Give Up Tomorrow

For my Citizenship and Governance class last term, we were told to go to a movie screening hosted by DLSU's College of Law entitled “Give Up Tomorrow” for some few extra points. I couldn't give up the opportunity to earn a little more credit and also to watch a documentary. When this was announced, my friend Miguel was so excited that he couldn't contain himself. (coming from a guy who isn't really that enthusiastic haha!) So he showed us the trailer of the documentary that we were going to watch.

The documentary is based on a real 1997 trial case that happened in Cebu about Spanish-Filipino born teenager then hailed from a political family named Paco Larrañaga who was accused of double murder for the death of the Chiong sisters along with six other suspects. It was so big that it was even named as "The Trial of the Century". A heated battle against the suspects and the victim's family up until the Spanish King asking former President Gloria Arroyo to transfer Paco to a Spanish jail. The film shows what he went through with the trial, how his family and the victim's family reacted and also how the Philippine government responded.

The producer, Marty Syjuco and also a relative of Paco, made the film to share what his family is going through as of the moment. In the website (www.pacodocu.com) the film is described as,

“GIVE UP TOMORROW exposes a Kafkaesque extravaganza populated by flamboyantly corrupt public officials, cops on the take, and a frenzied legal and media circus. It is also an intimate family drama focused on the near mythic struggle of two angry and sorrowful mothers who have dedicated more than a decade to executing or saving one young man, Paco Larrañaga.”

The film has gained so much awards from the international community and the crew is still showing it around the world to raise awareness on the unjust Philippine judiciary system.

I'll be writing about my own opinion on the movie after this post. I highly recommend this movie especially to students because it's not just some boring documentary about the Philippine government again. Seriously! I ended up crying and the whole auditorium clapped their hands when the film ended because it's that good and heartfelt. Watch it!!!!!