Yes, movies entertain us with tantalizing fiction stories, but they, too, convey messages from the past, influence opinions, impart information, and reflect culture – the Iloilo cinema culture, that is. Films don’t always create another world, they also show reality and its manifestations.
What’s captivating about this craft is the integration of its aspects – screenwriting, directing, editing and such – to stir the public’s emotions. Quite challenging, of course, but nevertheless: POSSIBLE. That kind of challenge is what pushes Ilonggos to our creativity. And when it pushes us within that direction, that’s where the fun begins. To point it our – creativity is fun. No wonder there are people who are willing to venture into this craft.
Brief History of Iloilo Cinema
As collated by in the writings of historian-filmmaker Nick Deocampo in a research done by Doreen Fernandez, films have already been showing outside of Manila as early as 1897 through the feat of Señor Pertierra, a Spanish expatriate and a certain Englishman with only the surname Bischoff. Mr. Bischoff was the first to show films in Iloilo in 1903. These were short features of film compamy Cinematographo Pastor and were screened nightly from 6:30 to 9:30 in the evening in Bischoff’s bodega or camarin in Calle Real.
Other companies have begun to rise such as Cinematografo Insular (which arrived in Iloilo from Manila in 1905), Cinematografo Teatro Colon and Cinematografo Parsien.
To coincide with the rising of such film companies, there came the establishment of movie houses in Iloilo. Among them are Cine Oriente, Cine Palace and Cine Lyrik (which later became Cine Lyric). In 1919, one highlighted event that happened and stood out in that decade was the showing of the first full-length Tagalog feature film in Iloilo – Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid.” Thousands of Iloilo film buffs went to see the movie and were highly moved by it.
A decade later, the number movie theaters had doubled to ten, this includes: Cine Lyric, Rex Theater, Cine Republic, Cine Commonwealth, Cine Eagle (now known as The Eagle Building) and Cine Palace – the oldest existing movie theater in the Philippines. Cine Palace or Palace Theater is presently known as The Regent Arcade and was built in 1928. It has retained its facade in the neo-classical form, however, the interiors were renovated in the late 1970’s or early 80’s.
Sources:
Film Development Council of the Philippines. (2011). Iloilo Cinema: A rich and colorful history. Sineng Pambansa, National Cinema Newsletter vol.2, issue no. 4. p.1-3
Film Development Council of the Philippines. (2011). 2012 Iloilo International Film Festival features indie, foreign films. Sineng Pambansa, National Cinema Newsletter vol.4, issue no. 1. p.1
This article first appeared on C! Travel. And, yes, I wrote this piece where I was the Art Director and writer for the said magazine in 2013
What motivated you, guys, to render free workshops all over the country?
S: The workshops are part [of the goals] of the Audio- Visual Development Program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). We tried to get in touch with our friends (gestures), with Nap Jamir II, Luis Liwanag, Jordan Arabejo and some others. They help us with all of these workshops.
N: It goes hand-in-hand with the general purpose of the FDCP to be able to propagate and expand the appreciation and production of film throughout the country. So, these workshops are a big help, in order to be able to nurture and create an interest among the people and to be able to have the incentive to make their own movies.
J: I think that said it all because that’s the purpose of these workshops so that people can learn how to make films or semi-professionals can touch-up with their skills and to support the local film industry.
What are the misconceptions people have about filmmaking?
N: When people talk about film, they are looking at Viva type or Star Cinema filmmaking. I guess we, in our own ways, what we are trying to do is to dispel that myth, that misconception because anybody can actually make a movie, whether s/he is using just a cellphone camera or a handycam. In these days, what they [people] try now is – like I said before in the workshop – this is the particular time when most people have the opportunity and the ability to make movies on their own. You don’t need a lot of money, you don’t need big-name actors, you don’t need much. All you have to do is tell your story.
How do you see or how do Ilonggos fare in the world of filmmaking?
L: Well, for me, this is the first time I went to Iloilo. I was surprised to see a lot of activities going on this time. We have noticed that almost everybody is well-versed with Cinematography and Photography in general; there are a lot of talents here you can tap. They [Ilongos] make good films, there are a lot of good stories here; it gives them a voice in the filmmaking industry.
S: Well, the workshop confirmed our suspicion or knowledge that the Ilonggo film community is very vibrant.
Do you have any advice or tips for our aspiring filmmakers out there?
N: Just do it (laughs).
S: Go out. Shoot. Edit. Make a film
N: The thing there is that – what I’m trying to say is – especially the people who took the workshop – what we would really like to do is be able to have a form of continuance and of sustainability. People are like…they do this and after a while they stop. And I think that it has been proven in the past, like in 2008 I came here and gave a small workshop. One of the participants there, Rhodora, she took what she picked up from the workshop and in a couple of months, on their own, they made their own movie and it was the **first full length Ilonggo movie. And it was so “IN”, people were watching, and then there were more films coming from this place [Iloilo] taking part of the national film scene.
What I’m saying is, continue doing films and I’m sure the quality and the vibrancy will always be there.
J: Keep making films. Keep telling your original Ilonggo stories in the film corp.
L: Go learn about it as a start. Go learn in workshops for in-depth knowledge of Cinematography, Photography and Filmmaking in general as a start. And having you invite people from Manila and other places to collaborate and engage people here, like, what I saw was, people learning about teamwork, telling their own stories in their own way. Cinematography and Photography are really forms of expression, because not everybody can, you know, voice out easily [with words]. But with Cinematography or Photography you give your own voice channeled visually. If Ilonggos do it [filmmaking] all the time, then they will make some noise in the Philippine or global film industry.
Notes
- Sir Nap Jamir II was referring to the movie “DAGYANG”, which is considered as the first full-length Ilonggo film directed by Atty. Joenar Pueblo.
- This article first appeared on C! Travel where I was the Art Director and writer for the said magazine in 2013
- Photos used for the magazine were duly paid to the photographer by our past editors
- Little edits were made for this article
- Some portion of the text was also used by Wikipedia duly credited to the original writer and with dead links to mine. See below.
