Mowelfund's grand musical tribute to Philippine cinema

MANILA, Philippines - To celebrate more than 90 years of Philippine cinema, the Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund), together with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Cultural Center of the Philippines and TV5, stages a grand production billed as Pinilakang Tabing: Handog sa Pelikulang Pilipino at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) on June 22.

Pinilakang Tabing aims to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of the country’s film heritage. The gala musical features the country’s brightest talents, producers, filmmakers and members of the movie industry. 

National Artist for film Eddie Romero leads an array of personalities from film, television and the stage in musical numbers and testimonies, among them will be Boots Anson Roa, Grace Poe Llamanzares, German Moreno, Cesar Montano, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, Aiza Seguerra, Dulce, Mitch Valdez, Jun Urbano, Bituin Escalante, Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, Arnold Reyes, Ciara Sotto, Carlo Orosa, Gian Magdangal, JM Rodriguez, Inah Asistio, Raul Sunico and Tonipet Gaba, to name a few. They will be joined by performing companies like Ballet Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, Hail Mary the Queen Childrenís Choir, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Also invited are former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and TV5 big boss Manny Pangilinan who will render onstage narrations. The gala presentation is written by Floy Quintos and directed by Chris Millado.

The production brings audiences on a musical journey from the making of the film version of the sarswela Dalagang Bukid to the post-war films, the studios of the ‘50s, the movie-going public’s love affair with love teams, the golden age of Cebuano Cinema, the era of the socially relevant films, and the emergence of the indie films.

The chronicle of the entire Filipino film industry as told by respected members of the industry and re-enacted in musical production numbers promises to be an amazing spectacle and an event not to be missed. 

Mowelfund is a non-stock, non-profit social welfare, educational and industry development foundation organized and established in 1974. It was founded by then San Juan Mayor and president of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association (PMPPA) Joseph Estrada for the welfare of workers in the Philippine motion picture industry. It has expanded the Manila Film Festival to become the now-popular Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and helped rationalize the movie industry with its contributions in creating agencies like the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), and reorganizing the Board of Censors to become the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). It has also initiated the campaign against film and video piracy, and continuously strives to provide aid to movie workers in times of sickness, disability, accident and death.

Pinilakang Tabing is also presented with Jollibee, San Miguel Corporation, SM Department Store, Pan de Amerikana, Bistro Miyake and Universal Robina Corporation.