JUST ANOTHER DAY

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BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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Wednesday, January 4, 2017
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Animal cruelty in the MMFF

THERE’S a brand new controversy at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and it’s not even about their Ambassador Mocha Uson who, just by being herself, is controversial enough.

It’s always a delight knowing these ugly mercenaries who fancy themselves as journalists i.e. Raissa Robles and Maria Ressa squirm whenever “self -proclaimed” non-journalist Mocha Uson writes in her column in the Philippine Star. And whoever said journalism is just for plain ugly bitches has never seen Mocha Uson or Roeyna May Famisaran.

Methinks I digress too much and now to the topic at hand. Yes, there is indeed cruelty in the just concluded Metro Manila Film Festival MMFF, animal cruelty that is. The filmmakers behind the movie Oro are facing a brewing controversy as people who have seen the movie have raised concerns over a dog being slaughtered onscreen.

Now I’m not going to discuss the film nor its merits or demerits, we’re just going to discuss a scene in that film wherein a live dog was slaughtered and eaten.

In that scene, a villager’s dog was taken and the preparations for cooking are shown onscreen.
Oro was an official MMFF entry inspired by the 2014 Gata 4 Massacre. Four miners — Julio Labiano, Rene Labiano, Salem Virtuz, and Jessie Brondia — were shot, allegedly by members of a certain Sagip Kalikasan Task Force (SKTF).

SKTF’s counterpart in Oro was Patrol Kalikasan, whose members swooped into Gata and closed down a mine due to lack of permit. The members later used the mine for their own gain.

The film Oro was directed by Alvin Yapan and in the Metro Manila Film Festival it won the following: Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award, Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Irma Adlawan and Best Ensemble Cast award. However, as I said, we are not here to discuss the film’s merits or demerits but why it is controversial.

Come to think of it, this is probably the first Filipino film wherein the controversy does not involve sex or nude scenes.

The film is controversial because it showed on screen a live dog being slaughtered intended for human consumption and that, people, is illegal.

That scene violated Section 6 of Republic Act 8485 or The Animal Welfare Act as amended by Republic Act 10631.

Section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act states that “the killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer, and crocodiles is likewise hereby declared unlawful” except in the following cases:

* When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or ritual required by ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities: however, leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare;

* When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;

* When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;

* When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being;

* When done for the purpose of animal population control;

* When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized research or experiments; and any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and certified by a licensed veterinarian.

As of this writing, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) headed by good friend Anna Cabrera has already sent a strongly-worded letter to the MMFF requesting for an investigation and to pull out the film Oro from theaters pending investigation.

Make no mistake about it; PAWS does not back down from any fight involving animal cruelty and will not hesitate to go to court against the individuals involved in this cruel act.

As an animal welfare advocate, I strongly condemn this barbaric act and support PAWS.

To the director of this film Oro Alvin Yapan, you’re a complete idiot who is not even aware of the Animal Welfare Act. You have a responsibility to educate, not torture dogs.

If you think by showing on film the barbaric act of slaughtering a dog for human consumption makes you trendy, edgy and progressive director, it does not; it just shows you’re a nincompoop./PN
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