Will Dolphy join the 2003 Metrofest?

This year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) may have only nine official entries, as opposed to last year’s 10. After Star Cinema withdrew its entry, Milan, from the annual event due to deadline problems, and Dolphy backing out of Harry the Father, the next entry in line for consideration for inclusion in the annual event, the filmfest will most likely end up with less entries.

As of press time however, MMFF vice-chair and Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo says he will meet with Dolphy to ask him if he’s interested in joining the filmfest. Malonzo has made it clear, too, that he will not accept new entries at this point, since he has already come up with a list of those who have passed the criteria for selection.

But one of the biggest blows to this year’s filmfest may yet come in the form of a dire lack of funds to subsidize the annual event. Malonzo says he only has a shoestring budget of P10-M as opposed to P50-M last year. The P10-M, he adds, comes from savings incurred last year (P5-M) and from Tourism Department funds (P5-M).

To raise the target amount of P20-M to P25-M, Malonzo reveals he has sent letters appealing for help from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and PAGCOR.

Malonzo adds that, unlike last year, he has decided not to ask funds from the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo anymore.

"Nakakahiya (it’s embarrassing), after all the controversies (e.g. the pending court case around the Lito Lapid starrer Lapu-Lapu, one of last year’s entries). The President has nothing to do with the controversies and I was the one who asked for support," he explains.

Last year’s filmfest, he adds, earned more than P300 million, but some quarters were even far from satisfied. "Na-demanda pa kami (we were even sued)," states Malonzo.

But even with the big budget cut, he is optimistic this year’s filmfest with its target earnings of P400 million will fare well at the box office. Tanging Ina (the Star Cinema blockbuster starring Ai Ai de las Alas) was a big hit.

"Kapten Barbel (one of the entries, starring Bong Revilla) has a strong cast and Mano Po 2 is even bigger than Mano Po 1," Malonzo observes. Local government units have also lowered amusement taxes from 23 to 15 percent.

Still, one can’t deny that the lower filmfest subsidy will affect the annual event. Some incentives, like the monthly awards to quality films, have to be scrapped.

"Let’s make noise. Let’s encourage producers to make more films to enliven the industry," Malonzo urged.

And what if there’s another controversy?

"Controversy is part of the movie industry," the feisty Malonzo states, his words ringing like a battle cry, an urgent call to action for a beleaguered, but still highly-important part of Filipino culture.