LIFESTYLE | April 13, 2018
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| Vince Rillon as Joseph, the high school student slash drug peddler, in Brillante Mendoza's Amo (Image Source: OrangeMagazine.ph) |
The advent of subscription video on-demand (SVOD) streaming services in
the Philippines such as Netflix, iflix and HOOQ became my own inspiration of
having my own choice of programs that I could possibly enjoy on my smartphone wherever
and whenever I want to. But sometimes there are stories revolving around
binge-watching that has immediately caught my attention. Fortunately, #AmoOnNetflix
would happen to be one of them.
The thrilling ten-episode Filipino-produced mini-series became
available on the US-based global content streaming giant just one week after the
observance of the Lenten season in the Philippines though it was Mikhail Red's
Birdshot that came first. Helmed by acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante
Mendoza and TV5 Network Inc., Amo tackles the dangerous world of drugs lurking
in the streets of our local shores as well as the controversial war against drugs
under the administration of current Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
Although the series was warmly welcomed by binge-watchers around the
world, it would eventually create a spark of concern from the public eye. It
all started with one mother's online signature campaign urging Netflix to pull
off Amo from the library which surprisingly has more than 6,400 online users
signing the petition. It is learned that her son was a victim of the current
regime's war against drugs when he was killed for allegedly peddling drugs with
no remorse. The petition has gained my interest regarding the matter, asking
myself if Netflix has responded to a mother's cry for justice.
