012609IWb

"Bye-bye Birdie!"

Fish nets are designed to catch fish. But in the cold mountain passes of Luzon, in the darkest of nights, fish nets sweep the air to catch wild birds. Some of the birds are colorful and rare, but nearly all are eaten. More than a few could be migratory birds bringing in bird flu.

Howie Severino and his team of adventure-seeking documentarists hang out with these native bird trappers and try to understand their rugged culture and raw motivations. Accompanying the documentarists on their journey to Nueva Vizcaya are two passionate bird lovers, artist Arnel Telesforo and bird guide Nicky Icarangal, who struggle to come to terms with the harsh treatment of their feathered friends, and remind viewers that the Filipino's relationship with the wild is changing.

Howie and his team also venture with Arnel to Balanga, Bataan where wild migratory birds in the thousands are not harmed. Rather, in the bright morning sun, they are counted, recorded, and photographed by Arnel and friends with tender loving care.

In this story of life and death, set in both night and day, I-Witness finds a parable that encompasses both the ruthless force of human need and the redemptive power of compassion.

The documentary ends with a stark choice facing the documentarists: do they remain detached observers of willful killing or do they cross the line to extend innocent life?

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• kwadernongtagaulat
• howieseverino

[shumakerz]

KAHIRAPAN ang nagtutulak sa mga tao na eto na manghuli ng ibon. Kung ang ating gobyerno ay may maganda na programa para mahango sa kahirapan ang mga tao disin sana ay may pagkain na maihahain sila sa hapag kainan at ligtas ang ating kalikasan na yaman... Kawawang IBON

[arlyn0518]

malaki ang problema para sa salin lahi ng mga tao kung patuloy nilang gagawin ang pag huli sa mga ibon kc ibon ang dahilan kung bakit may mga kagubatan tayo sila ang pinang gagalingan ng bagong sibol na mga puno kya kung sa pag kawalan ng disiplina malaki ang epekto nito sa kapigiran nahin tindihan ko rin na kung bakit din nila nagagawang hulihin ang mga ibon sana mag karoon po tayo ng solusyon sa problemang ito

[lammel]

Poor birds.