Davao as Mindanao film hub

Our four-day visit to Davao last month for the International Film Expo spearheaded by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chaired by Briccio Santos proved to be one noteworthy activity after another. There was the red carpet screening of the long lost, now digitally restored Genghis Khan shown by a 35-year-old Manuel Conde at the Venice International Film Festival (VIFF) in 1952, the first Filipino to join the VIFF at the time.

Significantly, Brillante Mendoza’s Thy Womb would compete 60 years later in Venice this year to much acclaim for its director and star Nora Aunor. While attending the red carpet screening of Thy Womb in Davao, both Brillante and Nora were informed they had also won Best Director and Best Actress at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia.

Venue for these screenings was the world-class newly opened 4,745-sq. meter facility called the SM Lanang, Davao which also hosted exhibitions and symposiums. A roster of exhibitors participated with their film-related services, equipment, production and post-production groups, broadcasters, academic institutions and international film commissions. We listened to Dondon Monteverde on the use of the Green Screen in the recent big hit Tiktik and Jun Juban, known as the local producer of Bourne Legacy shot in the Philippines; met with Jag Garcia of DLSU-College of St. Benilde who spoke on the changing landscape of contemporary filmmaking; and found from Oh Seok-Geun of the Asian Film Commissions how they decided on the Philippines and Davao as location for introducing the FLY Asean youth filmmaking workshop here, a huge accomplishment for the country.

Of course, we couldn’t see everything on exhibit, listen to all the lectures, nor meet everyone we should have met. We managed a trip to the Davao Cinematheque headed by Lolita Lacuesta, with its Lino Brocka statue in front and a screening room where we found the FLY students at work. We had also met Rock Drilon who heads the Iloilo Cinematheque and after meeting them both, can’t wait to visit the rest sprouting up all over the country. The Cinematheque concept of a small movie house showing avant-garde films, a must in Europe, was introduced in the Philippines by filmmaker/artist Briccio to much success.    

Having dinner with the jurors on our last day was a happy breather. Meeting with UP MassCom dean Rolando Tolentino, French Cultural Affairs Counsellor Christian Merer, Instituto Cervantes’ Fons Guardiola and Kara Magsanoc Alikpala who flew in and out, and came again on the last day was great fun, along with the wine Fons chose and the food Peachy Prieto Santos picked just in time for husband Briccio to arrive.

The main event was the Ikalawang Yugto of the Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival, and even that, we failed to complete. There were six full-length features and three documentaries. We managed three features and two docus and will have to run after the rest in Manila.

The full-length features were Martin Masadao’s Anac Ti Pating; Asin from Aimee Lourdes Apostol-Escasa; Huling Byahe co-directed by Racquel Zaballero-Sanchez and Sigfried Barros-Sanchez; Kapitan Basura by Dominic Lim; Limang Dipang Tao by Moises Anthony Cruz ; Malan from writer Agustin Pagusara and director Benjie Garcia. The documentaries were: Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin by director Sherbien Dacalanio and writer Sheryl Manalastas; Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok by Lauren Marie Sevilla Faustino; and Chasing Firefiles by writer/director Sheron Dayoc.

We were happy to have watched the winning docu Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin which told by Star from Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte who visits her hometown every three years, taking the roro for two days from Manila where she has worked as a helper for 10 years. She is welcomed by the townsfolk with as much flourish as a film star, for she brings with her the latest DVDs purchased with her savings to show in her home converted into a mini-theater. Star knows this will bring much happiness to her friends who look forward to her next coming.

We also watched Malan, third placer in the full-length category, which relates the love story between Anton, a student activist from Manila who goes home to Mindanao to cool off from his dangerous involvements. He meets B’laan maiden Malan; they fall in love; Malan turns activist to disastrous results. We shall definitely search for first placer Anac Ti Pating and second placer Huling Byahe in Manila. And hopefully, next time around, there will be more time to accommodate every possible movie entry. Midnight screenings at Cinematheque, anyone?  

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