high school friend Jen, and as we walk pass through the City Hall's main entrance, we reminisced how lives were changed back in 1990 when the 7.8 magnitude killer quake struck our beloved city. I was a freshman at Saint Louis University and my only clear recollection was that classes were suspended during that time because of an ongoing student strike and I have just gotten home when the swaying and rumbling started taking its toll. With my brother and uncle onboard his car, we drove to the city center stopping every so often with every shake and aftershock thereafter. I was mindless of anything at that time but to be with my family and be assured that we are all safe or if it were the end of the world, that we are all leaving it together.
The recollections however of the thirty veteran journalists, pioneering artists, educators and Baguio locals curated in this documentary with a collection of devastating photos of dead people, iconic building in rumbles and rescuers in action brought back chills of that fateful day seen in varied eyes; telling different experiences and sharing commonalities of fear, grief and hope. It was utterly moving. You can just imagine how reports were made and transmitted when the internet was not within reach. How it took days before the world knew how devastated Baguio was back then.
Producer-director Angelo Aurelio, in his interview with ABS-CBN, shared that he was five years old when the earthquake struck. A storyteller himself, he wanted a true story told hence the documentary. He added that during calamities, it doesn't matter if you're powerful or rich. Life and humanity will only be the important things that are important in the end and that the crisis back in 1990 is nothing different to what we are facing right now.
It is evident that the "Bayanihan" we now share in these trying times of global pandemic was the same communal togetherness Baguio folks had during the earthquake. Baguio Senior Visual Artist and Renowned Impressionist, Roland Bay-an recounts how artists put up a soup kitchen at Café by the Ruins to feed those who were forced to live in tents for safety.
Coordination with the Department of Education and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office for the film's nationwide showing is now under way according to Director Angelo. As this is a privately funded documentary with still has some editing in the works, blogger Ardi writes posted on his Facebook wall that financial help is most welcome to help the team finish the project.
I sat in awe and silence like many others who were at the hall. Thankful to have survived and lived to listen to and tell a story. This is one documentary I wish everyone to see. The interwoven stories of everyone herewith conveys a strong message of resilience and hope. A resounding call to rebuild Baguio how it should be and a heartwarming tribute to commemorate the lives lost during the killer quake and the unsung heroes who have risked their lives to save others. #fileunderartsandculture
Writing Thirty is a documentary film curating personal untold stories by: JJ Landingin (SunStar/Manila Bulletin); Nonnette Bennett (Midland Courier); Luchie Maranan (Palanca Winning Writer, Dap Ayan ti Kultura ti Kordilyera); Frank Cimatu (Palanca Winning Poet/Baguio Chronicle/Rappler); Raymondo Rovilles (Chancellor University of the Philippines Baguio); Rafael Resuello (Survivor); Lynette Carantes-Bibal (Theater Pioneer); Patrick Okubo (Midland Courier); Julia Agnaonao-Baeyens (Film/Urban Gardening Advocate); Art Tibaldo (Media Historian); Roland Bay-an (Senior Baguio Artist); Catherine Tibayan (former faculty Mass Comm. Dept. Saint Louis University); Mauricio Domogan (former mayor and congressman, Lone District of Baguio); Ric Maniquis (Veteran Photographer); Evangeline Ariaga (Social Worker); Marie Castro (Film and Broadcast); Roland Rabang (Baguio Chronicle/UP Baguio); Pigeon Lobien (Philippine News Agency); Aurora Alambra (former UN correspondent, Iraq and Afganistan); Herminio Bautista (Survivor); Helen Tibaldo (Philippine Information Agency- Cordillera); March Fianza (Veteran Journalist/Baguio Chronicle); Consolacion De Guzman (former principal, Baguio Central School); Bonifacio Dela Peña (City Administrator); Mau Victa (former film Lagarista/Business Mirror); Kigao Rosimo (Pioneer Baguio Artist); Willie Magtibay (13 Artist Awardee); Darius Bajo (GMA News); Vladimir Cayabas (Radio) and Kidlat Tahimik (National Artist for Film).