Film cycle celebrates Chabacano language at Instituto Cervantes

MANILA, Philippines - When two different cultures and languages interact with each other, the results of this connection can be profound in areas such as culture, environment, and language. And the Chabacano language is a clear manifestation of the Spanish contribution in Philippine culture.

Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the Spanish cultural center, presents a special four-film line-up that showcases unique independent shorts filmed in the only Spanish-based Creole in Asia: Chabacano. It opens on March 8, 7 p.m., at Instituto Cervantes’ Salon de Actos.

Titled “En torno al chabacano,” this film cycle not only features compelling, original short films, but also the language that has survived for more than 400 years, thus making it one of the oldest creoles in the world.

“This film cycle is unlike other films coming from other regions of the Philippines and not only because of the language. Somehow it’s like seeing films from another country,” says curator Teddy Co.

The film cycle opens with Placebo, a 22-minute short feature from the Zamboangan team behind the Cinemalaya award-winning film Halaw. Directed by Dexter de la Pena, this film chronicles the life of Jim, a convenience store owner who months after his father’s death mans the family business all by his self. His boring store routine is interrupted when a vixen comes into the store and befriends him.

It will be followed at 7:20 p.m. with the screening of Zurich Chan’s Boca, a story of a man with an oral fixation. Following his film screening, Chan will then discuss the journey that led him to create this very personal short, and along the way demonstrate the singularly artistic style by which the film was crafted.

Showing at 7:30 p.m. is Ana Carlyn Lim’s Un diuta’y mundo, based on the perspective of an unknown narrator who watches a feral child locked in a room and who is witness to an aspiring writer’s growing friendship with him.

The film showing concludes at 7:45 p.m. with Ryan Joseph Murcia’s Sausage, a tale of a woman haunted by her past, who then seeks refuge in a sausage.

After the film showing follows a discussion with Teddy Co on the present and the perspectives of the Philippine cinema in Chabacano.

“En torno al chabacano” is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, and Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

This film cycle will be in Chabacano with English subtitles. Admission to all the screenings is free on a first-come-first-served basis. For information, call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es.

Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.