CEBU, Philippines - A special showing of the star-studded independent film set during the dark yet exciting martial law years, titled “Sigwa: Rage of Perils and Hopes”, happens today at SM City Cebu Cinema 7.
Spanning four decades, the movie was brought to life as a masterpiece by director Joel Lamangan, scriptwriter Boni Ilagan, and a power cast led by Dawn Zulueta as Dolly, Zsa Zsa Padilla as Cita, Tirso Cruz III as Oliver, Gina Alajar as Azon, Jaime Pebangco as Rading, and their younger counterparts, Megan Young (Dolly), Pauleen Luna (Cita), Marvin Agustin (Oliver), Lovi Poe (Azon), Jay Aquitania (Rading) and the hunk Allen Dizon as Eddie, among others. The movie’s original soundtrack is by Danny Fabella, weaving the struggles and triumphs of the Filipinos in his crafted songs.
The special screenings at SM Cinema 7 starting at 4 pm are part of an international road show for the much talked about independent film recognized as the #1 box-office record holder of the prestigious Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. “Sigwa: Rage of Perils & Hopes” has been rated “A” by the Cinema Evaluation Board and is an official entry to the 2010 International Film Festivals in Brussels, Montreal and Cairo.
The road show mounted by Inno-Philip Nonpareils, Inc. (IPN), one of the select official screeners recognized by film producers, Twenty Plus, Inc. and Star Express, first showed the film in Manila last August 21 at UP Film Center.
The Cebu leg set today, Sept. 11 (notably the birth date of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos), will be followed within the last quarter of 2010 by red carpet movie premieres in Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York City, Sydney, and Melbourne. The international road show gives the Filipinos and other nationals here and abroad the special opportunity to view this significant, world-class independent film, showing Philippine history where the youth of the 1970s, a period dubbed as the “First Quarter Storm”, put their prime and their lives on the line for the love of freedom and country.
In Cebu, there will be two screenings: First Screening at 4:00 to 5:45 PM and Second Screening at 6:15 to 8:00 PM. There will be an intermission program at 5:45 to 6:15 PM where viewers will enjoy prizes and surprises and the presence of the actor Tirso Cruz III, who garnered Cinemalaya’s acting award for his stellar performance in SIGWA. Moreover, the event is intended by IPN as a benefit show to support the movement to free the so-called “Morong 43” detainees.
The Cebu screenings are organized by IPN, in cooperation with USC-Stand Alumni, Pro-Rights, and the League of Filipino Students. Ticket outlets in Cebu are: (1) MonsterBT radio 105, (2) UP Political Science Society (3) USC-STAND Alumni, (4) VIRLAC Cellshop Outlets in Gaisano Metro Ayala, Metro Mandaue, Gaisano Mactan, Foodarama in Mango and Foodarama in Consolacion, (5) CLUMACS Law Office, Rm. 305 K and J Bldg., J. Llorente St., Capitol Site.
IPN is open to partnerships and special sponsorships locally and abroad for the special screenings of SIGWA, a co-venture to bring to the world the best of Filipino cinema. Interested parties can go to the IPN website at www.sigwa.innophilip.com, or send email atjoel.sigwa@innophilip.com or rosan.sigwa@innophilip.com. IPN expresses much thanks for all the support it has garnered from these events, and looks forward to rock Cebu City this September 11 for the SIGWA screening there.