Cinema of the Philippines

BACKGROUND: The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th
century. They were ceded to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American
War.
In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel Quezon was
elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition.

In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces
and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control.

On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence from the
United States.

The 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos ended in 1986, when a “people power”
movement in Manila (“EDSA 1”) forced him into exile and installed Corazon Aquino as
president.
Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to
full political stability and economic development.

Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by
greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last
military bases on the islands.

Joseph Estrada was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-
president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in January 2001 after Estrada’s stormy
impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another “people power”
movement (“EDSA 2”) demanded his resignation.

Macapagal-Arroyo was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Benigno

Aquino III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. Rodrigo Duterte was
elected to a six-year term as President in May 2016.

The Philippine Government faces threats from three terrorist groups on the US
Government’s Foreign Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and 2007 scored some
major successes in capturing or killing key wanted terrorists. Decades of Muslim
insurgency in the southern Philippines have led to a peace accord with one group and
on-again/off-again peace talks with another.

CAPITOL: Manila

GOVERNMENT: Republic

Area Size: The Republic of the Philippines consists of an archipelago of 7,107 islands situated
SE of mainland Asia and separated from it by the South China Sea. The total land area is
approximately 300,000 sq km (115,831 sq mi), 67% of which is contained within the two largest
islands: Luzon, 108,171 sq km (41,765 sq mi) and Mindanao, 99,078 sq km (38,9254 sq mi).
Other large islands include Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, and
Masbate. Comparatively, the area occupied by the Philippines is slightly larger than the state of
Arizona. The Philippines' length is 1,851 km (1,150 mi) SSE-NNW , and its width is 1,062 km
(660 mi) ENE-WSW .

POPULATION: 106,164,998 April (2018)

RELIGION: The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than
86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized
Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations.

ETHNIC GROUPS: Ethnic groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%,
Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000
census)

UNEMPLOYMENT: The unemployment rate in July 2017 was estimated at 5.6 percent. The
unemployment rate in July 2016 was 5.4 percent

POVERTY AND WEALTH: In 1999, the National Statistics Office estimated that, of the 14.7
million families in the Philippines, the top 20 percent earned 14 times more (P502.1 billion) than
the lowest 20 percent (P35.8 billion). ... Urban poverty is caused by low household incomes and
the internal migration of poor rural families to urban areas.

GDP: 2,951.07 USD (2016) The GDP per Capita in Philippines is equivalent to 22 percent of the
world's average. GDP per capita in Philippines averaged 1605.84 USD from 1960 until 2016,
reaching an all time high of 2753.30 USD in 2016 and a record low of 1059.30 USD in 1960.

ECONOMY: The Philippines is primarily considered a newly industrialized country, which has
an economy transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and
manufacturing. As of 2017, GDP by Purchasing power parity was estimated to be at $986.980
billion

INDUSTRIES: Sales, Agribusiness, Business Process Outsourcing, Resorts, Call Centre,

Electronics INdustry, Casino Hotel, and Remittance

KEY EVENTS:

1. The Philippine Senate’s Rejection Of The US Bases Emboldened China.

2. The Philippine-American War Helped Stifle American Imperialism.
3. The Philippine Revolution Influenced Nationalist Movements Of Other Asian Countries.
4. The Fall Of The Philippines In World War II Saved The Rest Of Asia And Australia.
5. The EDSA Revolution Paved The Way For Other Nonviolent Revolutions.
6. The Moro Rebellion Led To The Development Of The .45 ACP Handgun.
7. Rizal’s execution killed the Spanish Prime Minister.
8. The Eruption Of Mt. Pinatubo Changed The Earth’s Climate.
NATURAL DISASTERS/DISEASES:

The Philippines is prone to Natural Disasters

Bohol earthquake, October 2013. ...

Typhoon Bopha, November – December 2012. ...
Pantukan landslide, January 2012. ...
Tropical Storm Washi, December 2011. ...
Typhoon Fengshen, June 2008. ...
Cyclone Durian, November 2006. ...
Guinsaugon landslide, February 2006. ...
Tropical Depression Winnie, November 2004.

Major food-borne and water-borne infectious diseases include bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever. Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis
pose considerable health threats as well. The water-contact disease leptospirosis is also a
common ailment.

FILM INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AND HISTORY: The cinema of the Philippines (Filipino:
Pelikulang Pilipino or Sine Pilipino) began with the introduction of the first moving pictures to
the country on January 1, 1897 at the Salón de Pertierra in Manila. The following year, local
scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere
Cinematograph. Early filmmakers and producers in the country were mostly wealthy enterprising
foreigners and expatriates, but on September 12, 1919, a silent feature film broke the grounds for
Filipino filmmakers. Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden), a movie based on a popular musical
play, was the first movie made and shown by Filipino filmmaker José Nepomuceno. Dubbed as
the "Father of Philippine Cinema", his work marked the start of cinema as an art form in the
Philippines.

Even with the problems currently facing motion pictures around the world, movies are still
considered as one of the popular forms of entertainment among the Filipino people, directly
employing some 260,000 Filipinos and generating around ₱2 billion revenues annually.

The Philippines was the last country to establish a national film archive, when one opened in
October 2011.

The Luna Awards honor the outstanding Filipino films annually and are voted by their own
peers. It is presented by the Film Academy of the Philippines. On the other hand, the Manunuri
ng Pelikulang Pilipino hands out the Gawad Urian Awards, which is well-known due to its
credible choices of winners. Currently, Box Office Mojo compiles the box office charts for this
country.

The formative years of Philippine cinema, starting from the 1930s, were a time of discovering
the film genre as a new medium of art. Scripts and characterisations in films came from popular
theatre and familiar local literature. Nationalistic films were also quite popular, although they
were labeled as being too subversive.

The 1940s and the war brought to the Philippine cinema the consciousness of reality. Movie
themes consisting primarily of war and heroism had proven to be a huge hit among local
audiences.

The 1950s saw the first golden age of Philippine cinema, with the emergence of more artistic and
mature films, and significant improvement in cinematic techniques among filmmakers. The
studio system produced frenetic activity in the local film industry, as many films were made
annually and several local talents started to earn recognition abroad. Award-giving bodies were
first instituted during this period. When the decade was drawing to a close, the studio system
monopoly came under siege as a result of labor-management conflicts, and by the 1960s, the
artistry established in the previous years was already on the decline. This era can be
characterized by rampant commercialism, fan movies, soft porn films, action flicks, and western
spin-offs.

The 1970s and 1980s were turbulent years for the industry, bringing both positive and negative
changes. The films in this period now dealt with more serious topics following the Martial Law
era. In addition, action and sex films developed further, introducing more explicit subject matter.
These years also brought the arrival of alternative or independent film in the Philippines.

The 1990s saw the emerging popularity of slasher movies, teen-oriented romantic comedies, as
well as sexually explicit adult films, although slapstick comedies still draw a large audience.
Genres of previous decades had been recycled with almost the same stories, and love teams,
which had been popular in the past, have reemerged.

The Philippines, which as one of Asia's oldest film industries, remains undisputed in terms of the
highest level of theater admission in Southeast Asia. Over the years, however, the film industry
has registered a steady decline in movie viewership from 131 million in 1996 to 63 million in
2004. From a high of 200 films a year during the 1980s, the country's film industry was down to
making a total of 56 new films in 2006 and around 30 in 2007. Although the industry has
undergone turbulent times, the 21st century saw the rebirth of independent filmmaking through
the use of digital technology, and a number of films have once again earned international
recognition and prestige.
NOTABLE FILMS:

MAYNILA SA MGA KUKO NG LIWANAG (Manila in the Claws of Light)(1975)

Director: Lino Brocka

Awards:
FAMAS 1976
Best Picture
Best Director-Lino Brocka
Best Actor-Bembol Roco
Best Supporting Actor-Tommy Abuel
Best Screenplay-Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr.
Best Cinematography-Mike De Leon

The movie that shatters any poor soul’s dream of making it big in the country’s capital city,
Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag succeeds in being both a love story (Julio Madiaga’s search
for the love of his life is one of cinema’s most tragic romantic stories) and a formidable social
commentary (on neoliberalism, on exploitation of cheap labor, among others). The first Filipino
film to show at the Cannes Film Festival is set in the slums of Manila. A beautiful girl gets raped
by her mother's lover, and then learns how to exact revenge.

HIMALA(1982)
Elsa saw the blessed Virgin Mary who had changed her life and caused a hysteria in a poor
isolated village.

Director: Ishmael Bernal

Writers: Ricardo Lee (story), Ricardo Lee (screenplay)
Awards:
-Chicago International Film Festival 1983
Bronze Hugo Ishmael Bernal

-Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2008 Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time

-Metro Manila Film Festival 1982

Best Art Direction-Raquel Villavicencio
Best Cinematography-Sergio Lobo
Best Editing-Ike Jarlego Jr.
Best Sound Engineering-Rolly Ruta
Best Supporting Actor-Spanky Manikan
Best Supporting Actress-Gigi Dueñas
Best Director-Ishmael Bernal
Best Film
Best Actress-Nora Aunor

KISAPMATA(1981)
Director: Mike De Leon
Writers: Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. (screenplay) (as Doy Del Mundo Jr.), Raquel Villavicencio
(screenplay) (as Raquel N. Villavicencio)
Awards:

Gawad Urian Awards 1982

Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor)-Vic Silayan
Best Supporting Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor)-Jay Ilagan
Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres)-Charito Solis
Best Cinematography (Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya)-Rody Lacap
Best Production Design (Pinakamahusay na Disenyong Pamproduksiyon)-Cesar Hernando
Best Music (Pinakamahusay na Musika)-Lorrie Ilustre
Best Sound (Pinakamahusay na Tunog)-Ramon Reyes

Metro Manila Film Festival 1981

Best Actor-Vic Silayan
Best Director-Mike De Leon
Best Editing-Jess Navarro
Best Screenplay-Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. -Raquel Villavicencio -Mike De Leon
Best Story-Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. -Raquel Villavicencio -Mike De Leon
Best Supporting Actor-Jay Ilagan
Best Supporting Actress-Charito Solis
Best Film

NOTABLE DIRECTORS:
Eddie Romero

2008 Teach Me to Love

2007 Faces of Love
1992 Noli me tangere (TV Movie)
1989 A Case of Honor
1988 Whiteforce
1987 Hari sa hari, lahi sa lahi

Lino Brocka

1976 Insiang
1975 Manila in the Claws of Light
1974 Weighed But Found Wanting
1989 Fight For Us
1984 this Is My Country
1988 Macho Dancer
1971 Tubog sa Ginto

Brillante Mendoza

2016 Ma Rosa
2009 Kinatay
2012 The Womb
2008 Service
2015 Trap
2005 The Masseur
2007 Foster Child

NOTABLE ACTORS

Alden Richards

2016- Imagine You and Me

2015 - My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
2014- The Day After
2013- 10,000 Hours
2012- Sosy Problems
2011- Ang Panday 2
Aga Muhlach

1995- Sana maulit muli

2011- In the Name of Love
2004- All My Life
2008- Love Begins with Hello
2007- A Love Story
2002- Kailangan Kita
1995- Basta’t Kasama Kita

Manny Pacquiao

2009- Wam Bam Pac’s The Man

2014- Manny
2016- Pacquiao: The Movie
2015- Kid Kulafu
2008- Anak ng Kuader
2005- Lisensyadong kamao
2008- Brown Soup Thing

Works Cited

“8 Famous Filipino Events You Didn't Know Influenced The World.” FilipiKnow, 20 Mar. 2018,

www.filipiknow.net/significant-events-in-philippine-history-that-changed-the-world/.

“Philippines - Location, Size, and Extent.” Encyclopedia of the Nations,

www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Philippines-LOCATION-SIZE-AND-

EXTENT.html.

“Philippines Ethnic Groups.” Philippines Ethnic Groups - Demographics,

 www.indexmundi.com/philippines/ethnic_groups.html.

Philippine Statistics Authority, 12 Sept. 2017,

psa.gov.ph/content/employment-rate-july-2017-estimated-944-percent.

“Religion in the Philippines.” Asia Society, asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines.

SCL. “50 Greatest Pinoy Films of All Time.” Pinoy Rebyu, 1 Aug. 2015,

pinoyrebyu.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/50-greatest-pinoy-films-of-all-time/.

“The Philippines: Healthcare and Diseases.” The Philippines: Healthcare and Diseases |

InterNations, www.internations.org/philippines-expats/guide/living-in-the-philippines-

15358/the-philippines-healthcare-and-diseases-2.

1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I

clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used

indentation and citation within the text.

4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the

bibliography in the text of the paper.

 5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another

way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or

originality.

8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the

research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Robert Gomulka Date: 4/10/2018

Trailer for Manila in the Claws of Light

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb_64cNknMA