Beyond the confines of one of the Philippines’ most iconic structures, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) travels to Cagayan de Oro City to engage film enthusiasts and the public with films from some of the country’s top independent filmmakers.

CCP officials met the Cagayan de Oro press, along with bloggers, at Xavier University, October 11 to kick off Lakbay Sine.

Michelle Nikki M. Junia, president, Cultural Center of the Philippines, said, “CCP is not confined in the building. It is a structure, yes—an iconic structure as it symbolizes a lot of things about arts and culture, but let us be reminded that the mission of CCP is to really reach out to the far regions."

Mae Caralde, chief, Culture and Arts Officer Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division Production and Exhibition Department of CCP, said this year, Lakbay Sine is a re-launch of its previous runs that date back to 1986 into the 1990s, which were halted thereafter.

Caralde said, “Hindi naman talaga nakakulong ang sining at kultura sa isang gusali [Culture is not confined to a single, physical structure]—it should be with the people, amongst the people, and from the people.”

This year, the CPP partners with Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan for Lakbay Sine as the venue for the film screenings and workshops from October 11 to 15, 2023.

The Lakbay Sine program aims to popularize the motion picture masterpieces produced by Filipino filmmakers through a series of screenings and workshops. The program features films from the CCP collection, such as Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo.

Junia, for her part, said, “Gustong-gusto po nating masuportahan itong mga Filipino home-grown talents. Kami ay nagpupunta, once again, to various regions dito sa Mindanao [We really want to support our Filipino home-grown talents. We, once again, went to various regions of Mindanao]."

Visionaries

Director-screenwriter Dustin Celestino said that among the challenges a local filmmaker encounters is how others look at the quality of Filipino films, cultural differences, and the industry in general. Most notable is a comparison between the Korean film and television industry and that of the Philippines.

According to Celestino, Korean filmmakers get big financial backing from their government, and being a first-world country, their resources are able to sustain and develop their materials.

Celestino, however, clarifies that while Filipino filmmakers’ financial resources are scarce, “Pero sa opinyon ko po, mas mahusay ang mga Pilipino kasi yung gap natin sa industriya-sa financials naitatawid lang ng talent ng Pilipino [but in my opinion, Filipinos are very good, because we close the industry gap in terms of financials with pure Filipino talent]."

Celestino said he is thankful to government institutions like the CCP and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and said without their help, he would not have finished his film.

He said a healthy film industry could provide more funding support for filmmakers.

Celestino’s Cinemlaya film, “Ang Duyan ng Magiting,” stars Dolly de Leon, Bituin Escalante, Agot Isidro, Miggy Jimenez, Jojit Lorenzo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Paolo O’Hara, Joel Saracho, and Dylan Ray Talon. It is a collection of stories on life and violence in the Philippines, following the stories of a college professor, a university chancellor, a social worker, a police chief, two students, two mothers, and a lawyer.

“Maria” is the first documentary in the competition for Cinemalaya 2023. Directed by Sheryl Rose Andes, the documentary follows three women named Maria on their journey for truth, seeking justice.

Andes shares the challenges faced by documentary filmmakers aside from funding, especially during the pandemic, saying, “Distribution is a different battle, mas nasanay na tayo magtanong kung kailan ba iyan nasa Netflix [distribution is a different battle; we now are used to asking when a film would be streamed on Netflix]."

Andes said, as an educator, she personally would want her film to be screened either in churches or schools.

Lakbay Sine and beyond

CCP’s Mae Caralde said this Mindanao run of the Lakbay Sine is special since the first three runs were held in Luzon and featured the previous year’s Cinemalaya films, while the Cagayan de Oro run features the 2023 Cinemalaya films, among others.

Caralde said for Filipinos to counter “cultural colonialism” in film appreciation, we need to “divest, a sort of cleansing, a sort of re-appreciation of Filipino films.”

Lakbay Sine is an effort to bring back the interest of Filipinos in films and is done through a screening, talkback, and interaction workshop formula.

Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts Director, Dr. Hobart P. Savior, said, “The power of cinema shapes and hammers consciousness, so our voices are heard and our existence is dignified. We thank the CCP for bringing films that show our Filipino realities and sensibilities.”

The Cagayan de Oro program of Lakbay Sine also benefits from support from the Xavier University Office of Mission and Ministry, the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, the Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., the local government of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City, the Philippine Information Agency-10, CDO Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, the Department of Tourism-10, CDO Vice Mayor Jocelyn Bebot Rodriguez, and CDO Congressman Lordan Suan

Lakbay Sine aims to further introduce the works of our local filmmakers to students, educators, and film enthusiasts and enrich film appreciation. (SAYU/PIA-10)