A misty-eyed look at Manila Filmfest

When Joseph “Erap” Estrada assumes office as Mayor of Manila on June 30, will he (having come from the industry) revive the Manila Filmfest that used to highlight the celebration of Araw ng Maynila (its 442nd today)?

That is the big question.

The Manila Filmfest was a brainchild of the late Manila Mayor Antonio J. Villegas (whose memory is perpetuated by a special award in his name given during the Metro Manila Filmfest’s Gabi ng Parangal). It started in 1966 and ended in 1974. 

Here’s a misty-eyed look at the entries (and winners) of the Manila Filmfest courtesy of Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas:

• 1966: Ikaw...Ang Gabi at Awit, Lea; Saan Ka Man Narooon, LSP; Sabotage, TIIP (Best Action Picture and top-grosser); Sarhento Aguila at Ang 9 na Magigiting, RTG; Target Domino, Magna East; Bakit Pa Ako Isinilang?, VP; Till The End of Time, Sampaguita (Best Musical Entertainment); Triggerman, Emar Pictures; The Passionate Strangers, MJP (Best Drama Picture); Napoleon Doble and The Sexy Six, LSJ; Mr. Humble Boy (Ang Dating Kampeon), Sotang Bastos; Gunfighter, TIIP; Rico Solitaryo, LSP; Flight of the Sparrow, Tindalo (Best Adventure Picture); Zamboanga, FPJ; Iginuhit ng Tadhana, 777 (Special Citation); Ang Daigdig ng mga Api, Cinemasters (Grand Rajah Soliman Award - Best Picture); and  Portrait of The Artist As Filipino, Diadem (Best Technically Produced Film).

• 1967:  Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, Nepomuceno (Best Picture and Best Technically Produced Film); Modus Operandi, TIIP (Best Action Picture and top-grosser); Ito Ang Pilipino, Emar (Best Drama Picture); Dugo sa Buhangin, RTG; I’ll See You in September, MICAS-Gretas; Valiente Brothers, Emar; The Longest Hundred Miles, Victor International; Somewhere My Love, Grandeur; Sitsiritsit Alibangbang, RVQ (Best Comedy Picture); The Kingpin, Virgo; Sino Ang Dapat Sisihin?, VP; Bus Stop, Sampaguita; Las Vegas A-Go-Go, Lea; Vengeance of Fu Manchu, Grandeur; The Son of Django Meets Dorango Kid, Polar; Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, Asia Film Exchange; Love and Devotion, Grandeur; and Virgins of Kalatrava Island, Victor International. 

• 1968: Manila, Open City, Nepomuceno (Best Picture); Kasalanan Kaya?, Virgo (Best Drama Picture, Best Story, Best Music and Best Sound); Cuadro de Jack, Emar (Top Grosser); Ang Pagbabalik ni Daniel Barrion, FPJ; Kailanma’y Di Ka Mag-iisa, Lea; Salamisim, Lea (Best Technically Produced Film); Tiririt ng Maya-Tiririt ng Ibon, RVQ; Kumander Dimas, Regina; Kamatayan Ko Ang Ibigin Ka!, Sampaguita; De Colores, Arco Iris; Jeepney King, LSP; Sayonara, My Darling, VP; Mindanao, NGI; Zaragoza, Regina; Room For Rent, NGI; and Swinging Jet-Age, Regina. 

• 1969: Patria Adorada, Emar (Best Picture); Ang Pulubi, Nepomuceno (Best Color Cinematography and Best Editing); Facifica Falayfay, RVQ (Best Comedy Picture and top-grosser); Adriana, Lea (Best Technically Produced Film); Bitter Sweet, VP (Best Musical Scoring); El Tigre, Junar (Best Action Picture and Best Sound); The Mad Killers, TIIP; Dugo ng Vampira, VP; Ikaw!, Virgo (Best Drama Picture, Best Story and Best Screenplay); Mu-Muu Fiesta, LSP; Parehas O’ Laban, AM; Mr. Wong Strikes Again, Sotang Bastos; Mighty Rock, Lea; Palos Fights Back!, SS Films; Stop, Look, Listen, Sampaguita; and Pussycat Strikes Again, Vincent.

• 1970: Dimasalang, Junar (Best Picture); Crisis, TIIP (Best Action Picture); Bakit Ako Pa?, Virgo (Best Drama Picture, Best Story, Best Musical Scoring and Best Black and White Cinematography); The Young At Heart, Sampaguita/VP (Best Musical Picture); Tayo’y Mag-Up, Up and Away, RVQ (Best Comedy Picture and top-grosser); The Hunted, Nepomuceno (Best Technically Produced Film and Best Sound); Wanted: Perfect Mother, Lea (Most Wholesome Picture); Nora in Wonderland, Tower/FGO; Love Letters, TIIP; Shotgun Kid, ACM; Servillana Zapanta, Sotang Bastos: Modelong Ginto, RTG; and Mga Batong Buhay, LSP.

• 1971: Cadena de Amor, Lea (Best Picture and Best Technically Produced Film); Guy and Pip, Sampaguita-VP (Most Entertaining Picture and top-grosser); Digmaan ng mga Angkan, FPJ (Best Action Picture); Ang Uliran…Imelda, Premiere (Best Drama Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Sound Recording); Kapantay ay Langit, Virgo (Best Story, Best Theme Song and Best Musical Scoring); The Prince and I and The Superstar, Tower (Best Comedy, The Prince and I); Pulang Lupa, Junar (Best Social Conscious Film); The Wonderful World of Music, TIIP (Best Musical Picture); Kurikit, LSP (Most Wholesome Picture); Siyam na Biyernes, Union; Playpen, Balatbat (Best Editing and Best Color Cinematography); and Matilda, Paladin (Best Black and White Cinematography).

• 1972: Elias, Basilio at Sisa, Juver (Best Picture); Santo Domingo, FPJ (top-grosser); Winter Holiday, Sampaguita-VP (Best Color Cinematography); Pinokyo en Little Snowhite, RVQ; Babae...Ikaw ang Dahilan!, Virgo (Best Drama Picture and Best Black and White Cinematography); Villa Miranda, Lea (Best Story); David at Goliath, Topaz (Best Comedy Picture); Remembrance, TIIP (Best Musical Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Sound Recording); El Vibora, Topaz (Best Action Picture and Best Musical Scoring); Young Cowboys, LSP; and Palibhasa’y Lupa, Suarez-Andres.

• 1973: Nueva Vizcaya, Roda (Best Picture, Best Story, Best Screenplay and Best Editing); Ang Agila at Ang Araw, FPJ (Best Action Picture, Best Cinematography and top-grosser); Dyesebel at Ang Mahiwagang Kabibe, TIIP (Best Sound Recording): Drakula Goes to R.P., Sotang Bastos; Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko!, Virgo; Lupang Hinirang, Lea; Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko, Topaz (Best Musical Scoring); Inday ng Buhay Ko, HPS; and Johnny Joker, Juver.

• 1974: John & Marsha, RVQ (Best Comedy Picture and top-grosser); Ang Pangalan: Mediavillo, FPJ (Best Action Picture and Best Story); Krimen (Kayo Ang Humatol), Ilocandia (Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography); Alaala Mo...Daigdig Ko!, Virgo (Best Drama Picture, Best Editing, Best Musical Scoring and Best Sound Recording); Tama Na, Erap!, JE; 7 Crazy Dragons, Roma; Biktima, TIIP; Kung Fu Master, Pacific Films; and Redbelt Master, Gerald.

• Best Director: Luis Enriquez, Kasalanan Kaya?,1968; Luis Enriquez, Ikaw!, 1969; Eddie Garcia, Crisis, 1970; Augusto Buenaventura, Ang Uliran, 1971; Luis Enriquez, Babae…Ikaw Ang Dahilan!, 1972; Pablo Santiago, Nueva Vizcaya, 1973; and Jun Raquiza, Krimen (Kayo Ang Humatol), 1974.

• Best Actor: Eddie Rodriguez, Kasalanan Kaya?, 1968; Fred Galang, Ang Pulubi, 1969; Dante Rivero, Wanted: Perfect Mother, 1970; Dindo Fernando, Ang Uliran…Imelda, 1971; Vic Vargas, El Vibora, 1972; Vic Vargas, Nueva Vizcaya, 1973; and Dolphy, John & Marsha, 1974.

• Best Actress: Lolita Rodriguez, Kasalanan Kaya?, 1968; Charito Solis, Ang Pulubi, 1969; Rita Gomez, Bakit Ako Pa?, 1970; Pilar Pilapil, Ang Uliran…Imelda,1971; Marlene Dauden, Babae…Ikaw Ang Dahilan!, 1972; Amalia Fuentes, Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko!, 1973; and Gina Pareño, Krimen...Kayo Ang Humatol, 1974. 

• Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Garcia, Kailanma’y Di Ka Mag-iisa, 1968; Pepito Rodriguez, Stop, Look, Listen, 1969; Mario Monte, The Hunted, 1970; Jose Padilla Jr., Digmaan ng mga Angkan, 1971; Lou Salvador Jr., Villa Miranda, 1972; Eddie Garcia, Nueva Vizcaya, 1973; and Dencio Padilla, Ang Pangalan: Mediavillo, 1974.

• Best Supporting Actress: Lourdes Medel, Salamisim, 1968; Eva Darren, Ang Pulubi, 1969; Helen Thompson, Mga Batong Buhay, 1970; Lourdes Medel, The Wonderful World of Music, 1971; Alicia Alonzo, Villa Miranda, 1972; Lorlie Villanueva, Lupang Hinirang, 1973; and Mary Walter, Alaala Mo, Daigdig Ko, 1974.

• Best Child Actor: Roderick Paulate, Kasalanan Kaya?, 1968; Miguelito Nepomuceno, Ang Pulubi, 1969; Ricky Santiago, Mga Batong Buhay, 1970; Roderick Paulate, Kurikit, 1971; Frankie Navaja Jr., Santo Domingo, 1972; Robin Aristorenas, Johnny Joker, 1973; and Aldo Cruz, Kung Fu Master, 1974.

• Best Child Actress: Jingle, Babae…Ikaw Ang Dahilan, 1972; and  Maricel Soriano, Alaala Mo, Daigdig Ko, 1974.

• Outstanding performance in any role other than the lead and supporting role was awarded to Pedro Faustino for Villa Miranda (1972) and Lita Vasquez for Kung Fu Master (1974).

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