Pinoy scholar’s docu featured in NZ filmfest

Inspired by Australia's treatment of blind people, a Filipino scholar in New Zealand created a documentary in hopes of inspiring his countrymen to extend the same courtesy and privilege to the disabled.

Titled "A Friend in Sight," the documentary by the Massey University graduate student Norman Zafra follows Julia Mosen, a woman who was blind since birth and helped by her dog Kerry to navigate around the city of Wellington.

“I'm fascinated with the idea that animals could be trained to help the blind or partially sighted,” Zafra, who created the documentary for his postgraduate studies, told The Dominion Post.

“I think there is a hidden connection between a blind person and a guide dog that is particularly interesting to document,” he added.

While he admitted that guide dogs are not accessible to most disabled Filipinos, he hopes that his documentary would spread awareness on the needs of disabled persons.

“I totally understand that it's not an overnight thing; it takes time, money, legislation, political will and a better road system before you can replicate this practice. But the first step in this long process is to raise public awareness and that is what my documentary is aiming to do," said the Bulacan-born Zafra.

"A Friend in Sight" was picked by the 9th Documentary Edge Festival in Auckland and Wellington. More than 50 documentary films are picked for the festival, attended by at least 10,000 persons every year.

Films are picked to "give a voice to people and communities that are rarely or not heard" and to "promote a cinematic experience while at the same time ensuring the works of emerging, independent and low-budget films continue to be celebrated".

Virginia H. Benavidez, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand, congratulated Zafra for being the first Filipino documentarist to be featured in the Documentary Edge Festival.

“You continue to do our country and people proud in using your God-given talents in the fields of communication and media to create a heartwarming and inspiring documentary on the lives and experiences of the people of New Zealand and promoting greater understanding and goodwill between Filipinos and New Zealanders,” Benavidez said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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