Alipato at Muog (Flying Embers and a Fortress)

You can't compare 'Alipato at Muog' to horror stories. They can't give you this level of terror even after the credits start rolling. (5/5)

The lack of progress on the case on top of succeeding cases of enforced disappearances among activists necessitates this story to be retold.

This is really what the documentary is about, as much as it is about Jonas Burgos. It is moment after moment where it feels like the camel's back should have been shattered to pieces. (4.5/5)

It’s a delightful surprise that what may be the best film of the bunch is a documentary. What’s not delightful are the circumstances behind its existence.

One wouldn't blame documentarian JL Burgos if he tackled the topic of his brother's enforced disappearance with indignation and bitterness, but a level-headed and measured approach alongside a staggering amount of facts ensures that Jonas Burgos' story is told with the respect it deserves. (A)

Alipato at Muog does more than present a narrative; it immerses us in the visceral reality of political struggle, interwoven with personal loss. (4.5/5)

Hindi to horror pero nakakatakot! (4/5)

"A tomb is the beginning of justice," JL notes near the end of the film. There is something deeply tragic about someone who just vanishes without a trace [...] (4/5)

This documentary takes us on a rollercoaster ride of extreme emotions—with seatbelts unfastened. Danger is omnipresent. Lives are at risk. Without knowing where it’s headed to, you follow their journey. (3/5)

The film is a powerful portrayal of the pain and trauma that families have endured, and their struggles to find justice and move forward. (4/5)

It is clear that 'Alipato at Muog' is not afraid to point fingers at actual people and institutions... and what emerges from it are patterns of state violence and repressive systems that repeat regime after regime.

As a portrait of Jonas Burgos, family and friend, the film succeeds in bringing us closer to an understanding of what he meant to those who loved him.

Judged as cinema, the film has a few issues [...] But I acknowledge that it’s a minor quibble; because as a facts-based narrative, “Alipato at Muog” is a gripping documentary that ranks among the better films in Philippine cinema this year. (B+)

Equally compelling as it is heartbreaking. A moving depiction of a family's search for answers despite all the obstacles thrown at them by a fascist system. (3/5)