September happens to be the birth month of three of the country’s best filmmakers: the late National Artists Gerardo “Gerry” de Leon and Ishamel Bernal, as well as Celso Ad. Castillo. Their influence is undeniable and until this day, many Filipino film students study and are inspired by their movies.
As a tribute to these great men, Cinema Centenario at Teacher’s Village in Quezon City is holding a retrospective of their films this month, starting Saturday.
For only PHP200 (US$3.73) cineastes can watch the films below, all of which were digitally restored and remastered by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project.
Banaue: Stairway to the Sky by Gerry de Leon (Sept.8, 6:30pm)
A young Ifugao named Banaue (Nora Aunor) falls for a warrior (Christopher de Leon) and together, they work on their land and build a life of their own. However, other tribes want to claim their property, which sparks off a bloody conflict.
Further complicating things, Banaue becomes enamored of the man who killed her father (Ronaldo Valdez).
This was de Leon’s last film and happens to be Aunor’s first foray into serious, dramatic roles after a slew of teen-oriented movies.
Also starring: Johnny Delgado, Ben Perez, Gloria Sevilla, Andres Centenera, and Eddie Villamayor.
Nunal sa Tubig by Ishmael Bernal (Sept.9, 1:30pm)
A boatman (George Estregan) carries an affair with two women: his regular passenger Chedeng (Daria Ramirez) and her friend, the midwife Maria (Elizabeth Oropesa). The two women are unaware that they have both fallen for the same man, and the discovery will end in tragedy.
Also starring: Rustica Carpio, Tony Carreon, Leticia De Guzman, Tita De Villa, Pedro Faustino, Lem Garcellano, and Nenita Jana.
Virgin People by Celso Ad. Castillo (Sept. 14, 10pm)
A man raises his three daughters (Janet Bordon, Myrna Castillo, and Pepsi Paloma) deep in the forest where they remain innocent of the ways of the world. The daughters’ lives change when he dies, leaving them vulnerable to men who are out to take advantage of them.
Also starring: Ernie Garcia and Joonee Gamboa.
Himala by Ishmael Bernal (Sept. 15, 4pm)
Believed to be Aunor’s best performance, Himala is loosely based on the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary on an island in Occidental Mindoro in the late 1960s up to the early 1970s.
It’s the story of Elsa (Aunor), who brings fame and fortune to her drought-ridden hometown of Cupang when she reports seeing apparitions of the Virgin. As people from all over the country converge in Cupang, Elsa is forced to speak the truth about the apparitions.
Himala has been staged several times into a musical, but the original material upon which it was based continues to enthrall audiences.
Reader Interactions