You cannot be a cineaste if you haven’t seen an indie film and you haven’t seen the best of Baguio if you haven’t dropped by FDCP’s Cinematheque at the historic Casa Vallejo.
Indie Films to fill the viewership void in Cinemas By Art Tibaldo You cannot be a cineaste or movie aficionado if you haven’t seen an indie film and you haven’t seen the best of Baguio if you haven’t dropped by the Film Development Council of the Philippines’s Cinematheque at the historic Casa Vallejo. From a rodent’s lair that was unused for decades with a leaking roof, two levels of knocked down rooms of the old Casa Vallejo was resurrected and transformed into an art facility when FDCP entered into a lease agreement with its new owners for the Baguio Cinematheque. Now considered as a heritage site, the glass-less windows and bare ceiling of the edifice were replaced with gypsum panels and one side is now covered with a 12 feet by 20 feet silver screen. Prior to its inauguration and first screening in September 17, 2011, the construction and remodeling of the place was supervised by this writer who was called by FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos to serve as consultant and coordinator for Baguio’s Cinematheque. Being the first of its kind in the Philippines, the much anticipated launching of the Baguio Cinemathque became a big event in the City of Pines that was well attended by government officials, artists, filmmakers and cinema aficionados. Since its first showing of a Filipino classic “Anak Dalita”, A 1956 film by Lamberto Avellana starring Rosa Rosal and Vic Silayan, the Baguio Cinematheque received favorable media reviews and gained regular followers and viewers from the local community. Students from nearby University of the Philippines soon became regular cineastes and bookworms who frequented the adjacent Mountain Cloud Bookshop also found time watch free movies. Michael Angelo Zarate, the projectionist and marketing officer of the cinematheque doubled his effort to promote the film screenings in other schools and we likewise created Facebook pages that helped boost the promotion of FDCP’s film screenings and the turnout was truly effective. Zarate also noted regular cineastes from the academe, media, government agencies and the foreign community. With a mission to bring local films to Filipinos, the cinematheques in Davao, Ilo-ilo, Manila, Zamboanga and Baguio serves as an alternative and accessible venue for classic and contemporary films, including mainstream and independent Filipino films. Since 2011, the Baguio Cinematheque has hosted international film festivals that screened movies from Argentina, China, Japan, Israel, South Africa, Georgia and members of the European Union that were sourced through the FDCP's Film Cultural Exchange Program. Under supervision by FDCP Makati office and constant guidance by Chairman Santos and Executive Director Ted Granados, the two-man-team operation and social-media promotion of the Baguio Cinematheque became the benchmarking site and served as model for cinematheque management nationwide prior to the opening of Cinematheque de Manila. The pronouncement of multi-awarded actress Liza Diño who was recently appointed as the new FDCP Chairperson to help local filmmakers particularly those outside the National Capital Region is a most welcome move especially if grants and technical assistance be provided to local film producers who got what it takes to create good films but lacks finances. I was lucky to have produced indie films during my early twenties because of scholarships and film grants that I availed from the Goethe Institute, French Cinema Varaan and MOWELFUND when I attended a Cinema-as-Art workshop and short course on Filmmaking at the UP Film Center. With the Duterte administration’s recognition to culture as one of the main components in nation building, I am confident that independent films from the regions once fully supported and recognized by government agencies such as FDCP, NCCA, DepEd and local units can somehow fill the viewership void that came as a result of digital media marketing and piracy that greatly affected mainstream and big time movie production in the country. This e-magazine provides a narrative and pictorial mosaic of how Cinematheque Baguio became a part of the country’s northern art scene under the stewardship of a national government that truly puts value to culture and the arts.
Film council opens country’s first cinematheque in Baguio by Vincent Cabreza, PDI North Luzon Bureau / September 21st, 2011 BAGUIO City—A small room in the restored Casa Vallejo hotel on Session Road now serves as the country’s first cinematheque, a film archival cinema inspired by the Cinémathèque Française developed by a French film club in 1936. Like its European counterparts, Baguio Cinematheque will screen, for free, Philippine movies long forgotten or restored after years of neglect, said Briccio Santos, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The films have been converted into digital format, “so maintaining the cinematheque won’t be as costly as people may think,” he added. The FDCP is shouldering all expenses for the 75-seat theater. On Saturday night, the facility screened its opening film, “Anak Dalita,” from 1956, directed by Lamberto Avellana and featuring Tony Santos and Rosa Rosal. Benguet-based Japanese filmmaker Koji Imaizumi and Cordillera photographer Tommy Hafalla were among those who attended the inaugural screening. Coordinator Joel Arthur Tibaldo’s team distributed playbills of future screenings: the 1940 musical film, “Pakiusap”; Manuel Conde’s 1941 adventure film “Ibong Adarna”; and the 1939 drama, “Tunay na Ina.” Baguio was picked for the first cinematheque because of its large and diverse student population who may appreciate classic Filipino movies, Santos explained. Soon, three more Before the year ends, he said, three others will open in Iloilo, Marawi and Davao. The coordinators of these theaters—Princess Pacasum of Marawi, Dan Cartagena of Iloilo and Peter Lat of Davao— attended the Baguio event. In two years, FDCP will have established 16 cinematheques for 16 regions, said Santos. The Baguio launch “sets in motion the government’s task to retrieve and centralize all films under a national archive,” he told the Inquirer. Santos said he has urged President Benigno Aquino III to issue an executive order that would require all agencies to turn over their film inventory to the FDCP for preservation. He said studios like Regal Films, LVN Pictures and Sampaguita Pictures and the University of the Philippines Film Institute’s Film Center have either unloaded their inventory to the FDCP or are in the process of doing so. FDCP has custody of about 1,000 films, among them the 1937 film, “Zamboanga” (the oldest in the collection) featuring Fernando Poe Sr. Santos said the FDCP is “like a hospital,” having acquired equipment and skilled workers to restore films left to rot in government storage areas. “Many came to us in tangles; we hope to restore enough (portions) to create a digital copy.” Santos said Mike de Leon, one of the country’s top directors and cinematographers, has donated most of his editing equipment to the FDCP. France’s ministry of culture is sending two film archivists to train FDCP, he said, adding that many “missing” Filipino films are in abandoned stock rooms around the country, art house archives abroad, or kept by collectors. Negotiations Tibaldo turned over to Santos reels of Conde’s 1950 movie, “Siete Infantes de Lara,” which he found in a government warehouse. Santos said four films by the late Lino Brocka may be in France, and that there are more than 100 Filipino films stored at the United States Library of Congress. The Philippine government, he said, is negotiating to retrieve these films or obtain copies for the national archives.
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Learning from past disasters of Japan and RP By Art Tibaldo No matter how strong and damaging a disaster could be, it should not kill tradition for it is what keeps a family intact and the community helping one another. This is the gist of the 60th Year of Japan's Official Development Assistance with its theme focused on the family. Over the weekend, the Japan Foundation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Film Development Council of the Philippine featured two films that relates to the tragic disasters experienced by both Japanese and Filipino people during the past Tsunami and Typhoon Yolanda that devastated both Asian nations. Two documentary films were shown at the Baguio Cinematheque which is the venue of the 2014 Japanese Film Festival that happened for the third time in this city. The film entitled "Light Up Nippon" about the Japan’s Tsunami of 2011 and the effort of few to keep up with the age old tradition of fireworks was shown at the almost full house cinematheque. The documentary presented the devastation caused by the unprecedented quake and tsunami and Japanese people in despair about their future after the tragedy. Dreaming of what was considered an impossible undertaking in the midst of the anguish wrought by the tragedy, one man kept his hope and pushed for the launching of firework festivals simultaneously in ten different locations along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. This man's passion and sheer determination was able to rally and involve local residents to live and overcome their hopelessness. After Light Up Nippon, the video documentary of Koji Imaizumi, a Japanese filmmaker who has found Philippines his second home presented his film production in the typhoon stricken province of Leyte and nearby areas like Tacloban. Imaizumi’s approach of man -on-the-street interviews narrates revealing stories by those who witnessed and were affected by the strong typhoon and big waves that washed out their community. The people he caught on film were shown in their real and candid situation telling stories of how they lost their homes and loved ones. With an appropriately themed Japanese song as its musical background, Imaizumi’s documentary entitled "November 8th 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda landed on Leyte island" shows highly spirited Filipinos trying to hurdle the situation. Just like the people interviewed in Light Up Nippon, they say that tears may be necessary but then they have to move on with their lives. The festival at the Cinematheque runs from August 12 to 17 and admission is free. The film festival features 9 Japanese contemporary films such as “ROBO-G” and “The Voices from the Distant Star”. The festival travels in different universities in Baguio and La Trinidad from August to September. I was in Japan two decades ago as a JICA scholar under the Colombo Plan. My training on television production at that time did not only deal with the technical side of production but the Japanese mentors emphasized the importance of point-of-views. Our POVs differ according to our culture and country origin. We Filipinos once lived in Nipa Huts that when blown away by strong typhoons, it only takes few days to replace. The traditional white paper windows of Japan may have the same functionality and adaptability to weather especially during summer but I guess the main reason really is that it is lightweight and occupants are less likely to be injured or buried during earthquakes by falling heavy objects. Besides, the paper doors and walls were just on the inside of the house and not usually outside. The Cinematheque during the filmfest launching practically became a conference hall with top Japanese officials namely, Mr. Noriaki Niwa, JICA Chief Representative and Mr..Juro Chikaraishi, JICA Senior Adviser. Also present during the program were Governor Nestor Fongwan of Benguet, Mayor Edna C. Tabanda of La Trinidad, Dr.Esteban Piok of the Benguet General Hospital, Engr. Chapdian Tuho of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Engr. Ben Bautista of DPWH and FDCP Executive Director Mike Dela Rosa who welcomed the guests and visitor in behalf of the Film Development Council.
From, distributed flyers, formal written invitations, and mounted posters, we also used social media such as Facebook that later dovetailed to included twitter, instagram and others. Media reviews by local press and national correspondents also saw print in top publications.
Local Films screened in Baguio City for free A movie caravan toured the country through the FDCP’s cinematheques. Films set in Cebu, Davao, and Bicol were shown in the City of Pines for free as part of Cinema Rehiyon 6 Reloaded.
Rubbing elbows - Because the best part of the Cinematheque Baguio experience is the after-screening discussions with the filmmakers and talents, we do not only get to see their works on screen but we also prick their brains and literally hear insights from the horse’s mouth.
Since its opening in 2011, the Baguio Cinematheque has become a venue for premiere showings, film festivals and lectures including first time visits by celebrities and film producers. This photo compilation show various film personalities like Ed Finlan, Direk Mike De Leon, Lawrence Fajardo, Boy Yniguez, Kidlat Tahimik and others including foreign filmmakers and producers. It can also be noted that the façade and reception area of the Baguio Cinematheque also became a favorite spot for selfies.
Aside from the regular film screening of selected movies forwarded by the FDCP Film Archives and scheduled foreign film festivals that drew cineastes, the Baguio Cinematheque also served as the venue for film appreciation talks, cinematography lectures and the site for the first ever Baguio Film Festival. Various educational institutions such as the University of the Philippines-Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, Benguet State University and Saint Louis University also had tie-ups and collaborated film events that were endorsed and approved by FDCP management. The Baguio Cinematheque has also accommodated film screening requests by local organizations such as the Filipino - Japanese Organization in Northern Luzon and national government agencies such as the NAPOLCOM, DSWD, PIA and the City Tourism Office of Baguio. Above photo shows Japanese Embassy officials with Gov. Nestor Fongwan of Benguet and Mayor Edna Tabanda of La Trinidad with FDCP Executive Director Mike dela Rosa during the 2014 Japenese Film Festival.
Artist / Filmmaker Art Tibaldo serves as the Baguio based official coordinator and representative of FDCP management. He reports to the Chairman for administrative concerns particularly in the implementation of the mission, vision and goals of the Sineng Pambansa. A seasoned cameraman and journalist, he shares his knowledge and skills on media methods & techniques and this include photography, painting, news gathering and cinematography. He has also won independent film awards in the 80s and 90s.
The Projectionist
Behind the screenings — Michael Angelo Zarate, the bespectacled man behind the projection controls is shown with Tam Jewel Tibaldo of DFA-Baguio, Wilma Isleta and Ryan Esteban of FDCP and DJ Paolo San Juan of K-Lite Radio. Zarate regularly receives instructions from FDCP main office, reviews sent materials, checks equipments and submit reports after screenings. A multi-media savvy whose stint in digital animation and unquestionable virtuosity in both guitar and keyboards led him to be chosen as the right man for the cinematheque operation. A word frolicker with a knack in writing allegories, he is now writing his own indie scripts and it is no wonder that his own films will someday be shown at the cinematheque that he operates. Below photo shows him with Kidlat Tahimik, RP’s acclaimed Father of Filipino Independent Filmmakers and writer Desiree Caluza of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.