Cinemalaya 2012 and my scoreboard

 "So ano best film mo?". the question tossed to me from   actress Tessie Tomas, the  same question  she usually ask to me   during the annual cinemalaya screenings. "Lagi ka naman dito eh." Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.


 Now on its Eight  (8th)  year, my scoreboard for total films watched during the
2012 Cinemalaya filmfest is nineteen  (19) films, 10 new breed, 5 directors cut, 2 sets of shorts, the opening film and a special screening Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) .  This year i chose to buy again  the festival pass The pass is not applicable in Greenbelt screenings.FYI,  I watched eighteen films in the 2010 Cinemalaya  while 21 films on 2011 Cinemalaya. 

 The Directors Showcase is open to full length feature works by Filipino directors who have directed at least three full-length commercial feature films. 

The synopsis of the above films can be seen in my blog for the Cinemalaya schedules


My marathon schedule for the 19  films during the Cinemalaya 2012  period from July  20 to July 29, 2012 . was as follows:

 July 20, 615   ANG BABAE SA BREAKWATER by Mario O Hara

July 21 330     Diablo by Mes de Guzman,

           615     Intoy Syokoy by Lem Lorca

           900     Kamera Obskura by Raymond Red

July 22 330     Apparition by Vincent Sandoval and Darlene Malimas, 

           615     REQUIEME by Loy Arcenas

           900     Shorts A

July 23615        Oros by Paul Sta. Ana,

           900       Bwakaw by Jun Lana

July 24 615     Kalayaan by Adolfo Alix

           900     Santa Nina by Emmanuel Q. Palo.

July 25  615       Ang Katiwala (The Caretaker) by Aloy Adlawan

           900     Mga Mumunting Lihim by Joey Reyes

July 26  330    Posas by Lawrence Fajardo

July 29  615        Dayo (Alien) by Julius Sotomayor Cena,

           900        THE ANIMALS by gino Santos

July 28 330      Requieme

           615      Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There) by Marietta “Marie” Jamora,  

           900      Shorts B

July 29 330  Give Up Tomorrow

An article from Manila Bulletin gave a good summary of the awards:

Mes de Guzman’s “Diablo” and Jose Javier Reyes’ “Mga Mumunting Lihim” under the New Breed and Directors Showcase categories, respectively, are this year's biggest winners with four Balanghai trophies each.

“Mga Mumunting Lihim,” Reyes’ independent film debut, won Best Editing, Best Screenplay, and both the Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress nods for the ensemble cast composed of Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro, Janice de Belen and Iza Calzado. On the other hand, “Diablo” clinched the Best Cinematography, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film awards. It was also hailed one of the two NETPAC awardees this year, along with Jun Robles Lana's entry, "Bwakaw" which was part of the Directors Showcase category.

Still under the Director’s Showcase, “Mga Mumunting Lihim” is followed by Raymond Red’s “Kamera Obskura” and Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Kalayaan” with three awards apiece. “Kamera Obskura” took home the Balanghai trophies for Special Jury Prize, Best Original Musical Score and Best Director; while the other received those for Best Sound, Best Production Design and Best Cinematography.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Fajardo’s “Posas” received the honors for Best Supporting Actor and Best Film. Apart from the NETPAC award, “Bwakaw” also received the trophy for Best Actor, and was hailed the Audience’s Choice under this category.

As for the New Breed, Loy Arcena’s “Requieme!” and Lem Lorca’s “Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino” comes after “Diablo” with two awards each. These are Best Screenplay and the Special Jury Prize; and Best Production Design and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
Vincent Sandoval’s “Aparisyon,” Gino Santos’ “The Animals,” Emmanuel Quindo Palo’s “Sta. Nina,” Paul Sta. Ana’s “Oros” and Marie Jamora’s “Ang Nawawala” was given a Balanghai each for Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor and Best Original Musical Score, respectively. Jamora’s entry was also named the New Breed Audience’s Choice.

Conversely, Jarell Serencio won Best Film under the Short Feature category, while Sheron Dayoc was hailed Best Director for “As He Sleeps.” Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong” and Richard Legaspi’s “Manenaya” also got a Balanghai for Best Screenplay and the Special Jury Prize, respectively. Hannah Espia’s “Ruweda” was hailed the Short Feature Audience’s Choice.

In all, there were 25 competing films this year: five under the Directors Showcase category, 10 under Short Films category and 10 under the New Breed category. All the winners received the coveted Balanghai trophies and cash prizes. Here is the complete list of winners in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2012:

FULL LENGTH (NEW BREED OF DIRECTORS) CATEGORY:

Best Film: “Diablo”
Special Jury Prize: “Requieme”
Audience Choice: “Ang Nawawala”
Best Director: Mes de Guzman “Diablo”
Best Actress: Ama Quiambao, “Diablo”
Best Actor: Kristoffer King, “Oros”
Best Supporting Actress: Anita Linda, “Santa Niña”
Best Supporting Actor: Joross Gamboa, “Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”
Best Screenplay: Rody Vera, “Requieme”
Best Cinematography: Tristan Salas, “Diablo”
Best Production Design: Benjamin Payumo, “Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”
Best Editing: John Wong and Rona delos Reyes, “The Animals”
Best Original Music Score: Mikey Amistoso, Diego Mapa, and Jazz Nicolas, “Ang Nawawala”
Best Sound Recording: Albert Michael Idioma, “Aparisyon”
NETPAC Awardee: “Diablo”

DIRECTORS SHOWCASE CATEGORY:

Best Film: “Posas”
Special Jury Prize: “Kamera Obskura”
Audience Choice: “Bwakaw”
Best Director: Raymond Red, “Kamera Obskura”
Best Actress: Iza Calzado, Janice de Belen, Judy Ann Santos and Agot Isidro (ensemble), “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Actor: Eddie Garcia, “Bwakaw”
Best Supporting Actress: Iza Calzado, Janice de Belen, Judy Ann Santos and Agot Isidro (ensemble), “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Supporting Actor: Art Acuna, “Posas”
Best Screenplay: Jose Javier Reyes, “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Cinematography: Albert Banzon, “Kalayaan”
Best Production Design: Adolfo Alix Jr., “Kalayaan”
Best Editing: Vanessa de Leon, “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Original Musical Score: Diwa de Leon, “Kamera Obskura”
Best Sound: Ditoy Aguila, “Kalayaan”
NETPAC Awardee: “Bwakaw”

SHORT FILMS CATEGORY:

Best Film: “Victor”
Special Jury Prize: “Manenaya”
Audience Choice: “Rueda”
Best Director: Sheron Dayoc, “As He Sleeps”
Best Screenplay: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong”

Eraserheads. my famous UP Dorm roomates

                              

At last, I now have completed the updated photos with my infamous celebrity roommates known as Eraserheads. The B&W photo is the only one I had with them during UP Days. The colored ones were recently taken almost two decades later.

Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan were my roommates for two years at the Molave Dorm during my last college years at the UP Diliman (1989 to 1991) before I was booted out from the dorm since I already finished my B.S. Economics in March 1991. Our room was identified as “AS 101”, with high ceiling and huge windows, which was at the end of the second floor of the Molave boys’ wing. Ely Buendia’s room was also at the second floor, a few steps away from AS 101 I think in front of the shower room. Marcus Adoro was a regular “visitor” at our room, who was staying at the Narra dorm, and sleeps in an extra cushion being pulled out underneath Raimund’s bed.

During my birthday in 1990, I did not go home to Las Pinas and instead celebrated my birthday with Buddy over ice cream while watching an old film at the TV room. Buddy is a bookworm who loves to stay inside our room in contrast to Raimund’s gimikero character who usually arrives late in the evening and misses the breakfast as he wakes up late. Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch.

Everytime they made our room as their “practice area” I usually go out since I can not study due to the “noise” they are creating. It was beyond my comprehension that the “noise” that I tried to avoid made them known as one of the most successful, critically-acclaimed, and significant bands in the OPM history earning them the accolade, "The Beatles of the Philippines”.

Moral of the story: never downplay small things, however annoying they can be. Guys that are noisemakers can reverberate through history as musical icons

Sue Prado and indie films

A writer once  labelled  Sue Prado as  the queen of indie films.

This year, she has appeared in two full feature films and one short film in the 2012 Cinemalaya. She portrays an OFW whose green card hope disappeared after her planned wedding did not push through in "Dayo",  the flirty secretary in Kamera Obskura and the troubled loving wife in the short film "In His Sleep".

I had a nice chat last night with Sue after the gala screening of the film Dayo. This movie takes place in Guam, a place with flavors both American and Filipino. It shows a slice of the lives of three women: Alex (played by Sue) , who plans to get married to get a green card before her impending return to the Philippines, Miriam, a former newspaper editor who just lost her job and is lost among a number of frivolous relationships, and Ella, a hard working hotel housekeeping supervisor who works to get her elderly mother in America.

The Director during his nervously. teary eyed  delivered  speech said that he is thankful that they were able to finish the film without big stars and minimal budget. I guess his statement has truth in it. Compared to the other films shown this year, this is i guess the only film that did not have known stars. With very minimal budget, Sue said that the credits will show that it was made due to the "Bayanihan" nature of Filipinos in Guam. The Fil-Ams shelled their share just to finish the film. Due to budget constraints, she stayed in Guam for only eight or nine days.






In 2011 Cinemalaya, there are  four characters that multi-faceted actress Sue Prado portrayed  in the four films she appeared..Three of the films are first features and are competing in the new breed category: Sue is a nurse in Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Bahay Bata; in dual roles in Zurich Chan’s Teorya; a drug mule in Joseph Laban’s Cuchera.  She is a public school teacher in Joel Lamangan’s Patikul which is in the director’s showcase category.

 Sue started attending University of the Philippines in Los Baños in 1998 but only graduated in 2006 with a degree in AB Communication Arts Major in Theater.  She took a break from school in 2003 until 2005 to work so that she could support her family and save enough money to finish her degree.

In an Inquirer Interview, she answered the question "What drives you to keep working in indie movies?"  by  "Not only do I get to do something I really love, I also get to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen. My goals are very clear—I may not be able to change the world, but I’m effecting change within my parameter."

Katiwala and Quezon's Message to the People of the Philippines

"I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a country run like heaven by the Americans, because however a bad Filipino government might be, we can always change it."

- Manuel L. Quezon

The speech, Message to the People of the Philippines,  was recorded in the 1920s, when he was first diagnosed with tuberculosis and assumed he didn't have much longer to live."   This speech  might be a good reminder to our current leaders in the administration and the opposition. It is the centerpiece of the Cinemalaya 2012  indie film Ang Katiwala starring Dennis Trillo 

Here is the synopsis of the film: Ruben (Dennis Trillo) loses his job as a carpenter in a small town in Quezon where he lives with his wife Edna (Althea Vega) and their 10-year old son, Budoy (Miggs Cuaderno). Desperate to make ends meet, he accepts a job as a caretaker of an abandoned property inQuezon City. Ruben soon finds out that the previous owner of the house is an important figure in the country’s history. When he is interviewed by a TV reporter about this historical figure, Ruben feels embarrassed that he knows nothing about him.Ruben soon starts reading up to get to know more about the life of this person, his accomplishments and what he has done for the people. Ruben’s fascination about the person’s life and his inevitable hero-worship irks the only friend he has in the sprawling compound, the night-shift security guard, Gimo (Ronnie Lazaro), who jokes that Ruben is slowly being possessed by the soul of his new hero. 

During his tenure, President Quezon led the Philippines on its first steps towards full independence; painstakingly established a government-in-exile in the United States during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and lifted up the morale of the Filipino People in the midst of war through his frequent radio broadcasts. Quezon died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York on August 1, 1944; Vice-President Sergio S. Osmeña succeeded him as the Third President of the Philippines (Second President of the Philippine Commonwealth. Two years later, his dream was realized at last; the Republic of the Philippines was finally inaugurated as a sovereign, independent nation on the 4th of July, 1946, with Manuel L. Roxas as the newly-elected President of the Philippines. The text that appears below is from "Nationalism" by MLQ3 (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 August 2004). The translation that follows is from another blogger. Message to My People Manuel L. Quezon

My fellow citizens: there is one thought I want you always to bear in mind. And that is: that you are Filipinos. That the Philippines are your country, and the only country God has given you. That you must keep it for yourselves, for your children, and for your children's children, until the world is no more. You must live for it, and die for it, if necessary.

Your country is a great country. It has a great past, and a great future. The Philippines of yesterday are consecrated by the sacrifices of lives and treasure of your patriots, martyrs, and soldiers. The Philippines of today are honored by the wholehearted devotion to its cause of unselfish and courageous statesmen. The Philippines of tomorrow will be the country of plenty, of happiness, and of freedom. A Philippines with her head raised in the midst of the West Pacific, mistress of her own destiny, holding in her hand the torch of freedom and democracy. A republic of virtuous and righteous men and women all working together for a better world than the one we have at present.

Mensahe sa Aking Mga Kababayan Manuel L. Quezon

Mga kababayan ko: may isang kaisipang nais kong lagi niyong tatandaan. At ito ay: kayo ay Pilipino. Na ang Pilipinas ay inyong bayan, at ang tanging bayan na ibinigay ng Diyos sa inyo. Na dapat niyo itong ingatan para sa inyong mga sarili, sa inyong mga anak, at sa mga anak ng inyong anak, hanggang sa katapusan ng mundo. Kailangan niyong mabuhay para sa bayan, at kung kinakailangan, mamatay para sa bayan. Dakila ang inyong bayan. Mayroon itong dakilang nakaraan, at dakilang kinabukasan. Ang Pilipinas ng kahapon ay naging dakila dahil sa pag-aalay ng buhay at yaman ng inyong mga bayani, martir, at sundalo. Ang Pilipinas ng ngayon ay pinararangalan ng taos-pusong pagmamahal ng mga pinunong di-makasarili at may lakas ng loob. Ang Pilipinas ng bukas ay magiging bayan ng kasaganaan, ng kaligayahan, at ng kalayaan. Isang Pilipinas na nakataas ang noo sa Kanlurang Pasipiko, tangan ang sariling kapalaran, hawak sa kanyang kamay ang ilaw ng kalayaan at demokrasya. Isang republika ng mga mamamayang marangal at may paninindigan na sabay-sabay nagsisikap mapabuti ang daigdig natin ngayon.

Coco Martin snobbed Cinemalaya fans?

Pardon me and correct me if i am wrong, it has been a practice or tradition for the cast, including the main actors/ actresses, to mingle with the crowd/ fans at the lobby after every gala night of the Cinemalaya competition films. Perhaps as a sign of appreciation to the supporters of the film through the photo opportunities with the fans. Unfortunately, it did not happen for the fans of Coco Martin after last night's Sta.nina gala night. I was very near him on the way out of the main theater and as expected, the crowd was already awaiting for him outside. To my surprise, and perhaps frustration of his fans, they turned right and went down towards the exit door . He was assisting Anita Linda. Since i am very near him, I heard Allexandra de Rossi saying " Sa Sofitel daw tayo" . As an artist who can be considered as one the Cinemalaya product whose rise to fame is attributable to indie films, I am just wondering why Coco Martin "just left" and did not even gave his fans a chance to go near their idol. Some of them lined up hours before the screening. In the past, even the big stars mingle with the crowd like Eugene Domingo in last year's gala night of Babae Sa Septic Tank. Eddie Garcia was all smiles during the photo ops with the audience before and after the gala night of Bwakaw. Fans still waited hoping that he will come back but to no avail. Just sharing my thoughts.

 

Anita Linda, the lola of pinoy films

Whenever is see Anita Linda on TV and the big screen, I miss my LOLA MARIA…..

During the recent gala night of "Sta. Nina" at the Cinemalaya 2012, i finally had the chance to talk to the legendary Anita Linda. Directed by Emmanuel Quindo Palo, Sta. Niña is a movie about a non-decaying dead body of a girl, and the belief that it could heal. Aside from Coco, Alessandra de Rossi also topbills the independent film. Also in the cast are talented actors Angel Aquino and Anita Linda.

The Synopsis of the film states:

Years after lahar covers a town in Pampanga, Pol (COCO MARTIN) and his co-workers in a quarry dig up the coffin of his daughter. The remains of the 2-year old girl Marikit did not show any signs of decay. Many consider this a miracle, and thus many deem her as miraculous. People from their town and other places troop to Pol’s home to be healed by Marikit.Inspired by whatever healing power the deceased child may have, Pol asks the church to declare her a saint. But how, when her resurgence stirs up emotions buried by time, and shores up questions about pure love, guilt, sin and salvation?

Anita Linda has again gave an excellent performance for her role as the grandmother of Coco who is suffering from short memory loss, she remembers those that happened in the distant past, like the Pinatubo tragedy,  but not those in the immediate.

Perhaps most of you will agree that she made her mark in her various lola roles in her past films. She gained critical acclaim for her portrayals in maternal or elderly roles. At the age of 74, she became the oldest actress to ever win a FAMAS award, when she was named Best Supporting Actress for Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata. In 2008, at age 83, she was named Best Actress in the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival (Southeast Asia Film Competition) for her portrayal of the titular character in Adela.   One of her memorable film   is  "LOLA",  a digital film of Brillante Mendoza that tackles the story of two elderly women who will do everything for the sake of their love ones as one will be the suspect and the other one will be a victim. Lola tells the parallel stories of two elderly women, Puring (Rustica Carpio) and Sepa (Anita Linda). Driven by selfless love, the two scrape the bottom of the barrel to raise funds for their respective grandsons. Sepa wants her dead grandson to have a decent burial despite barely having enough to get by in life decently. Meanwhile, Puring wants to free her grandson after he is incarcerated for killing Sepa's grandson. After “pawning”their remaining properties, she gave lola Sepa P50,000.00 as some sort of “blood money.” The film is not easy to shoot, I guess. Imagine scenes where frail grandmothers were drenched in rainwater as they individually attempt to seek financial help from other people—they turn to neighbors, city officials, and even lending institutions. In the film's most beautifully shot sequence, the funeral procession for Sepa's grandson goes on not with a motorcade but with a handful of boats. The white casket is decorated with colorful flowers that contrast with the bleak surroundings. After a long struggle, Sepa and her family take their beloved dead to his final resting place.   

My lola Maria during the 1968 wedding of my parents

Again, I miss my lola Maria  whenever i see Anita Linda. I belong to the more than 40 “apos’ or grandchildren of Damaso Reyes and Maria Santos. I never met my lolo who died before I was born but his absence was greatly compensated by the love and caring that Lola Maria has given to her grandchildren. Their children (Mario, Bert, Odol, Elsa, Julieta, Linda, Malou, Elvie, Mel, and Tita) followed the proverbial phrase “ go and multiply” thus out we came, the 40 plus grandchildren.

My recollections of Lola Maria includes the following (a).the Alhambra cigar which she smoked “baligtad” the lighted side was inside her mouth (b) making sampaguita necklaces from her garden (c) she will measure our feet by drawing a sketch of the feet’s outline for our sandals.

We were told that she was really pretty during her younger years. She was even crowned as “Miss Baliwag.”  I think Lola Maria died when I was still in my elementary years. Nevertheless, her love still reverberates until this time amongst her Reyes descendants.

Bwakaw

 If fans are urging that Dolphy be given the "national artist award," i guess some sector should do the same for Eddie Garcia. He has shown his forte in different genres of roles. His latest portrayal of an aging gay in Cinemalaya's Bwakaw is commendable A drama-comedy about growing old and everyone's fear of growing old alone.It follows the story of Rene (Eddie Garcia) who thinks it is now too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is death. Rene has a dog named Bwakaw, who hangs around his house and follows him wherever he goes.He played the role of the grumpy old man who also happened to come out of the closet at his very advanced age. An old man's sole companion is a stray dog, Bwakaw,  that hangs around his house and follows him wherever he goes. Being in his twilight years, all he awaits is his death as he thinks it is already too late for love and companionship. It is not until his dog becomes ill and eventually meets a friend when he starts to discover and live his remaining days without fear.

Cinemalaya and Fides Cuyugan

For two consecutive years, i watched two independent films in Cinemalaya that featured a  classical music legend , Fides Cuyugan-Asensio. If last year, she immortalized the  dreamish words "Gigising si Gaspar! Gigising si Gaspar!" in the Cinemalaya indie film “Nino” by Director Loy Arcenas, this year i will remember her for "Ipagdasal na lang natin. Lahat ng nangyayaring ito  ay may dahilan" for her portrayal as Mother Superior in the film "Aparisyon". 

Cinemalaya has always been my favorite venue for watching excellent acting, especially from veteran film and stage performers who effortlessly shine in their meticulous characterization of roles.

Aside from Fides Cuyogan-Asencio  also starring in “Aparisyon” are Jodi Sta. Maria and Mylene Dizon, , Racquel Villavicencio, and Rustica Carpio. The Vincent Sandoval entry explores, in a historical-fiction narrative, the Philippine religious women’s shifting perception of their societal roles during the volatile political climate of early 1970s Philippines. Here is the synopsis of the film:
Unsettled by the stirring of a political conciousness among the nuns in her monastery, a mother superior finds herself in a morally conflicted position after one of the young nuns falls victim to an act of violence.

This  film was shot in a monastery somewhere in Rizal for 8 days. This is a very interesting film specially for those who lived during the Martial Law era. “Aparisyon“ tells the story of contemplative nuns insulated from the ways of the world. Considering their vocation and the distance of their monastery from the city, their bout with brutality was a shocking improbability. The complexities in the life of Sister Remy (Mylene Dizon), an extern nun ­ one who is assigned to run errands outside the monastery for her superiors ­ brought on the tragic-dramatic turn of events in the story. Sister Remy and a newbie nun, Sister Lourdes (Jodi Sta. Maria), figure in a nightmarish scene where Remy manages to escape, but Lourdes unfortunately does not, wreaking havoc on the once-serene monastery life. From hereon, the plot thickens and the (dark) heart of this dramatic thriller unfolds.

In my blog last year for Nino, i wrote that I believe the role of Celia was tailor-made for Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, what with the character’s penchant for opera singing and the like. I also like the representation of the Sto. Nino in child performer Jhiz Deocareza while he is running around the old house with a wood sword and caped/crowned just like the Child Jesus. And in a family drama like this, you can’t help but be engrossed not only with the story, but with how differing personalities are fleshed out on the big screen. I like the scene of the gathering of old friends who sang to Gaspar serenading him as if it is a grand opera night before he died. 

I then noted that Music is also papa's world and passion. He will always sing to us old songs of his generations. He brags that he always won during competitions and his fond memories with his guitars and choirs. I vividly remember when i was a child is his penchant to singing of lullabyes for us to sleep. Then on weekends our house will be filled with reverberating music from his collection of long playing albums of old songs. 

After seeing the film last Sunday, I approached Fides Cuyugan and told her that i liked very much her role. I even mentioned to her that i had two brothers who are priests thus the religious life is not difficult for me to fathom. I oftenly have encounters with the priests, seminarians, and nuns as i am in essense one of their benefactors, a commitment which my parents did when they were still alive.

 I remember the story oftenly told by my father when he was alive, of how proud he was of us, his children. He often stressed that he had nothing to give to us but our future. We did not have money but we had the respect of people, especially the fact that two of his sons entered the priesthood, Fr. Philip and Fr. Stephen. I am still not used to calling them Father, i still prefer "Kuya Wel and Bengbeng In 1999 when i passed my bar exams, the same year . my elder brother, Kuya Welthy or now Fr. Philip, was ordained as priest. Fr.Stephen was ordained in 2008. At first Mama could not accept the fact that two sons chose to serve the lord but later realized, according to Papa, that they gave up two sons but regained the whole religious order as their new sons and daughters. Tuwang-tuwa sya pag tinatawag sila na Papa and Mama Gorecho.The story has it that if there is one priest in the family, the whole clan is blessed up to the third generation. In our case, we not only had one but two brothers into priesthood who belong to the same order, Oblates of Allaince of Twin Hearts (OATH), although they belong to the conservative group of the religious people.  

Fides Cuyugan is more known in the classical music world than in cinema. She  brought classical and Broadway music to Philippine television via her landmark shows “Sunday, Sweet, Sunday” (1969 to 1974) and “A Little Night of Music” (1989 to 2001). And that was really i fondly remembered her   since i normally saw posters of her classical music concerts during my college days in UP Diliman.   

Then she refreshed my memory  that she was in Oro Plata Mata,  a 1982 multi-awarded Filipino film directed by Peque Gallaga, and is considered his most significant contribution to Philippine cinema. It was shown several times during the early of the UP Filmcentre. Set in the Philippine province of Negros during World War II, it tells the story of how two haciendero families cope with the changes brought about by the war.In translation, the movie is also known either as "Gold, Silver, Bad Luck" or "Gold, Silver, Death."  In the film, Fides plays the role of Inday Lorenzo who along with girl friends Jo Russell (Maya Valdez),  Nena Ojeda (Liza Lorena), and  Dona Viring(Lorli Villanueva) try to deny the realities of war by preserving their pre-war lifestyle of playing mahjong and engaging in other activities enjoyed by women of their station. A scene to remember is Fides being raped by Melchor (Abbo de la Cruz), Inday's trusted foreman.  After being offended by a slap from Inday, he takes Inday to a room and repeatedly beats and rapes her, his noble-born former mistress.And she was suited for the role, perhaps in the same manner that her two roles in Nino and Aparisyon which she did  three decades later.     

"Magdasal na lang tayo!" reverberates Fides Cuyugan's lines. Faith is always the best weapon.   

Intoy Syokoy, Filipino seafarers, and piracy

SYNOPSIS Intoy (JM de Guzman) has had the hots for Doray (LJ Moreno)  since they were kids in Kalye Marino, Cavite City, formerly the American Naval Base in Sangley Point.  Both marginalized as the long-lasting effect of American abandonment of the said base, Intoy has become Kalye Marino’s best “tahong” caretaker-with-no-angst-about-poverty, while Doray a cheap prostitute-with-no-guilt, tending to her siblings’ needs.  Intoy strives to have his own cages of “tahong” so he can have Doray, not for just a night of quickie sex, but forever.  But what will he do to when she offers to drop by his hovel-on-stilts to quench his passion, but before it happens Nature has chosen to play a joke on his tahong cage?  Will it be goodbye to his tahong business or to his damsel-in-distress and ultimately to Kalye Marino?  From Eros S. Atalia’s 2001 Palanca Grand Prize-winning Short Story, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino is a love tale minus the obligatory romantic sentiments.   

Kenneth Salva

As a maritime  lawyer representing the Filipino seafarers, I commend the producers for tackling the issue of piracy that continue to plague the seafaring industry. In this Cinemalaya entry, Kenneth Salva portrayed the role of one of Intoy's barkada who wanted to follow the footstep of his father who is a seafarer. His dream collapsed after receiving news that his father was killed during a piracy incident while on the high seas.  

 The recent piracy incidents are  reality checks  to the risk faced by seafarers , particularly Filipino seafarers.  The Philippines, which supplies a third of the world’s seafarers’ population, is among the most adversely affected and seriously alarmed by incidences of piracy in the Somali basin and the Gulf of Aden. The hijacking of dozens of vessels, ranging from massive oil tankers to chartered supply ships carrying UN food aid for Somalia, has become a highly lucrative industry with millions of dollars paid in ransom each year.  

Seafarers are on the frontline of the piracy problem. In recent years, thousands of seafarers have been killed, injured, assaulted, taken hostage or threatened as piracy and armed robbery have increased dramatically.. All seafarers transiting the Gulf of Aden and Northern Indian Ocean, have to live with the risk of attack. When ships are attacked by pirates, crews suffer the stress of being fired upon with guns and rocket propelled grenades and those captured can be held hostage for months. Following a piracy attack those involved can be seriously affected by post traumatic stress.   As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailor.

     I am presently handling the case of a  Filipino sailor,  Christopher Cortez Ceprado, who was found dead last May 11, 2011 aboard MT Sea King , a Marshall Island-flagged chemical tanker, four days after it was attacked by pirates off the coast of Benin in West Africa. Heavily armed pirates on May 7, 2011  boarded chemical tanker MT Sea King while docked in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, . Ceprado, who was among the 15 Filipino crewmembers of the ship, was later found dead on May 11. The pirates looted the vessel and even the personal effects of the crew were taken. Ceprado's family hailed from my hometown  of Matabao. Tubigon, Bohol.   

"Equality," said Aristotle, "consists in the same treatment of similar persons." Unfortunately, his family is deprived of appropriate death compensation under the government’s  “double pay” policy  for victims of piracy attacks.

            The death of a seafarer during the term of his employment makes the employer liable to the former’s heirs for death compensation benefits.  The POEA Standard Employment Contract fixes the amount at US$50,000.00 and an additional amount of US$7,000.00 for each child, not exceeding four, under twenty-one years of age.  The employer becomes liable once it is established that the seafarer  died during the effectivity of his employment contract.

   On October 7, 2008, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued Board Resolution No. 4, which declared as “high risk” zone certain coordinates within the Gulf of Aden. The resolution also mandates that Filipino seafarers will receive double the amount of their basic wage, overtime pay, and leave pay while sailing within the declared high-risk zone. On any death, injury or illness while sailing within those areas, the seafarers are also entitled to a double amount of compensation and benefits. The problem with  this policy is that it only covers Somalia and the Gulf of Aden and a certain expanded area.The fact remains that piracy is not limited to Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) warned  seafarers to be extra cautious and to take necessary precautionary measures when transiting the following piracy prone areas:

a.         SOUTH EAST ASIA AND INDIAN SUB CONTINENT  Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malacca Straits, Malaysia,  Singapore Straits, South China Sea, Vietnam:

b.        AFRICA AND RED SEA: Nigeria,  Benin: Cotonou, Conakry (Guinea), Douala Outer Anchorage (Cameroon), Gulf of Aden/Red Sea.

c.         SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WATERS: Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Haiti: Port Au Prince.

d.         REST OF THE WORLD: Arabian Sea / Off Oman, Indian Ocean/Off Seychelles / Off Madagascar / Off West Maldives / Off Mozambique, Iraq.

Although  Ceprado’s death occurred in Cotonou, Benin which is not within the “high risk” areas declared by the POEA Board Resolution No. 4, his family  is  seeking death benefits under the POEA “double pay” policy since he died under the same conditions and circumstances describing piracy. Depriving them of such “double pay” compensation is tantamount to a violation of the “equal protection clause” of the Philippine Constitution.

The Supreme Court has stressed in several rulings that the principle of equal protection is not a barren concept that may be casually swept aside. While it does not demand absolute equality, it requires that all persons similarly situated be treated alike, both as to privileges conferred and liabilities enforced. Verily, equal protection and security shall be accorded every person under identical or analogous circumstances in view of Section 1, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution which reads:   

“Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

 Per Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data, there were 330,424 Filipino seafarers deployed abroad in 2009 comprising almost 30 percent of the global maritime labor force. Although the number of deployed Filipino seafarers has decreased from 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553) to 2008 (261,614), the dollar remittances have been constantly  increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009 to US$3.8B in 2010. 

Since the Philippines supplies a third of the world’s seafarers’ population, it will remain as among the most adversely affected and seriously alarmed by incidences of piracy in the high seas. Unfortunately, the present compensation scheme will remain violative of the “equal protection” clause of the Philippine Constitution as long as the “double pay” policy will cover a very limited group of seafarer victims of piracy.

Babae sa Breakwater

I saw last night as the opening film of Cinemalaya 2012 the film Babae sa Breakwaterwritten and directed by Mario O'Hara about poor Filipinos living by Manila Bay. Although the film was released in 2003, it was only during the Cinemalaya screening as a  tribute to Mario O Hara that i first saw it completely.

     Babae sa Breakwater is a film about a man Basilio (Kristoffer King), who escapes from provincial Leyte to the slums of Manila with his younger brother Buboy (Alcris Galura). Residing in the shanty town tenements beneath the tourist-infested breakwater of Manila, Basilio falls in love with a prostitute named Paquita (Katherine Luna). Paquita started whoring so early in her life that at her relatively young age she's already played out, her body full of sexual diseases and open sores. Their relationship is troubled by the apparent poverty and the more impending threat of the slums' jealous protector, ex-cop Dave (Gardo Versoza). This tragic tale covers a whole plethora of emotions that surround Manila life

And it brought back memories of my childhood. We used to live in Ermita and the Roxas boulevard and the breakwater became my playground in the 70s. .During weekends , my family usually spend the whole day by a picnic along the breakwater near the US embassy. My parents and our yayas will bring a bayong containing our food. Believe it or not, we swim in the Manila Bay as i fondly remembered it as a very clean body of water. You can see the bottom and play with the aquatic species. We run along the wall, cross over the boulders, collect shells and stones.

Unfortunately, i guess those will just remain to be beautiful memories.  Successive changes in and around Manila Bay are largely due to the intertwining impacts of continued industrialization, unrelenting increase in population, and the incessant human activities catering to livelihood and habitation. These factors are directly degrading the overall environment of Manila Bay and these impacts are manifested in the continued deterioration of the water quality and sediments in the bay as well as impacted on the existing marine habitats.

  About two hours long, it is an Entertainment Warehouse production and was released in 2003. It stars Kristoffer King and Katherine Luna, who were nominated as Best Actor and Best Actress in the 2003 Gawad Urian Awards for their roles. Luna also won Best Actress in the Cinemanila International Film Festival for that year. While not commercially successful, the film was critically acclaimed and won several awards, including Best Picture in the 27th Gawad Urian and the 14th Young Critics’ Circle Awards. It was also appreciated by an international audience at the Cannes Film Festival 

As Manila bay was my natural swimming pool in my childhood days, i liked how the sea in this film was described by a blogger Oggs Cruz "The sea in O'Hara's film is the domicile of god; it provides as much as it takes away. Basilio and Buboy respect and appreciate its role. Despite the garbage and filth in Manila Bay, the brothers pay their respects to the unnamed deity by submerging their faces (supposedly conversing to their father --- murdered in the introductory religious vendetta). When humanity betrays Basilio (as when he gets pickpocketed or he is removed from work), it is the sea that magically provides.The film actually describes man's relationship with the sea (or in this case, God as represented by the sea). Manila, in the film's point of view, has raped the sea --- abused it and polluted it. The city itself is crowded with abusive people and dregs of society; children are addicted to rugby and will fight for leftover food; men urinate in the streets; the characters' pasts (both Paquita and Dave) showcase a depletion of morality within the citizenry, which continues to their present lives; another character steals to escape from the Breakwater but only succeeds in maintaining the habit. Basilio comes from a land where the sea is pure, and within the film, he maintains that purity and is able to reform Paquita, despite the temptations and the treachery of the city. O'Hara succeeds in driving that point, and fantastically, within the context of the tired genre of melodrama about the provincial who gets lost in the big city."

The September 2011  storm surge of  “Pedring” (international code name Nesat)  brought waves up to 20 feet high, and damaged the breakwater in Manila Bay as well as the seawall along Roxas Boulevard, spawning one of the worst floods about three feet deep along the thoroughfare.

CINEMALAYA 2012 screenings schedule

To all indie film addicts, here is the schedule of  Cinemalaya 2012. Gala Screening is the screening where the director, writer(s), producer(s), cast members and special guests are in attendance. Same ticket system apply.Now on its eighth year, Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc. It is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity

The ten finalists in the New Breed Full-Length Feature category are: Ang Katiwala (The Caretaker) by Aloy Adlawan, Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There) by Marietta “Marie” Jamora, Oros by Paul Sta. Ana, Apparition by Vincent Sandoval and Darlene Malimas, Dayo (Alien) by Julius Sotomayor Cena, Diablo by Mes de Guzman, Lola Igna by Eduardo W. Roy Jr., MNL 143 by Emerson Reyes, REQUIEME by Loy Arcenas, and Santa Nina by Emmanuel Q. Palo.

The five finalists in the Directors Showcase are: Bwakaw by Jun Lana, Kalayaan (Wildlife) by Adolfo B. Alix Jr., Kamera Obskura by Raymond Red, Posas by Jeffrey Jeturian, and Mga Mumunting Lihim by Jose Javier Reyes. The Directors Showcase is open to full length feature works by Filipino directors who have directed at least three full-length commercial feature films.

LEGEND:
MT : CCP MAIN THEATRE (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo)
LT : CCP LITTLE THEATRE (Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino)
THB : CCP STUDIO THEATRE ( Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
DT : CCP DREAM THEATRE (Tanghalang Manuel Conde)
MKP : CCP MKP Hall
TRI : TRINOMA Cinema 1
GB-3 : GREENBELT 3 Cinema 3
GB-5 : GREENBELT 3 Cinema 5
_________________________________________

 CINEMALAYA 2012 NEW BREED FULL-LENGTH COMPETITION


INTOY SYOKOY NG KALYE MARINO by Lemuel Lorca 
July 21: 12:45PM – THB / 6:15PM – MT
July 22: 12:45PM – MKP / 6:15PM – TRI
July 23: 1:30PM – TRI / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 24: 3:30PM – THB
July 25: 3:30PM – MT / 9:00PM- MKP
July 26: 4:00PM – GB-3
July 27: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 6:15PM – LT
July 28: 9:00PM – GB-5
July 29: 11:00AM – TRI
GALA: July 21, Sat 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)








REQUIEME! by Loy Arcenas
July 21: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 6:15PM – THB
July 22: 6:15PM – MT
July 23: 12:45PM – MKP / 6:30PM – TRI
July 24: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – MKP
July 25: 9:00PM – GB-3
July 26: 12:45PM – THB / 6:30PM – GB-5
July 27: 12:45PM – MT / 6:30PM – GB-5
July 28: 3:30PM – LT
July 29: 4:00PM – TRI
GALA: July 22, Sun 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)






OROS by Paul Sta. Ana 
 July 21: 1:30PM – TRI / 6:15PM – MKP
July 22: 1:30PM – TRI / 6:15PM – THB
July 23: 6:15PM – MT
July 24: 12:45PM – MKP / 6:30PM – TRI
July 25: 4:00PM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – LT
July 26: 12:45PM – MT / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 27: 9:00PM – GB-5
July 28: 10:00AM – THB / 4:00PM – GB-3
July 29:
GALA: July 23, Mon 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)




ANG KATIWALA by Aloy Adlawan
 July 21: 12:45PM – MKP / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 22: 6:30PM – GB-5
July 23: 3:30PM – THB
July 24: 3:30PM – MT /9:00PM – TRI
July 25: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 6:15PM – MT
July 26: 9:00PM – LT
July 27: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 6:15PM – MKP
July 28: 4:00PM – TRI / 9:00PM – THB
July 29: 1:30PM – GB-5
GALA: July 25, Wed 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)

 SANTA NIñA by Emmanuel Quindo Palo 
 July 21: 6:30PM – GB-5
July 22: 9:00PM – MKP
July 23: 12:45PM – LT / 6:15PM – THB
July 24: 4:00PM – GB-5 /9:00PM – MT
July 25: 4:00PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – TRI
July 26: 12:45PM – MKP
July 27: 1:30PM – TRI /6:15PM – THB
July 28: 11:00AM – TRI / 3:30PM – MT / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 29:
GALA: July 24, Tue 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)

 
  

 APARISYON by Vincent Sandoval 
 July 21: 9:00PM – TRI
July 22: 3:30PM – LT
July 23: 12:45PM – MT
July 24: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 25: 12:45PM – THB / 6:15PM – MKP
July 26: 1:30PM – GB-5/ 6:15PM – MT
July 27: 12:45PM – MKP / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 28: 11:00AM – GB-5 / 6:15PM – THB
July 29: 1:30PM – TRI
GALA: July 26, Thu 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)





 DIABLO by Mes de Duzman 
 July 21: 11:00AM – GB-5 /3:30PM – LT
July 22: 12:45PM – MT
July 23: 4:00PM – TRI / 9:00PM – MKP
July 24: 4:00PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – THB
July 25: 6:30PM – TRI
July 26: 9:00PM – MT
July 27: 4:0PM – GB-5
July 28: 12:45PM – MKP / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 29: 12:45PM – THB / 9:00PM – GB-5
GALA: July 22, Sun 12:45PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)





MGA DAYO by Julius Sotomayor Cena 
 July 21: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – LT
July 22: 3:30PM – MT
July 23: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 6:30PM – GB-5
July 24: 1:30PM – TRI / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 25:
July 26: 3:30PM – MKP / 9:00PM – TRI
July 27: 3:30PM –THB / 6:15PM – MT / 9:00PM – MKP
July 28: 6:30PM – TRI
July 29: 3:30PM – THB
GALA: July 27, Fri 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)





THE ANIMALS by Gino M. Santos 
 July 21: 12:45PM – MT
July 22: 4:00PM – TRI / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 23: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 6:15PM – MKP
July 24: 9:00PM – LT
July 25:
July 26: 1:30PM – GB-3/ 6:15PM – THB
July 27: 3:30PM – MKP / 9:00PM – MT
July 28: 12:45PM – THB / 9:00PM – TRI
July 29: 11:00AM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – GB-3
GALA: July 27, Fri 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)


  


ANG NAWAWALA by Marie Jamora 
 July 21: 3:30PM – MT / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 22: 12:45PM – THB
July 23: 6:15PM – LT
July 24: 9:00PM – GB-3
July 25: 12:45PM – MKP / 3:30PM – THB
July 26: 1:30PM – TRI / 9:00PM – MKP
July 27: 9:00:PM TRI
July 28: 11:00AM – GB-3 / 6:15PM – MT
July 29: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 4:00PM – GB-5
GALA:  July 21, Sat 3:30PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)




______________________________________________


Cinemalaya 2012 DIRECTORS SHOWCASE

KAMERA OBSKURA by Raymond Red
 July 21: 4:00PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – MT
July 22: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 4:00PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – THB
July 23: 6:30PM – GB-3
July 24: 6:15PM – MKP
July 25: 6:30PM – GB-5
July 26: 4:00PM – TRI
July 27: 3:30PM – MT
July 28: 12:45PM – LT / 3:30PM – THB / 9:00PM – MKP
July 29: 9:00PM – TRI
GALA: July 21, Sat 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)






BWAKAW by Jun Robles Lana
 July 21: 11:00AM – TRI / 3:30PM – MKP
July 22: 11:00AM – GB-3 / 3:30PM – THB / 9:00PM – TRI
July 23: 4:00PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – MT
July 24: 6:15PM – THB
July 25: 6:30PM – GB-3
July 26: 3:30PM – MT / 6:15PM – MKP
July 27:
July 28: 1:30PM – GB-5 / 6:15PM – LT
July 29: 6:30PM – GB-5
GALA: July 23, Mon 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)





POSAS by Lawrence Fajardo
 July 21: 3:30PM – THB
July 22: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 4:00PM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – MT
July 23: 3:30PM – MKP
July 24: 12:45PM – MT / 6:30PM – GB-5
July 25: 4:00PM – TRI
July 26: 3:30PM – LT / 9:00PM – THB
July 27: 6:30PM – TRI
July 28: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 6:15PM – MKP
July 29: 6:30PM – GB-3
GALA:  July 22, Sun 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)

 


KALAYAAN by Adolfo B. Alix Jr.
 July 21: 11:00AM – GB-3 / 4:00PM – GB-5 / 9:00PM – THB
July 22: 12:45PM – LT / 9:00PM – GB-3
July 23: 12:45PM – THB / 9:00PM – TRI
July 24: 3:30PM – MKP / 6:15PM – MT
July 25: 1:30PM TRI / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 26:
GALA:  July 24, Tue 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)








MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM by Jose Javier Reyes
 July 21: 12:45PM – LT / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 22: 11:00AM – TRI / 3:30PM – MKP
July 23: 3:30PM – MT / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 24: 12:45PM – THB
July 25: 6:15PM – THB / 9:00PM – MT
July 26: 6:30PM – TRI
July 27: 4:00PM – TRI
July 28: 4:00PM – GB-5
July 29: 11:00AM – GB-3 / 3:30PM – MKP
GALA: July 25, Wed 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)




______________________________________________

Cinemalaya 2012 SHORT FILM COMPETITION

 
SHORTS A: Victor, Balintuna, Mientras Su Durmida, Pasahero, Bohe:Sons of the Waves 
July 21: 4:00PM – TRI
July 22: 6:15PM – MKP / 9:00PM – LT
July 23: 9:00PM – THB
July 24: 4:00PM – TRI
July 25: 12:45PM – MT / 3:30PM – MKP
July 26: 4:00PM – GB-5 / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 27: 12:45PM – THB / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 28: 10:00AM – MT / 6:30PM – GB-5
July 29: 4:00PM – GB-3
 GALA: July 22, Sun 9:00PM at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

 
SHORTS B: Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong, Manenaya, Ruweda, Sarong Aldaw, Ulian
July 21: 10:00AM – MT / 9:00PM – MKP
July 22: 11:00AM – GB-5 / 6:30PM – GB-3
July 23: 4:00PM – GB-5
July 24: 6:15PM – LT
July 25: 1:30PM – GB-3 / 9:00PM – THB
July 26: 3:30PM – THB / 9:00PM – GB-5
July 27:
July 28: 1:30PM – TRI / 9:00PM – MT
July 29: 12:45PM –MKP / 6:30PM – TRi
GALA: July 28, Sat 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)

For the trailers,

 General Ticket Information: Regular Price: Php150/head per screening Discounts available for the ff: 50% off for students (CCP Screenings only) 20% off for Senior Citizens 20% off for Government & Military Personnel Festival Passes (available for CCP Screenings only): One Day Pass (Php700.00) - includes admission to 4-6 screenings for 1 day; priority lane entry to screening venues in CCP Festival Pass (Php2000.00) - includes admission to all competition films; priority lane entry to screening venues in CCP; complimentary souvenir program & subscription to e-newsletter Flexi Pass (Php3000.00) - includes admission to all competition films + 8 exhibition films of your choice; priority lane entry to screening venues in CCP; complimentary souvenir program & subscription to e-newsletter Premium Pass (Php5000.00) - guaranteed accommodation to all Festival screenings, Congress & Forums; guaranteed accommodation to the Opening & Closing Awards Nights; priority lane entry to screening venues in CCP; access to VIP Lounge; invitations to Festival receptions, parties, & special events; complimentary souvenir program & subscription to e-newsletter