FAP LAUNCHES SILVER ANNIVERSARY PROJECTS WITH CONCERT
By Jose N. Carreon


It’s all systems go for the flagship projects of the Film Academy of the Philippines to celebrate its silver anniversary this year with the successful staging of the concert Hindi Kita Malimot…Kantang-Kanta, Pelikulang-Pelikula at the Mall of Asia last Tuesday, March 27.

The concert paid tribute to the composers of movie theme songs that won awards and had been installed in the country’s treasury of classical movie theme songs. The composers included those who have already passed away—George Canseco, Restie Umali, Tony Maiquez, Levi Celerio, Juan Silos and Ernani Cuenco.

But take heart, many of their peers are still with us, in effect, assuring that more unforgettable movie theme songs will spice up our local films for years to come. Still active as musical scorers and composers are Willy Cruz, Rey Valera, Ryan Cayabyab, Vehnee Saturno, Louie Ocampo, Lutgardo Labad, and singer-composers Ogie Alcasid and Gary Valenciano.

Present were Prof. Josefino Cenizal, the composer of Hindi kita Malimot, the song, and Pablo Vergara (the composer of Bakit Ako Mahihiya?) who conducted the Film Academy Symphony Orchestra during the concert.


Hindi Kita Malimot, the concert, was a joint undertaking of the FAP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Eight Elephants Production and ABS-CBN. The concert will be telecast over Channel 2 on April 15, 2007.

The venue for the affair—the One Esplanade hall of Mall of Asia—was filled with concert-goers as early as 6 p.m. to partake of dinner prior to the show which started at a little pass 9 p.m.

All in all, the compact one hour and forty minute show was class A entertainment with the presence of Pops Fernandez, the evening’s principal emcee, and veteran singers like Pilita Corrales, Basil Valdez, Gary Valenciano, and Andrew E, as well as veteran actors and actresses like Aiza Seguerra, Lani Mercado, Michael de Mesa, Rica Peralejo, Ricky Davao and Tirso Cruz III.

The balanced cast of performers also included Bea Alonzo, Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, as well as the set of young and new singers like Christian Bautista, Frenchie Dee, Gerarld Anderson, Iya Villaña, Jed Madela, Jett Pangan, Karel, Kim Chiu, Mark Bautista, Nikki Gil, Spanky Trinidad, Pokwang, Sheree, Sheryn Regis, Sitti and Yeng Constantino.

Several groups also performed, including the Jeepney band, The Company, the winners and finalists of Little Big Stars and the Man Power Dance Group.

The concert project was a brainchild of Directors Vergara and William Mayo who sought partial funding from the NCCA for this silver anniversary project.

The concert succeeded in focusing on the immortal movie theme songs and their composers in one glorious night of singing starring personalities in both the film and music industries.

The list of award-winning songs featured in the concert included immortal classics like the following:

Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw, Kahit Konting Pagtingin and Sapagka’t Kami’y Tao Lamang, by Levi Celerio and Antonio Maiquez; Bato sa Buhangin by Ernani Cuenco;

Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, Kastilyong Buhangin, Misis Mo…Mister Ko, and Paano Ngayon Kung Wala ng Kahapon by George Canseco;

Bituing Walang Ningning, Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap, Maging Akin Ka Lamang, May Minamahal and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas by Willy Cruz;

Maging Sino Ka Man and Sinasamba Kita by Rey Valera; Paraisong Parisukat by Ryan Cayabyab; Pangako ng Kahapon and Sana Maulit Muli by Vehnee Saturno; Hindi Kita Malimot by Prof. Josefino Cenizal; and Bakit Ako Mahihiya? by Pablo Vergara.

The concert was the first in a series of silver anniversary activities that the Academy has lined up inspite of the financial constraints it is at present undergoing. Also scheduled are the Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival, the Pelikulang Pampanitikan program, the nationwide Pride and Values Campaign and finally, the 25th Luna Awards.

SALIN GAMIT

The Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival is a cultural exhibit featuring objects owned by celebrities particularly movie stars. The project aims to focus on the Filipino tradition of “pamana” where a valued object is turned over to another person in the form of inheritance. Donors will come from personalities in the entertainment, literature, arts, journalism, government and other fields.

Aside from the exhibit ala-museum cum art gallery, there will be nightly sing-along and concerts with live bands, fashion shows, product launchings, documentaries, film showings and a lot more activities. The month-long festival will culminate in a bidding where the exhibited objects will be sold to the public.

Brand Review, Inc., thru its subsidiary Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival, Inc, is the producer of the event. The memorandum of agreement was recently signed by FAP Director General Leo Martinez and Espie Vivas, Marketing Director of Brand Review, Inc., who is the project manager of the festival at the FAP office on Panay avenue, Q.C.. The MOA signing was witnessed by film directors Jose Carreon and William Mayo, Nick Tayag and Ericson Revilla.

The Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival is to be held at the third level of Ali Mall Shopping Center at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City from April 25 until May 19, 2007. The public is invited.

PELIKULANG PAMPANITIKAN

As to the Pelikulang Pampanitikan project, Director General Martinez said that they plan to come up with the first three films as soon as the NCCA released the financial requirements for at least three pilot ventures. He said that the Academy is hoping to produce several films for the Pelikulang Pampanitkan series during its 25th anniversary this year.

Meetings had already been held for the possible filming of an Ilokano epic poem, Biag ni Lam-ang. A FAP working committee has decided to produce a trilogy of short stories based on Filipino literary materials in the curriculum of the collegiate level as its pilot for the feature film category.

Two other pilots will be simultaneously produced-- for the short film (10 to 15 minute running time) category which will be based on a literary material being taken by high school students; and the shorter film (three to eight minute running time) category which will be based on materials in the elementary level.

As proposed by the FAP, the feature film will have a budget of P2 million, half a million pesos for the short film and P200,000 for the shorter film.

This ambitious FAP project aims to build up a library of films based on literary Filipino masterpieces. Pelikulang Pampanitikan will showcase published literary works by Filipino authors – legends, children’s stories, poems, short stories, novels, plays – literature that are being taught in our elementary, high-school and college levels. These selected Filipino literary works will be interpreted visually in digital format as full-length feature and short films, by selected filmmakers who are also guild members affiliated with the Film Academy of the Philippines.

The finished films will be shown in scheduled exhibitions in theaters in Metro Manila and other key cities in selected provinces with students as the primary targeted viewers. In areas without theaters, mobile exhibitions may also be arranged in coordination with local schools and organizations. Ultimately, the finished films will also be reproduced in VCD to be distributed extensively at popular prices to schools, libraries, to educators, students, to embassies and consulates, and to the general public.

Pelikulang Pampanitikan is an education-directed project that hopes to generate better understanding of and a deeper appreciation for our Filipino literature and their writers. Through this project, we give due recognition to our own Filipino literature and their authors and writers, at the same time that we provide our schools with a video library of literature materials for the students.

The films under the Pelikulang Pampanitikan program will be exhibited in regular theaters in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country. The Department of Education will be requested to provide schools the viewing schedules so teachers and students can be organized to view the films as aid to Literature/English subjects and courses. In areas where no theaters operate, mobile exhibitions may be schedule by the Project Organizers in coordination with the local schools or organizations.

The finished films will become the property of the Film Academy of the Philippines which will take responsibility in their exhibition and promotion. After the prescribed exhibition period, the films will be produced in VCD for sale to interested individuals and institutions.

VALUES AND PRIDE CAMPAIGN

Director General Martinez also met with officials of Malacañang’s Presidential Management Staff (PMS) to start the groundwork for a nationwide Values and Pride Campaign wich will involve 81 provinces.

Martinez said that th Academy is willing to provide the technical components and the manpower to assist the individual provinces to produce documentaries about personalities, products and tourist spots which they can be proud of.

PMS officials suggested the launching of this nationwide program during the forthcoming Independence Day in June where the President can proclaim a Values and Pride Day or Week.

LUNA AWARDS

As for the culmination of the silver anniversary activities, the Academy has scheduled a July 14 or 21 date for the 25th Luna Awards.

The Academy has released a list of A or B films rated by the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Film Development Council of the Philippines from where the FAP citers can cull their maximum 15 possible nominees for the various award catehories.

The CEB rated films are as follows:

From Star Cinema—Don’t Give Up on Us (B), Close to You (B), All About Love (B), Sukob (B), You Are the One (B), First Day High (B), Donsol (A), Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (A) and Pacquiao, the Movie (B), co-produced with FLT Films..

From Regal Entertainment Inc.—Pamahiin (B), White Lady (B), Eternity (B), Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah (A), Shake, Rattle & Roll 8 (B), Super Noypi (B), TXT (A), co-produced with APT Films, and I Will Always Love You (B), co-produced with GMA Films.

From GMA Films—Moments of Love (B), Till I Met You (B), co-produced with Viva Films and I Will Always Love You (B), co-produced with Regal Entertainment Inc.

From Centerstage Productions—Twilight Dancers (B) and Kaleldo (B).

From CM Films—Ligalig (A).

From FLT Films—Pacquiao, the Movie (B), co-produced with Star Cinema.

From Imus Productions—Kapag Tumibok ang Puso (B).

From Maverick Films—Barcelona (B), digital.

From MLR Films—Kubrador (A).

From Phil. Convergence Ent.—Ang Pamana (A).

From APT—TXT (A), co-produced with Regal Entertainment Inc.

From UFO Pictures—Sarong Banggi (B), digital.

From Unitel Pictures—Inang Yaya (A).

From VIVA Films—Till I Met You (B), co-produced with GMA Films.