So, you belong to the silent majority, as those opposed to the presidency of President Rodrigo Duterte and his gung-ho statements and startling foreign policies want to address themselves, and you warn Filipinos of an ascending authoritarian rule. How come you are not in detention yet, or why can your minions still mount protests anywhere they want?
In the movies, why has the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) not banned films like Citizen Jake (now screening in theaters nationwide) and Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (which opens tomorrow, naturally in limited number of screens because it runs for four hours)?
Isn’t that a clear sign that democracy is still very much alive in this country? And why are these film actors (at the press conference) speaking like President Duterte has clipped everyone’s right to free speech and expression? If he has, would the Ayala Cinemas ever screen those two films?
The latest Lav Diaz opus, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil), is finally showing in the Philippines. It has already won best film in the Gems section of the 58th Festival Internacional de Cine Cartagena de Indias held in Colombia in March 2018.
The film stars Piolo Pascual, Shaina Magdayao, Pinky Amador, and Angel Aquino. It was also selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.
It is very much about the perils of arming civilians in remote villages to counter armed rebellion by groups associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and secessionist Muslims, emboldening the armed citizens in the government created CHDF (Civil Home Defense Forces) to commit abuses among the citizens. The actors who were at the press conference like to think the film is a reflection of what’s happening in the country now.
Of course, that’s what they think and I don’t agree with them. They are tad emotional about their experience while shooting the film that they embraced the reality created by Diaz in the film, and think it would make a good copy if they try to link the film’s subjective reality to the objective reality in the society these days.
Yet, they are performers and I anticipated they’d be speaking and acting like they are resurrected activists.
Meanwhile, Hollywood trade paper, Variety, praises the film and the director for remaining “emphatically his own artist, whether to exhilarating or punishing effect,” saying the movie has some “raw, stirring interludes.”
Other film critics hail Diaz for his stirring masterpiece. “It’s visually that Season of the Devil ranks among Diaz’s best work,” writes Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian describes the director as a real auteur: “every millisecond of his film has been rigorously created.”
Desistfilm writer Aldo Padilla says, “Lav is probably the freest famous filmmaker today.” Jonathan Romney of Screen Daily calls it “A film of boldness and considerable beauty.”
After garnering such praise, it’s only fitting that the Filipino public be able to #PlayItRight and watch the movie in cinemas, supporting not just the movie, but the local film industry. Globe Studios Head Quark Henares, shares, “It is important that we all support our local directors and movies because they create works that are truly world-class and deserving of a local and international audience.”
#PlayItRight is Globe Telecom’s continuing advocacy campaign in support of the entertainment industry by encouraging Filipinos to enjoy entertainment through legitimate means such as cinemas and legal streaming apps. The initiative encourages audiences to enjoy entertainment only through legitimate means, protecting the rights of the filmmakers, actors, and the crew who have dedicated their time and talent in making their movie projects. An award-winning short film from Far Eastern University will be screened as part of the Diwa Filipino Film Showcase at Seattle Center Armory Loft 1 in the United States on June 2 and will compete at the ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival in China from June 9 to 17.
Pua Iyam (Coming Out), a film about a Filipino-Chinese student (Rowi Du) who discovers his true identity and feelings for his childhood friend (Raphael Cruz), further spreads its cinematic reach to other countries. This comes after it bagged the Best Screenplay and Best Actor in a Lead Role awards at the 9th Largabista Film Festival in Tacloban City, Leyte and a special citation on gender sensitivity from the first Palawan International Film Festival.
Written and directed by Juan Pablo Pineda III, the film previously won several awards from different student film competitions starting from its home turf in FEU then moving on to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, University of the Philippines-Diliman and Mapua University.
“Pua Iyam is a film that is close to my heart. There are reasons why I should not give up—my goals and my brother, who’s in a comatose condition. As soon as he wakes up I would like to give these awards to him,” the writer-filmmaker said.
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Cesar Montano is out of Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). He resigned and President Duterte accepted his resignation, allowing the new Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat to name an officer in charge.
She appointed Arnold Gonzales, who has been with the TBP for 30 years, after he was unanimously chosen by the Board of Directors of TPB.
The 56-year-old career executive has been assigned at various posts here and abroad. Prior to his designation, Gonzales was OIC of Domestic Promotions Department of the TPB.
Will the new appointment be better than Montano? We will see.