Philippine cinema’s centennial celebration immortalizes legacy in Cagayan de Oro
Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City witnessed the 100th celebration of Philippine cinema through the “Sandaan sa Mindanao: The Philippine Cinema Centennial Conference and the Filipino Film Centenary Expedition” on November 16 and 17 at the XU Little Theater.
Organized by the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA), the twoday celebration involved guest speakers who are experts in filmmaking, film criticism, and film studies — all of which had perpetuated the legacy of Filipino cinema since it formally established the industry a century before.
The National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through the National Committee on Cinema, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), planned to hold the celebration in — the three major island groups of the Philippines (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Slated to conclude in 2019, the three-year celebration paid tribute to the conception of Philippine cinema through Don Jose Nepomuceno’s Malayan Films production company in 1917 and the eventual first Filipino film in 1919, “Dalagang Bukid (Maiden of the Province).”
This year, Xavier Ateneo provided a venue for the Mindanao expedition with the support of ABS-CBN and Cinema One. Tackling films at its core, the conference highlighted the importance of regional filmmaking for the industry.
Local narratives
The two-day celebration streamed films that presented narratives in different places of the Philippines, from the tribal conflicts in the south in the 1937 classic, “Zamboanga” (later on named as “Fury in Paradise”) directed by Eduardo de Castro, to the economic struggles in Manila in Lino Brocka’s 1975 drama “Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Manila in the Claws of Light),” to the comedic interracial engagement in Maria Victoria Beltran and Remton Siega Zuasola’s finalist to the 2010 Cinema One Originals “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” (Eleuteria’s Dream). All these films had been critically acclaimed during their time of release.
But behind the scenes, speakers emphasized the value
of filmmaking, especially with their impact in the regions.
“Filmmakers are open to collaborating with local storytellers to promote narratives of the regions,” said Cebu-based filmmaker Ara Chawdhury.
Underscoring vibrant regional filmmaking, Chawdhury, who also played one of the characters in “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” and has directed and supported films in the Visayan language in the ongoing span of her career, led the discussion about the resurgence of Cebuano cinema.
She shared that some of the earliest films in the country were made by Cebuano filmmakers for the audience in the region before the film industry in Manila became a trend in the second half of the 20th century.
Today, regional filmmaking reels back to the silver screen, with 2016’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino entry, “Patay na Si Hesus” (directed by Victor Villanueva) earning lucrative revenue and trending on social media during its initial release.
Cinematic achievements for regional filmmaking could not have been made possible without efforts and initiatives to promote them. This is one of the many pursuits by the XCCA as shared by director Hobart Savior who presented filmmaker Dax Cañedo’s “Guerilla’s in the Midst: A Narrative on the Role of Mindanao Cinema in the Digital Age.”
This lecture shared about filmmaking workshops and pieces of training, as well as film festivals where films made by regional filmmakers have been given a platform to share local narratives. Such initiatives have already been pursued by local government units in Mindanao, particularly in Davao and General Santos City. PR