Mike de Leon, presumptive National Artist

MANILA, Philippines - Film director Mike de Leon breaks his 18-year hibernation from filmmaking to direct Citizen Jake, what is strongly believed as his final work on cinema. 

De Leon precedes his entry into filmmaking with the release of two short films. Before he decided to collaborate with Lino Brocka in the master film feature, Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) as producer and cinematographer, he released the short films, Sa Bisperas (1972) and Monologo (1975).

In two of his three new films, De Leon updates the exposition style of Bayaning Third World in the video titled Never Again. Posted on YouTube in 2016, he acerbically questions why Filipinos forget history as “Walang pakialam?” or “Sadyang tanga?”

The other 2016 short film is Mike De Leon on Duterte that focuses on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Davaoismo, his program that blindly adheres to everything Davao. It is hinted as an offshoot of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Cavitimismo that made him eventually lose the Philippine Revolution.

Hugely different in artistry and imagery, De Leon’s outstanding filmography involves in-depth study of terror in Itim, nagging social dislocations in Maynila, anti-sentimental romance in Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising and Hindi Nahahati ang Langit, taboo themes such as incest in Kisapmata, fraternity hazing in Batch ’81, nun activism in Sister Stella L and fresh cinema in the musical Kakabakaba Ka Ba?.

De Leon underwent a techie phase by introducing innovative techniques of filmmaking like computer graphics animation for the TV advertising industry, digital filmmaking in Bilanggo sa Dilim as commissioned by Sony Entertainment, Asian film anthology with Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan in Aliwan Paradise (Southern Winds), and historical deconstruction in Bayaning Third World.

And now he introduces investigative filmmaking with an intimate crime narrative and animate political color in Citizen Jake. The spread of actors include Atom Araullo in the title role, Cherie Gil, Lou Veloso, Luis Alandy, Max Collins, Teroy Guzman, Gabby Eigenmann, Noni Buencamino, Ruby Ruiz, Anna Luna, Nanding Josef, Allan Paule, Richard Quan, Victor Neri and Dina Bonnevie, all known for owning their roles.

De Leon deservedly received the Centennial Award for Art and Culture from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in February 1999. With its distinct identity and substantial shift in perspective, Citizen Jake will definitely define him as National Artist for Film.