Cinema being employed as a medium for values formation, is the very essence of Sine Halaga, a project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Negros Cultural Foundation (NCF) that showcases twelve short films infused with 19 Filipino core values.
Explains NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano: “Before this project became a reality, it took one year of extensive research to identify the different Filipino values that are important and unique in our culture and identity. When the research identified what these core values are, we want everyone to realize what are they and we believe that through this film festival, the values affirmed by the research will be further bolstered and strengthened.”
For Festival Director Elvert Bañares, Sine Halaga is unique from other film fests because here the film entries are used as a tool to teach Filipino values.
“Especially now when we put so much premium on what is instant and easily gratifying. Majority may find these values as dated but love for family, respect, kindness, and good manners, among other things, is not a fad and will never go out style,” Bañares says.
The 12 short films that are screening for free in VimeoOnDemand and the NCCA Learning Resources Hub are: Bakit ako Sinusundan ng Buwan directed by Richard Legaspi, Black Rainbow by Zig Madamba Dulay, Dandansoy by Rod Arden Condez, Hadlok by Ralston Jover, Looking for Rafflesias and other Fleeting Things by James Allen Fajardo, Lorna by Noel Escondo, Masalimuut Ya Tiyagew Ed Dayat by Jan Carlo Natividad, Mina’s Family History by Christopher Gozum, Sa Balay ni Papang by Kurt Steven Soberano, Salog ning Diklom by Jordan Jose Dela Cruz, Ugbos ka Bayabas by Manie Magbanua, Jr., and 13 Feet by Carlo Obispo.
This final set of short films was chosen by NCCA Committee on Cinema Chairperson Rolando Tolentino, film critic Tito Valiente, Jeffrey Jeturian, Roy Iglesias, Sari Dalena, Arvin Villalon, and Jose Soliman, Jr.
All the filmmakers heading the short films were awarded a grant of P400,000 and that their cameras rolled during the time of the pandemic.
Of the twelve short films, what is most intriguing is Looking For Raffleasias and Other Fleeting Things by director James Fajardo. It is about the mythical Philippine tikbalang with a pink twist.
“In film and literature, it a common occurrence to know and see the union of a male and female tikbalang, or a male tikbalang falling for a mortal maiden but we rarely see a gay tikbalang who becomes in love with a man,” says director Fajardo. “The forbidden love that is experienced by the tikbalang, it’s also a parallelism to the forbidden love by same-sex couple.”
Two coming-of-age films also arouse the curiosity namely Ugbos Ka By Bayabas by director Manie Magbanua Jr. which is about the rites of passage of pre-pubescent boys to manhood, which is circumcision that uses the traditional pukpok method in the provinces with the aid of tender guava leaves as healing agent for the flesh wound and a hurried dip to the nearby river. The other one is "Masalimuot ya Tiyagew ed Dayat" (Summer Blues) by directoramDirek Jan Carlo Natividad that explores the values of pagkatao, kaligayahan and kapwa shared by two teen-age boys portrayed by Z Mejia and Kych Minemoto.
Director Carlo Obispo’s 13 Feet’s cinematic conceit: “This is about a normal guy who has a supposed perfect world, but he’s being taken slowly away from that perfect world. He slowly transforms and no one can help him. The transformation that is happening, it’s His struggle is how to actually adapt to the changes that’s happening in his physique, to his body. Iyon ang ginawa kong parang parallel sa mental health conditions na nararanasan natin bilang mga individual.
GAWAD URIAN member Tito Valiente declares in conclusion: “Cinema is a very strong potent force of change, that is the importance of Sine Halaga and the whole cinematic arts. Even if we underscore the festival’s main purpose which is values orientation, we always learn so much from the movies we see. And the learning is not spoon fed. It is experiential. You feel it. It hits your heart and being. ”
Screening for the short films in Sine Halaga has already started and runs a year-long. There is no awards night for the said festival.