AN EXERCISE IN WORLDMAKING 2009 - ISS

154 TERESA LORENA JOPSON
Image 5. HUG OF APPRECIATION:
Upon his release in Sorsogon City, Bicol,
POW Police Maj. Roberto Bernal runs back
to embrace one of his erstwhile custodians
– his show of appreciation for the fine
humanitarian treatment given him as a
prisoner of war of the NPA.
Another narrative is the commitment of the CPP-NPA to human rights
and international laws such as the CARHRIHL. Both narratives boost
the CPP’s and NPA’s ethos. The photo shows the organizations’ authority
and credibility, and further describes it as a compassionate authority.
This is based on the warrant that people listen to those who have something
relevant to say, and that organizations that uphold human rights
are compassionate organizations.
The audience is then impressed
with the command of the
organization, and its commitment
to human rights. Those already
sympathetic to the organization
may celebrate these positive
qualities of the CPP and
NPA. Previously turned off audiences
may start being open to
the outlawed organizations upon
this knowledge.
The last photo in this selection
is an image of two men in
an embrace. The medium shot
shows us that one dressed in
white has his back to the camera,
the other, in black, is slightly on
a profile-angle. Since one is wearing
a lighter colored shirt, the
attention is first drawn to him.
We can note that he has a bag
slung over his shoulder. Clad in
black, the other’s paraphernalia
shows us that he is an NPA
soldier. The engagement with
them is offered. Both their faces
are occluded, leaving much to the imagination of the viewer. At the same
time, the choice of angle respects the two men’s privacy in their emotional
moment.