'Buhay na Pangarap', dokumentaryo ni Howie Severino, ngayong Pasko sa 'I-Witness'

I-WITNESS
DECEMBER 25, 2020
HOWIE SEVERINO TEAM
"Buhay na Pangarap"
(The Dream is Alive)

When she was featured in an I-Witness documentary at the start of the year, Solana Perez was preparing in Baguio to compete in the world's toughest horse race in Mongolia. Then the pandemic happened.

Her dream was to be the first Filipino to race in the 1000-kilometer Mongol Derby. But like many other plans in 2020, that was canceled. It also threatened to derail a journey of healing for Solana, whose training with Baguio horses had been part of her way out of depression.

Howie Severino and his documentary team return to Baguio in December as a way to bookend the year and get an update on Solana's dream.

They found the dream had been delayed but was alive and well, along with the dreams of Kidlat Tahimik, Baguio's eminent native artist-provocateur. The docu team visited with other horses in Baguio's Wright Park, their saddles now vacant because of the absence of tourists. But the idle time has created an opportunity for the horses to produce a precious product.

The rare visitors to Baguio today will find the mood much different, mirroring the melancholy in much of the world. It's a mixed blessing; the tourists are missed while the holiday quiet is welcomed. Losses are obvious during a pandemic. But dreams don't have to die.

"Buhay na Pangarap"

Noong tinampok ng I-Witness ang storya ni Solana Perez, naghahanda siya para sa pinakamahirap na karera ng kabayo sa buong mundo.  Pero kalaunan, nangyari ang pandemya.

Pangarap niyang maging kaunaunahang Pilipinang lalahok sa isang libong kilometrong karera ng Mongol Derby.  Pero tulad ng maraming plano ngayong 2020, hindi ito natuloy.  Muntik na ring madiskaril ang personal niyang paghihilom sa tulong ng pangangabayo bilang paraan para labanan ang kaniyang depression.

Muling babalik si Howie Severino at ang kaniyang team sa Baguio kung saan nila sinimulan ang taon, para kamustahin si Solana at ang naantala niyang pangarap.

Natuklasan nila na buhay pa rin ang pangarap ni Solana, maging ang mga pangarap ng National Artist na si Kidlat Tahimik.  Binisita rin ni Severino ang Wright Park, na kahit wala gaanong turista para mag horseback riding, may bago namang produktong inililikha ang mga kabayo.    

Ngayon, ibang Baguio ang makikita ng mga bisitang makakapasok doon, isang Baguio na mas tahimik at sagana sa social distancing.  Maituturing na rin itong isang biyaya na kahit mas kaunti ang tao, mas malinis at kalmado naman ang kapaligiran.  Marami mang nawala dahil sa pandemya, hindi kailangang mawala ang ating mga pangarap.