JL Burgos, a UST alumnus from the old College of Architecture and Fine Arts, took home grand prizes at the 48th Gawad Urian held Oct. 11.
Burgos directed and edited “Alipato at Muog,” a 96-minute documentary that follows the Burgos family’s quest for justice after the forced disappearance of JL’s brother, activist Jonas Burgos, who was abducted by military personnel in 2007.
As a film editor by craft, Burgos admitted that accepting the award for Best Editing was validating.
“Parang first time mapansin ‘yung best edit ko,” he said in his speech. “Pero hindi lang po ako to, nais ko lang din mag-bigay pugay sa mga kasama ko sa post-production… gusto ko rin mag-bigay parangal sa mga kasama ko [gumawa nung pelikula].”
Burgos ended his speech with a call for fair wages and safe spaces for Filipino filmmakers.
“Nais ko na rin sana magbigay pugay sa mga manggagawa ng pelikulang Pilipino; makatarungang sahod para sa kanila,” he said. “Itigil na natin ang blacklisting na ‘yan, dahil ang tinatamaan niyan ‘yung pamilya ng mga manggagawang Pilipino.”
“Alipato at Muog” also took home grand prizes, best documentary and best picture.
“Ang parangal na ito ay pagkilala sa struggle ng mga aktibistang nananawagan lamang ng lupa sa mga magsasaka, nananawagan lamang ng isang makatarungang sahod, nananawagan lamang ng lupa sa ating mga katutubo,” said Burgos as he accepted the film’s best picture victory.
In August, Burgos won Best Director at the 73rd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (Famas).
The film also received the Famas Best Picture award.
JL and Jonas are the sons of press freedom icon and former Varsitarian editor Jose Burgos Jr.
Considered the Philippine film industry’s most prestigious award, the Urian is presented by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the society of film critics. David Nigel C. Cortes
