The Jesuit Basic Education
Commission (JBEC), in cooperation with Solar Entertainment, is bringing the
acclaimed documentary “Bully” to the Philippines. The film, directed by Lee
Hirsch, will have a limited theatrical run in November, after the by-invitation
premiere on November 13, 6:30 PM, at Robinson’s Galleria Cinema 4.
The film focuses on the alarming
rise in bullying faced by teenage students in America. It chronicles the
experiences of victims in high schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi,
and Oklahoma, focusing on the cases of Tyler Long and Ty Smalley, both of which
tragically ended in suicide.
JBEC will use this powerful
documentary to launch the anti-bullying campaign, “Not in Our School,” endorsed
by the popular sportsman, Chris Tiu. The
advocacy is aligned with the DepEd’s Child Protection Policy which seeks to
defend the student from any form of abuse, including bullying. In light of
recent local and international headlines about bullying, this film can be a
timely wake-up call for all involved: parents, teachers, administrators, and
especially students.
In addition to its theatrical
screening, JBEC is offering several Saturday block screenings in Robinson’s
Galleria for schools who want to show the film exclusively for their community.
In addition, schools can also sponsor campus screenings for a minimal fee. To
enhance its use as a formative tool, JBEC will provide teachers and parents
with a discussion guide to facilitate processing of the complex message of the
movie. Interested schools may contact jbec@xs.edu.ph or moviesnevents@solar-entertaiment.com
for bookings.
Fr. Johnny Go, SJ, JBEC chair,
hopes this campaign will lead schools to adopt a pro-active stance against
bullying, with each stakeholder committing and contributing to a nurturing and
bully-free school environment that is the right of every student. “We hope this movie can reach as wide an
audience as possible, especially among our students,” he says. “At the very
least, it should heighten awareness of this issue and begin productive
discussions and reflections about a real problem that can no longer be ignored.”
The “Bully” hits theaters
starting November 14. It is rated PG-13 by the MTRCB.
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