“Unsurrendered 2: Hunters ROTC Guerillas” Premieres in D.C.
The Washington, D.C. community attends the gala premiere of “Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas” at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 04 October 2018. (Washington D.C. PE photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 09 October 2018 – A documentary film about disbanded ROTC college students who independently organized one of the earliest guerrilla resistance groups in the Philippines during World War II had its grand premiere at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on 04 October 2018.
The Embassy, together with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-Washington, D.C. (PVAO-D.C.) and Spyron AV Manila, hosted the gala premiere at the Philippine Chancery Annex Building.
The event is one of the Embassy’s programmed activities to commemorate Filipino-American History Month, and the first anniversary of the awarding of the United States Congressional Gold Medal on Filipino World War II veterans.
“The impact of the Second World War continues to reverberate in the hearts and minds of those who endured it and in the unfolding of the shared history between the Philippines and the United States. As we mark Filipino-American History Month, let us also remember the sacrifices and triumphs of Filipino soldiers and civilian resistance fighters whose extraordinary valor during those dark days ensured that freedom and justice would ultimately prevail,” Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto said in his opening remarks.
“It is our hope that this film inspires the youth of today to have the courage to stand up for their beliefs no matter the cost. Let the example of the Hunters ROTC give all of us the strength to overcome the challenges of the present world, as did the veterans in their time,” Deputy Chief Chuasoto added.
The documentary is directed by Bani Logroño who brings out the legendary exploits of the Hunters through riveting interviews with veterans, historians, and descendants of the guerrillas— Dr. Rico Jose, Dr. Augusto De Viana, Professors Bernard Karganilla and Xiao Chua, Colonel Frisco San Juan, Colonel Emmanuel De Ocampo, Proculo Mojica, Jerry Adevoso, Rhett Daza, Neneng de Ocampo and Dave Ingles, among many others—with voice narration provided by Philippine Veterans Bank Chairman Roberto F. De Ocampo, OBE.
The documentary film comes with a coffee table book bearing the same title, and has since been on a roadshow around different schools and universities around the Philippines and abroad.
Among those who were present at the premiere are PVAO-D.C. Head Commodore Elson Aguilar (ret.), Spyron AV Manila Managing Director and film Executive Producer Miguel "Lucky" Guillermo, The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project Chairman Major Geneneral Antonio Taguba (ret.), and Filipino WWII and U.S. Navy veteran Senior Chief Petty Officer Rey Cabacar.
Spyron AV Manila film historian and marketing director Dennis Guevara and researcher, writer and documentarist Kahlil Raval were also present at the D.C. screening.
A Peter Parsons-Lucky Guillermo presentation, the film was produced by Mai Guillermo through the sponsorship of Philippine Veterans Bank, PAGCOR, Norcal, and Philippine Airlines, with the support of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and the Sons and Daughters of Hunters ROTC.
“I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to Spyron AV Manila for its passionate advocacy to educate our young people about the Filipinos’ substantial contributions to the war effort. With this knowledge, we hope that the youth would learn to take pride in their ancestors’ legacy of heroism and realize the true value of peace, freedom and justice,” said Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez in a separate statement. END
“Unsurrendered 2” Executive Producer Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo introduces the film to the audience prior to the documentary screening. (Washington, D.C. PE photo)
“Unsurrendered 2” Executive Producer Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo with Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto and Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project Chairman Major General Antonio Taguba (ret.) at the gala premiere of “Unsurrendered 2” held at the Philippine Embassy on 04 October 2018. (Washington, D.C. PE photo)
Spyron AV Manila, led by its Managing Director Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo (third from left), pays courtesy call on Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez (third from right) on 03 October 2018; Also in the photo are (from left) Spyron AV Manila researcher, writer, and documentarist Kahlil Raval, Spyron AV Manila film historian and marketing director Dennis Guevara, Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Officer Darell Artates, and PVAO-D.C. head Commodore Elson Aguilar (ret.). (Washington, D.C. PE photo)
For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinUSA @philippinesusa on Twitter.