On November 25, the country marks the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (Republic Act 10398), and begins an 18-day campaign to raise awareness on the protection of human rights of women and children (Proclamation 1172 s. 2006).

In support of these advocacies, the Rotary Club of Parañaque Lakan-Bini (Rotary International District 3830) and Erasto Films are holding a screening of Boses, an acclaimed film about the friendship of an abused boy and a grieving violinist who find hope in the transformative power of music. The event is on November 24, 2018, Saturday, at 9 am at SM Bicutan.

Boses, starring young violin prodigy Julian Duque and celebrated international concert violinist Coke Bolipata, premiered at the 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and continues to be screened locally and abroad. Among the highlights of its 10-year journey so far include winning Best Film at the 2008 Gawad Tanglaw and Golden Screen Awards, a theatrical run in 2013 wherein it became one of the most successful indies of that year, and its selection as opening film of the 2017 ASEAN Film Festival held in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.

For Ms. Isabelle Gonzalez, past president/ project proponent and chair of the Rotary Club of Parañaque’s campaign to end violence towards women and children, the film is very meaningful to their cause. “Our club, headed by our president Perlita Catap, purposely chose Boses because it tackles themes that are synonymous to our mission, namely, maternal and child care; and, peace and conflict resolution in families.”

In the film, Onyok, a seven-year old boy who has become mute due to an abusive father, is brought to a children’s shelter where he is given violin lessons by Ariel who is grieving over the loss of a loved one. Ariel and his sister (played by actress Cherry Pie Picache) shields Onyok from his father (played by Ricky Davao) who attempts to remove the boy from the shelter.

Thanks to the support from various concerned groups and individuals, Boses persists as an educational material to champion the rights of women and children. Various government agencies from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, to the Philippine Commission on Women have endorsed this film. Among its other supporters include Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and psychologists Dr. Margie Holmes and Dr. Honey Carandang.
Producer-director Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil hopes that with the ongoing screenings of Boses as their small contribution, people will realize that violence is a cultural issue that must be addressed. “It is not enough to have laws and know the laws. It is a cultural mindset that is reinforced by media and other institutions as early as childhood. To have VAW (Violence Against Women)-free Philippines, we must address how we raise our children,” she said.

Tickets to the November 24 screening of Boses are now being sold through advanced booking, contact 0918-9363802 and 0915-1765123 (care of Belle), and 0921-8037833 (care of Olive).