Benjamín Roberto "Behn" Holcombe Cervantes (August 25, 1938 – August 13, 2013) was a Filipino artist and activist. He was highly regarded as a theater pioneer, teacher, and progressive thinker who was detained multiple times during martial law in the Philippines.[1]
Behn Cervantes
Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the 2016 batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Behn Cervantes.
He directed the film Sakada (1976), about the struggle of Negrense peasants at a sugarcane plantation. Copies of the film were seized by the military under the Marcos dictatorship.[2] Musical scorer Lutgardo Labad described the film as "a major cinematic coup that unearthed the inhuman conditions of our people then."[3] In 1981, the film won a Dekada Award for Best Film of the Decade.[4]
Cervantes’ name is on the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Wall of Remembrance,[1] which recognizes heroes who fought against martial law in the Philippines under Ferdinand E. Marcos.[6]
He also worked on activist plays, including Pagsambang Bayan and Estados Unidos versus Juan Matapang Cruz.[4] He also directed Sigaw ng Bayan, which was about the Philippine Revolution.[9]
In filmEdit
Cervantes directed Sakada in 1976 while the Philippines was under martial law.[2][4] The film about sugarcane plantation workers "was a thinly-veiled criticism of the country's feudal power structure."[4] It starred Rosa Rosal, Robert Arevalo, Hilda Koronel, Alicia Alonzo, Pancho Magalona, Bembol Roco, Gloria Romero,[4] and Tony Santos Sr.[10] After the movie had spent three weeks in theaters, Marcos ordered the military to seize copies of the film.[4][2] The film led to Cervantes' arrest.[4]Sakada received its first screening on Philippine television in 2005.[2]
He also directed Bawal, Ito Kaya’y Pagkakasala, and Masikip, Masakit, Mahapdi.[11]
He appeared in the films Bomba Star, Aguila, When I Fall In Love, Memories of Old Manila, Waiting in the Wings, Alas-Dose, Ang Anak ni Brocka, and Barako.[11]
ActivismEdit
Together with fellow filmmaker Lino Brocka and other artists, Cervantes initiated the Free the Artist, Free the Media Movement to oppose media censorship during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The movement led to the formation of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines in 1983.[9]
Cervantes took part in the 1984 Welcome Rotonda protest, during which pro-Marcos forces hosed down and fired tear gas at several thousand peaceful protesters gathered at Welcome Rotonda.[12]
In 1985, Cervantes and Brocka attended a nationwide transport strike in sympathy with public transportation drivers who organized the strike against rising gas prices. Cervantes and Brocka were arrested and charged with illegal assembly, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment.[13] They were released after 16 days.[14]
He was a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.[15]
He is believed to have coined the term edifice complex in the 1970s to describe Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos's practice of using publicly funded construction projects as political and election propaganda.[16]
AwardsEdit
Life Achievement Award from University of the Philippines Alumni Association[4]
^"From the archive, 8 February 1985: Marcos regime arrests outspoken Filipino film director". the Guardian. February 8, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^"Catalino O. Brocka | Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission". Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^"Cervantes, Benjamin Roberto". Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
^Geronimo, Jee (February 24, 2016). "Martial law speak: Words that defined the anti-Marcos movement". Rappler. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
October 18, 2023
behn, cervantes, this, philippine, name, middle, name, maternal, family, name, holcombe, surname, paternal, family, name, cervantes, benjamín, roberto, behn, holcombe, cervantes, august, 1938, august, 2013, filipino, artist, activist, highly, regarded, theater. In this Philippine name the middle name or maternal family name is Holcombe and the surname or paternal family name is Cervantes Benjamin Roberto Behn Holcombe Cervantes August 25 1938 August 13 2013 was a Filipino artist and activist He was highly regarded as a theater pioneer teacher and progressive thinker who was detained multiple times during martial law in the Philippines 1 Behn CervantesDetail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani showing names from the 2016 batch of Bantayog Honorees including that of Behn Cervantes BornBenjamin Roberto Holcombe Cervantes 1938 08 25 August 25 1938Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija Commonwealth of the PhilippinesDiedAugust 13 2013 2013 08 13 aged 74 Muntinlupa PhilippinesAlma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman BA Known forActivism against the administration of then President Ferdinand Marcos through theater and filmNotable workSakadaHe directed the film Sakada 1976 about the struggle of Negrense peasants at a sugarcane plantation Copies of the film were seized by the military under the Marcos dictatorship 2 Musical scorer Lutgardo Labad described the film as a major cinematic coup that unearthed the inhuman conditions of our people then 3 In 1981 the film won a Dekada Award for Best Film of the Decade 4 At the University of the Philippines UP he founded the theater group UP Repertory Company 5 in 1974 to combat the censorship that was in place during martial law 4 He was also a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity He was also founding member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association PETA and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Filipino 5 Cervantes name is on the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Wall of Remembrance 1 which recognizes heroes who fought against martial law in the Philippines under Ferdinand E Marcos 6 Contents 1 Work on stage and in film 1 1 In theater 1 2 In film 2 Activism 3 Awards 4 See also 5 ReferencesWork on stage and in film EditIn theater Edit Among Cervantes work as stage director are Guys and Dolls The Short Short Life of Citizen Juan and Iskolar ng Bayan 7 Cervantes appeared in many stage productions as actor including The Mikado Waiting for Godot Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Cabaret and M Butterfly 8 He also worked on activist plays including Pagsambang Bayan and Estados Unidos versus Juan Matapang Cruz 4 He also directed Sigaw ng Bayan which was about the Philippine Revolution 9 In film Edit Cervantes directed Sakada in 1976 while the Philippines was under martial law 2 4 The film about sugarcane plantation workers was a thinly veiled criticism of the country s feudal power structure 4 It starred Rosa Rosal Robert Arevalo Hilda Koronel Alicia Alonzo Pancho Magalona Bembol Roco Gloria Romero 4 and Tony Santos Sr 10 After the movie had spent three weeks in theaters Marcos ordered the military to seize copies of the film 4 2 The film led to Cervantes arrest 4 Sakada received its first screening on Philippine television in 2005 2 He also directed Bawal Ito Kaya y Pagkakasala and Masikip Masakit Mahapdi 11 He appeared in the films Bomba Star Aguila When I Fall In Love Memories of Old Manila Waiting in the Wings Alas Dose Ang Anak ni Brocka and Barako 11 Activism EditTogether with fellow filmmaker Lino Brocka and other artists Cervantes initiated the Free the Artist Free the Media Movement to oppose media censorship during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos The movement led to the formation of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines in 1983 9 Cervantes took part in the 1984 Welcome Rotonda protest during which pro Marcos forces hosed down and fired tear gas at several thousand peaceful protesters gathered at Welcome Rotonda 12 In 1985 Cervantes and Brocka attended a nationwide transport strike in sympathy with public transportation drivers who organized the strike against rising gas prices Cervantes and Brocka were arrested and charged with illegal assembly which carries a penalty of life imprisonment 13 They were released after 16 days 14 He was a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines 15 He is believed to have coined the term edifice complex in the 1970s to describe Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos s practice of using publicly funded construction projects as political and election propaganda 16 Awards EditLife Achievement Award from University of the Philippines Alumni Association 4 Aliw award for Life Achievement in Theater 5 Cultural Center of the Philippines centennial award 5 See also EditBantayog ng mga BayaniReferences Edit a b CERVANTES Benjamin Roberto Behn H Bantayog ng mga Bayani Bantayog ng mga Bayani November 29 2016 Retrieved April 22 2018 a b c d Pangilinan Jen M June 24 2005 Sakada premieres on TV after 30 years Philstar Retrieved April 22 2018 Tariman Pablo A August 17 2013 Behn Cervantes 74 drama and defiance to the last Inquirer Retrieved April 22 2018 a b c d e f g h i Activist director Behn Cervantes 74 dies GMA News Online August 15 2013 Retrieved April 22 2018 a b c d Behn Cervantes 74 University of the Philippines Diliman Martyrs amp Heroes Bantayog ng mga Bayani Bantayog ng mga Bayani Retrieved April 22 2018 Stage actor director Behn Cervantes dies at 74 ABS CBN News August 19 2013 Retrieved April 25 2018 Torre Nestor U April 30 2016 Behn Cervantes seminal contributions to activist theater recalled and affirmed Inquirer Retrieved April 25 2018 a b Olea Ronalyn V August 23 2013 Behn Cervantes People s artist Bulatlat Retrieved December 20 2022 Lo Ricky August 23 2009 Days of Blood amp Rosa Philstar Retrieved April 25 2018 a b Mendoza Ruel J August 15 2013 Filmmaker and activist Behn Cervantes passes away at 74 PEP Retrieved April 25 2018 Sabillo Kristine Angeli November 25 2016 Look Photographer shares dramatic images from anti Marcos protests Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved August 15 2022 From the archive 8 February 1985 Marcos regime arrests outspoken Filipino film director the Guardian February 8 2012 Retrieved August 15 2022 Catalino O Brocka Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission Retrieved August 15 2022 Cervantes Benjamin Roberto Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation Retrieved October 19 2022 Geronimo Jee February 24 2016 Martial law speak Words that defined the anti Marcos movement Rappler Retrieved August 22 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Behn Cervantes amp oldid 1171580499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
