Politics of U.S. Occupation - Official Selection 2011 Aljazeera International Documentary Film Fest

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POLITICS OF U.S. OCCUPATION (AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION- MFA THESIS FILM PROJECT)
I wrote, directed, shot and edited the documentary, Politics of U.S. Occupation, which features Linguistics Professor Noam Chomsky of Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Women's Studies Professor Neferti Tadiar of Barnard College (New York), Asian American Studies Professor Nerissa Balce of Stony Brook University (New York) and Political Science Professor Kenneth Bauzon of St. Joseph's College (New York) who analyze the 1899 Philippine-American War in order to rediscover its historical similarities to the so-called post-9/11 War on Terror. My MFA thesis adviser at American University School of Communication was Professor Russell Williams, who won the Academy Award for Best Sound in Glory (1989) and Dances with Wolves (1990).

Electric guitar music was performed by Rogel Maprangala

SYNOPSIS
The purpose of the half-hour documentary, Politics of U.S. Occupation, was to challenge the historical awareness of the audience as it explores the following:

Firstly, it argues the idea that the Philippine-American war of 1899 (and not World War II) is the foundation of Philippine-U.S. relations. The film also visually shows footage of World War II combat and deaths that were just as traumatic as the images of the Philippine American war.

Secondly, it describes the idea that the Philippine-American war of 1899 was characterized by systematic use of torture (despite official U.S. denials). One of the torture techniques used in the Philippines was the "water cure" - better known now as "water boarding."

Thirdly, it explains the idea that the brutality of the Philippine-American war was not much different from the brutality of the U.S. conquest of its indigenous population- known as the Indian Wars. We also learn that this turn of the century repression of Catholic and Muslim resistance fighters in the Philippines became the template used by the U.S. in its armed interventions in Latin America and the Middle East.

Lastly, it suggests the feminist idea that there is often an interconnectedness between the violence within the United States and U.S. violence overseas as exemplified in the migration of the Indian wars atrocities (e.g. 1890 Wounded Knee massacre) and the Philippine-American war abuses (e.g. 1906 Bud Dajo massacre) to the post-9/11 Iraq War atrocities.

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[liz100392]

HIST303/ 4:30-6:00 TTH (JALEM)

..cont.

It's so heart-crushing seeing the suffering of many Filipinos. The cruelty they had experienced were beyond imagination. Thousands of people being killed ruthlessly - treating them like animals. Americans during that time were really disgusting.

However, on my own opinion, we must still be grateful for everything.Those tragic events shaped the Filipinos and the Philippines at present. Truly, as ex-Pres. Ninoy Aquino said-"Filipinos are worth-dying for".

[liz100392]

HIST303/ 4:30-6:00 TTH (JALEM)

No wonder why Philippines is such a bountiful, beautiful and beloved country. Throughout history, it has thrived for its independence from Spain, America and Japan. As shown in this video, just in this war, countless lives has been offered for our Motherland. This soil has been shed with sweat, blood and tears. Hence, this country should only be for Filipinos - for those who truly love this country and not for any selfish invaders...

[ayawkungmawalaka]

HIST223/12:00-1:30 TTH (TABANGAY)

When i see this video i was angry to the american because i see the brutality that they do the Filipino. They treat the Filipino like an a animals.They kill the innocent people. They torture the Filipinos. That's the reason why the Filipino build private army to fight the american soldiers for the freedom and for the rights of the Filipino.

[ayawkungmawalaka]

fgggg

[keturah0920]

(continuation) (EVANGELISTA)

They took advantage of our innocence in war. They were able to defeat us because of their supremacy in firearms and our troops were lack of military training. But despite of this brutality, Americans helped us to have freedom against Spaniards.

[keturah0920]

HIST223 / 12:00-1:30 TTH ( EVANGELISTA)

This video shows how Americans treated Filipinos like animals because of their brutality. They are not afraid to kill many Filipinos just to conquer our country, they compared us to rabbits. They want Filipinos to become their slaves during that time. First, they showed that they came to our country as friends and they will help us in order to protect our country but their real objective is to conquer our country.

[jmore1919]

HIST223/3:00-4:30 TTH (BOTIN)

during world War II America help Philippines to defeat the Japanese colonizers... filipinos and Americans had a great relationship at the beginning.But Filipinos dont know the real intention of Americans in the Philippines. They want to expand their territory or to colonize Phils. In order to commit this aim they doing such devil works. they tortured filipinos they killed many innocent people ,they use advance war materials to kill filipinos like animals.

[silentcrime1]

HIST223/12:30-1:30 TTH (VILLAS, char)

but after many years the Filipinos and American having a good relationship.....that's all, thank you.......God bless....

[silentcrime1]

HIST223/12:30-1:30 TTH (VILLAS, char)

in this video, i can say that the americans are very bravery, they are ready to fight anywhere, but not all time that the americans are good because sometimes the americans don't have heart because they killed innocent people, the americans coming here in the Phillipines because they wanted to conquer our country, i can say that the American is brutal because they treated the Filipinos like an animals.

[jmore1919]

(CONTINUATION)(GALAUS)..But thanks to America, they helped Philippines to defeat Japanese colonizer during World War II.

 And to our brave Filipino heroes who fought for our freedom during that time. Thank you.:)