Date: August 24, 2019

Project (Documentary Film Critique)

Group #4
Members:
1. Reduta, Rexcel Anne
2. Roxas, Sophia Rose
3. Saguid, Charlottte Anne
4. Samson, Russell
5. Solomon, Princess Missy
6. Suni, Adriana
7. Toñacao, Faith Anne
8. Tolentino, Raphael Angelo
9. Tubello, Maria Diana
10. Venezuela, John Vincent

Reporter’s Notebook: Burak at Pangarap

The documentary film “Reporter’s Notebook: Burak at Pangarap”, is hosted by
Maki Pulido and Jiggy Manicad. This episode of Reporter’s Notebook was aired in GMA
public affairs dated March 27, 2018. This episode shows the life of a two (2) children
named Jun jun and Mico that swims in the river of garbage to collect anything that they
can bring to the junk shop in exchange for money.

Jun jun is 12 years old from Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon city. The houses around
his neighborhood was set into fire which caused them to become homeless. He didn’t
have a choice but to swim in a river full of garbage to collect plastics, metals and cartons
so that he can go to the junk shop and exchange it for money. Jun jun would wake up
early in the morning so he could start working while his mother is standing in line for relief
goods. After four (4) days of collecting garbage’s, he decided to go to the junk shop and
exchange the one (1) sack of plastics for money and got 56 pesos. Jun jun would buy 5
pieces of bread for his family to eat and save the remaining money for a new house. Jun
jun has a neighbor named Mico and he is also collecting garbage for him to save money
so that he can go back to school. Both Mico and Jun jun are working at an early age just
to help their families. They continued to collect garbage’s even if they have scars that
can affect their health because of infections, etc. However, the show “Reporter’s
notebook” went to a hospital with Mico and Jun jun so that they can be vaccinated and
help their scars get cleaned.

For our analyzation, this documentary is a representation of poverty in our country.

The story of Mico and Jun jun is just one of many stories of children suffering from poverty
in the Philippines. These children are not getting their right to study and their right to have
a shelter. The video also shows how some of our fellow Filipinos are striving just to survive
in everyday living. The documentary emphasized not just the poverty in the country but
also the country’s problem when it comes to proper waste disposal. Most people do not
realize that people in the streets are the ones who are suffering when we don’t throw our
garbage’s in the right places. Since there are a lot of informal settlers or homeless Filipino’s,
the burden of not having a shelter and food is not just their problem because the risk of
getting sick from a polluted place is high. Therefore, we should be responsible to our own
trash because no one should clean it for us. The high rate of poverty in the Philippines is
alarming and it should be addressed by the authorities so that they can receive help and
get what they deserve as a Filipino citizen.

The message of the documentary and its purpose was very clear. By watching the
documentary, you can easily connect and put yourself in the situation of Mico and Jun
jun and we did reflect in the documentary. The host, Maki Pulido has shown
professionalism by interviewing Mico and Jun jun despite of the condition of the place
and she managed to maintain a good conversation with Mico and Jun jun without
offending. The storyline was clear, and well directed. The voices were clear and the
emotions were definitely present. The reporter’s notebook team did a great job by giving
help to the families and giving proper medication to Mico and Jun jun. This documentary
surely touched many hearts by inspiring their viewers.