When all these pretty and handsome bunch of kids (especially the young ladies) began accepting their awards with shrieks, tears, giggles, braveness and over-powering triumphs of hopes and love, one would feel that the real cause of what Cinemalaya film festival was all about had indeed reached its truest intent.
Seeing these kids embracing their dreams right there on the very stage of Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines) as they held-on tight with their trophies, clung upon it deeper and delivered their winning victory speeches, surely, you would say to yourself: "LET THE YOUNG CHILD DREAM".
That was the night of the awarding ceremonies of the most-respected indie film festival in the Philippines- the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2019, year 15. It was the night of July 11, and as early as 2 p.m., Cinemalaya habitues, supporters, fans and friends were already oozing-in at the CCP, hanging-around and waiting for the 6 p.m. official lining-up to enter the Main Theater. Some media people were also early upon arrival, like bloggers Evo Joel Contrivida and "us" (Robert Manuguid Silverio). Other showbiz people also came-in early, yeah, to catch the last screenings of the most successful film this year at the Cinemalaya 15- that was the film "John Denver Trending".
As the winds outside the side but smaller entrance of the CCP (the main facade entrance of the CCP was still closed by that early time in the afternoon) blew stronger and the sun shone a little brighter on that mid-afternoon hour, one soul began capturing the true 'spirit' of this fest. It was a different spirit this time. More vibrant and candid, and a lot younger in smells and tunes.
The excitement never failed. In the faces of mostly young students, young professionals and young aspiring film artists that overwhelmed the basement lobby and most of all, the main lobby of the CCP, you would feel a younger kind of Cinema about to explode and burst into many different forms.
The very first celebrity who came-in early and visibly was film director Neal Tan. Coming in right after was another film director in person of Ces Evangelista and short film maker Dexter Macaraeg. Social Media 'influencer' Dennis T. Sebastian was also early, and the young directors of the 'Shorts' film category were also early in hanging-around the many adjacent interiors of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
More and more people were coming-in. Especially the press people and those who were somehow connected with all the films exhibited at the fest this year. The very first to arrive of the Ensemble Cast film entry were the director and kid-actors of the film "Children of the River", headed by Ms. Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga (the director). Early media bloggers began taking pictures of them.
The tall and handsome director of the film "John Denver Trending" roamed around so happily. And theater and film actor Jude Matthew Sevilla was quietly sitting in one corner of the basement lobby as he played ML on his cellphone. Ha-ha.
Minutes and a couple of hours more passed. Suddenly, the hard, wooden doors of the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo opened-up. As the people about to watch the awarding rites lined-up and began entering the Main Theater- it was time for the great event bound to be seen and watched.
THE CINEMALAYA 15 AWARDING CEREMONIES.
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There was not much spectacle, after all. Yet. the result was even greater. That's how we described the presentation and the production values of the Awards Night. After the provocative "rainy" speech of Cinemalaya head- Ms. Laurice Guillen, and the prolonged introduction of each of the jury members (oh, my-r.s.*)-, the marathon of announcing the winners in many technical categories began right after the other, in an almost non-stop proclamations and distributions. You could hardly hold-on to your breath as the winners got high, tearfully cried and almost jumped coming to the very center stage.
Thanks God, there were the Itchy Worms, the Cinemalaya dancers, the Philippine Philharmonic orchestra, one lone female ballet dancer, a handsome male singer to cut in-between the second part of the program. By the way, the theme song of Cinemalaya was sung at first number of the presentation and it revived the true spirit and nationalistic pride of this prestigious film festival.
The musical, song and dance numbers were history unfolding to the very eyes of all the Cinemalaya film fest habitues who were all there watching at the audience. The musical and dance numbers were interpretative, showing vast and wide, past and present, young and old- Cinemalaya forms and grandeur up there on the LED screen.
Not so spectacular but powerful and brilliant in execution- the production numbers or musical breaks, we meant.
Minus the scene-stealing victory speech of veteran actor Ricky Davao and the funny Tagalog jokes of John Romeo Arcilla and Lou Veloso, indeed, it were the young that captured the 'awe's and ahhh's' of all those who watched this significant awarding night.
As it came to the highlights of announcing the major winners like the Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture- there came a deeper sense and meaning upon it all.
That Cinemalaya 15 never grew older. It became younger still. Amidst the 15 years of its existence- it's now like a boy turning into the Puberty age. A fine, handsome young man out to conquer more of the land.
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Seated at the very first row and center spot of the audience seat, a blogger looked behind the row that was at his back. And he saw the young and hopeful faces of the directors of the Short Films. He saw the future of the Philippine Cinema. And he remembered his old dear 'director-friends' who all had passed-away- like the late Maryo J. delos Reyes (r.i.p.), the late Celso Ad Castillo (r.i.p.) and the late Gil Portes (r.i.p.).
This time around, he will let the younger people dream. As he remembered that very night he went back at the CCP (after a few months) to watch the film "Children of the River". It was raining then, and his hands and feet were soaked by the rain.
Suddenly, a very young and pretty Badjao girl held his hand and showed him the 7-11 store for refuge. This young girl gave him assistance, hope and a place to go and hide away from the rain.
They ate biscuits, drank coffee and Milo. And the little girl ate with her. He treated her. As jolly as she was, she said: "Gusto ko po, maging masaya po ang tatay at nanay ko. Paglaki ko po, bibili ako ng bahay namin, kasi po pinapaalis na kami sa bahay namin. Mag-aaral po ako at paglaki ko po, magiging masaya na po kaming lahat."
The little girl didn't see the person in front of her already crying. As he spoke to himself: "LET THE YOUNG CHILD DREAM".
He looked back, yes he looked back. At that very little girl, at the road he once passed by, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines where the film was shown, and at the rains fast catching him still.
Because the soul would linger.
AND THE SPIRIT LIVES ON-
FOREVER.
(as the words were written by: robert manuguid silverio)
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| the cultural center of the philippines: home of the cinemalaya film festival |
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