By Alwin Ignacio
The political drama, which concluded in a judicial tragedy, headlined no less by the former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the protagonist, versus a pack of magistrates who to many are nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing, can outshine any prevailing primetime or afternoon melodramas that are current viewing staples in the warring networks located along Mother Ignacia and Timog Avenue.
No motion picture comes close as well, even box-office winner Avengers: Infinity War pales in comparison to this political turmoil.
Thus, I cannot help but wonder, do we need a real-life Ricardo Dalisay, the character of Coco Martin in Ang Probinsiyano to tell us all what to do, what steps must we take and once the shock and sentiments subside, where we go from here?
Cardo, is a man with the heart of gold. He protects the people he loves and those who surround him—the miserable, outcasts and underdogs. He swears and vows to uphold the law by whatever means from the lawlessness of the corrupt and powerful. And yes, it helps that Martin is swoon worthy, not to mention that has been inspiring the every day men and women for almost three years now.
If one gets to watch the unbeatable action drama now, the current story arc involves a President (Rowell Santiago), Vice President (Edu Manzano), Secretary of Defense (John Arcilla) and a religious figure (Rey Abellana), who has the power to sway and instruct his flock to choose his anointed ones in a forthcoming political race. In this evening habit that uncannily imitates life, Cardo and his posse of good guys are pictured as enemies of the people by the very people in power who are of dubious integrity and eroded morality.
If the television drama and Dalisay’s character are not sufficient to lead on where should, how and must proceed, perhaps the Mike de Leon’s motion picture, showing on the 23rd of May in cinemas nationwide, the highly anticipated Citizen Jake might just be the jolt and push that the majority needs.
Citizen Jake, which had special screenings at the UP Diliman Film Center, was well received.
The film, about Jake Herrera, a blogger with a mission portrayed with such emotional truthfulness by broadcast journalist and documentarian Atom Araullo, in a film review by Arnel Ramos was described as, “Mike de Leon at his bravest, angriest.”
With de Leon’s film screened nationwide very soon, to experience his latest oeuvre is both sublime and disturbing. Sublime because you will be at awe on how the master film maker presents his case and version of truth. Disturbing because as the end credits of the film, something inside you will want to scream! Your mind will be in a rush, heart pounds, the soul inside you stirs and the desire for change, you will want it, you will desire it and you want it to manifest and concretize. By whatever means, by whatever way, the societal cancer that afflicts all of us must end, now. Not tomorrow, no more dilly-dallying, but now.
Citizen Jake has the capacity to wake up the political virgins and give the political cynics the courage, drive and fuel to come together and put an end to the present scenario we all are trying to endure and survive. Is being sad enough? Are tears adequate to release the anger? Should anger consume us all by allowing it to rule our beings so that we achieve the desired results?
Is social media the appropriate platform to express our indignation knowing the reality that only 60 percent of the population has computer/internet access and the remaining 40 percent are oblivious of the events that we are so noisy about? Must we go to the streets, do all the noise barrages and deliver stirring speeches that only fall on deaf ears?
Is Jake Herrera of Citizen Jake the real hero that will shake the majority from their apathy? Is Mike de Leon, the film master, the perfect person to inspire and move us to take action? Will his film and the truths it presents, fuel the fire and love we have for Pilipinas nating mahal?
Do we need real life Cardo Dalisays or must we follow the call of another Mike de Leon heroine, Sister Stella L, whose questions need answers, now more than ever, “Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos, kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?”
