Paalaala/Remembrance
"Paalaala/Remembrance" is a personal narrative about collective memory and the act of bearing witness.
It emerges from my personal experience of indirect witnessing. My great-grandparents lived in the Philippines when it was a Spanish colony, my grandparents experienced the shift to another colonial power during the Philippine-American War, my father grew up during the Japanese occupation of Manila, and my immediate family immigrated to Canada to escape Martial Law. These major events have different resonating points for each generation. As a child, I learned to be a silent witness to these stories. As I got older and started asking questions, I learned that adults have the prerogative to forget.
"Paalaala/Remembrance" uses original 8mm film footage and archival photographs to honour my roots of resistance.
Paalaala/Remembrance (2008)
Dir. Jo SiMalaya Alcampo (Canada)
Format: DV, 8mm film transferred to video, archival photography
Stereo, Colour & B/W, 1.33
Runtime: 2.35 min
It emerges from my personal experience of indirect witnessing. My great-grandparents lived in the Philippines when it was a Spanish colony, my grandparents experienced the shift to another colonial power during the Philippine-American War, my father grew up during the Japanese occupation of Manila, and my immediate family immigrated to Canada to escape Martial Law. These major events have different resonating points for each generation. As a child, I learned to be a silent witness to these stories. As I got older and started asking questions, I learned that adults have the prerogative to forget.
"Paalaala/Remembrance" uses original 8mm film footage and archival photographs to honour my roots of resistance.
Paalaala/Remembrance (2008)
Dir. Jo SiMalaya Alcampo (Canada)
Format: DV, 8mm film transferred to video, archival photography
Stereo, Colour & B/W, 1.33
Runtime: 2.35 min
Selected Exhibitions & Publications:
CBC Radio-Canada International (RCI VISION website)
INCITE! Journal of Experimental Media & Radical Aesthetics - Issue No. 2: "Counter-Archive" (Canada) Spring 2010
CBC - Radio Canada International - "National Roots Challenge" Finalist, “Best Multimedia Documentary" (Canada) April 2010
Antimatter Film Festival - curated by Deborah de Boer (Victoria, British Columbia) October 2009
KULTURA 2008: 3rd Annual Filipino Arts Festival - curated by Kapisanan Centre (Toronto) August 2008
CBC Radio-Canada International (RCI VISION website)
INCITE! Journal of Experimental Media & Radical Aesthetics - Issue No. 2: "Counter-Archive" (Canada) Spring 2010
CBC - Radio Canada International - "National Roots Challenge" Finalist, “Best Multimedia Documentary" (Canada) April 2010
Antimatter Film Festival - curated by Deborah de Boer (Victoria, British Columbia) October 2009
KULTURA 2008: 3rd Annual Filipino Arts Festival - curated by Kapisanan Centre (Toronto) August 2008
