Alipato at Muog

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Alipato at Muog
Alipato at Muog.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJL Burgos
Written by
    • JL Burgos
    • Bernardine De Belen
Produced byPulang Langgam Media Productions
CinematographyJL Burgos
Edited byJL Burgos
Music byBong Ramilo
Distributed by GMA Public Affairs through GMA Pictures [1]
Release date
Running time
96 minutes
CountryPhilippines

Alipato at Muog (English: Flying Embers and a Fortress [2] ) is a 2024 Philippine independent documentary film revolving around activist Jonas Burgos who was forcibly disappeared by suspected military personnel in 2007. [3] [4] [5] Burgos was a member of the Peasant Alliance of Bulacan, the Peasant Movement of the Philippines and an activist for farmers’ rights. [6] He helped farmers organize to reclaim their land. [7] Written, shot, edited and directed by JL Burgos, Jonas's brother, the film premiered at the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on August 2, 2024. The film was produced by Pulang Langgam Media Productions and distributed by GMA Public Affairs for GMA Pictures. [8]

Contents

Alipato at Muog was initially given a controversial "X" rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for "undermin[ing] the faith and confidence of the people in their government", but was lowered down to an R-16 after protests and an appeal from Burgos. It was nominated for six awards at the 73rd FAMAS Awards, winning Best Picture and Best Director.

Production

Alipato at Muog is about activist Jonas Burgos who was abducted at the Ever Gotesco Commonwealth shopping mall in Quezon City by suspected military personnel on April 28, 2007. It was during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Jonas was the son of press freedom advocate Joe Burgos who was known for his work during the martial law era under President Ferdinand Marcos. [4] The film also depicts the search of the missing Burgos. [9]

Jonas' younger brother JL Burgos is the director of the film. Work on Alipato at Muog began as soon as Jonas' disappearance was announced by the Burgoses. A mixture of materials including old mini DVD tapes, HD, and 4k footage were used for the documentary film. The release of the film was held off due to the Burgos family's hope on a positive development regarding Jonas Burgos' disappearance case. [4]

The documentary genre was chosen due to being cost effective. [4] The film was distributed by GMA Public Affairs for GMA Pictures. [10]

Release

Alipato at Muog was shown at the 20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival which ran from August 2 to 11, 2024. [11] [12] The film was self-rated as Parental Guidance for the Cinemalaya release. [3] [13]

According to GMA Pictures, the film was initially given an "X" rating by three members of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on August 22, 2024 for the reason that it would "undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly-constituted authorities". [14] The three MTRCB members who decided on the rating were listed as Fernando Prieto, Glenn Patricio and Jose Alberto V. [15]

The rating would have prohibited future commercial public releases in the Philippines. [13] The film was eventually re-rated as "R-16" on September 5 after a formal appeal and protests by JL Burgos and various activists at the MTRCB office. The "X" rating was condemned as censorship. [3] [16]

Accolades

The film was given the Special Jury Prize at the awarding ceremony of the 20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. [12] In 2025, the film was nominated for six awards at the 73rd FAMAS Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound. [17] The film ultimately won the awards for Best Picture as well as Best Director for JL Burgos on August 22, 2025, exactly a year from when the initial "X" rating was given by the MTRCB. [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "[JUST IN] GMA Network and GMA Pictures goes big at Cinemalaya 2024 screening with four movie offerings: Firefly, Balota, The Lost Sabungeros, Alipato and Muog". PEP .
  2. ↑ "'ALIPATO AT MUOG': In pursuit of the truth". Malaya Business Insight. July 11, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "'Alipato at Muog' reclassified to R-16 following second review of MTRCB". GMA News. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Baltar, Le (July 15, 2024). "'Alipato at Muog': The Cinemalaya documentary about missing activist Jonas Burgos". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Alipato at Muog". Cinemalaya. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ Doyo, Ceres (May 2, 2025). "18-year search for Jonas Burgos". The Inquirer.
  7. ↑ Wang, Mel. "6 FILIPINO DOCUMENTARIES THAT CONFRONTED CENSORSHIP". Rolling Stone Magazine (Philippines).
  8. ↑ "[JUST IN] GMA Network and GMA Pictures goes big at Cinemalaya 2024 screening with four movie offerings: Firefly, Balota, The Lost Sabungeros, Alipato and Muog". PEP .
  9. ↑ PEP Troika (August 23, 2024). "Docu film na Alipato at Muog, rated X ng MTRCB" [Docu film Alipato at Muog rated X by the MTRCB]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ "[JUST IN] GMA Network and GMA Pictures goes big at Cinemalaya 2024 screening with four movie offerings: Firefly, Balota, The Lost Sabungeros, Alipato and Muog". PEP .
  11. ↑ Lacsamana, Brontë H. (August 8, 2024). "Cinemalaya 2024 Pocket Reviews: Of disappearances, elections, weed, confusion, and reconnecting". Business World . Archived from the original on August 8, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "UPFI Film Center to screen Cinemalaya films 'Tumandok,' 'Alipato at Muog,' 'Gulay Lang, Manong'". GMA News. August 15, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  13. 1 2 de Villa, Kathleen (August 24, 2024). "Jonas Burgos' brother laments 'X' rating for abduction docu". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  14. ↑ {{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/114183/gma-network-goes-big-at-cinemalaya-2024-with-multiple-offerings/story%7Ctitle=[JUST IN] GMA Network and GMA Pictures goes big at Cinemalaya 2024 screening with four movie offerings: Firefly, Balota, The Lost Sabungeros, Alipato and Muog|website=[[GMA New Media|PEP]}}
  15. ↑ "'Alipato at Muog' director JL Burgos urges MTRCB to reconsider film's X rating". Rappler . Manila, Philippines. August 24, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  16. ↑ Abad, Ysa (September 5, 2024). "MTRCB reclassifies 'Alipato at Muog' to R-16 rating amid protests". Rappler . Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Gutoman, Dominic (August 12, 2025). "Film about disappearance gets FAMAS nominations". Bulatlat . Manila . Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ Arnaldo, Steph (August 23, 2025). "'Alipato at Muog' wins Best Picture at FAMAS Awards 2025". Rappler . Retrieved December 10, 2025.
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