Mabuhay, Pinoy Cinema!

Cinema is perhaps the most sophisticated form of art that has taken the world by storm since its innovation in the past century. From the period the Lumieres premiered the first motion picture, and until now, cinema has never been in better hands. It is a moving canvas of art, a graceful symphony of sounds, a vivid embodiment of words and ideas. The power of cinema spans across generations and places. The ingenious charm it possesses is a veritable force that cannot merely be extinguished by passage of time and modern advancement.

A film, in itself, is a multi-sensory splendor of thought, action and emotion. It is the culmination of days', months', and even years' worth of passion and perfection. It seeks to communicate its purpose; it revels in its manifested mystique. One can only look at a scene in a movie to understand how much effort everyone involved has took in the realization of the entirety, and therefore come to relish it.

The subject of a film is often the main focus of the cinemagoer's discernment. Universal topics such as love, self-discovery, family relations, war and peace -- commingle with the setting and the genre, together with an alternate perspective -- to take the audience to a quest which is both enriching and satisfying. And the world having as many tongues as there are cities, one cannot overlook the fact that culture plays a key role in cultivating the "talking pictures".

International cinema is a fascinating journey that does not require a dozen passports and a fistful of currency, but only a keen sense of details and an appreciation of all things new and varied. You don't have to travel far and wide to find out the liberal American lifestyle, the romanticized French cityscape, the subdued elegance of the Chinese, the religious devotion of the Hispanics, and so on. That is the beauty of cinema -- the world comes to you. It speaks, and makes you see an exquisite spectrum from a prism of eyes.

We Filipinos have so much to be proud of about our culture. It is a rich tapestry of age-old beliefs and traditions, fostered idealism, and adherence to the contemporary. We have a culture that is definitely unique and vibrant, throbbing from the pulse of every countryman. Who can match our famed hospitality and generosity? Or the way we possess that characteristic 'utang na loob' or value of indebtedness whenever a friend lends us a hand? And especially the collective behavior of constantly assuming a positive outlook in life in spite of insurmountable hardship? There is just so much that the whole world can learn about us.

We are a people who regard filial obligations and loyalty to our comrades in high esteem. We bear the brunt of labor in order to support our loved ones -- this is particularly evident with the mass of remittances coming into the country from Filipinos contracted for work abroad. We do not hesitate to help strangers in distress, even if we've got our own share of it. Tasks are better accomplished through a cooperative endeavor like Bayanihan, which in turn encourages camaraderie and brings out the best in everyone. There are many other traits Filipinos have that are worthy of emulation, but what I definitely find most admirable is that unquenchable zest for life!

There is always a downside to every story. The Philippines is still classified as a third-world country, and poverty is still the top issue to be dealt with. Crimes still abound, there is an ongoing threat of terrorism; and while the economy may be doing fine, its performance is not enough to respond to continual unemployment and the fear of foreigners who consider investing in the nation. There seems to be bad news in the headlines just about every day.

Various films from preceding eras have taken an excellent introspection into the Filipino way of life, and there are amazing gems that have been produced in recent years -- a number have even been recognized in international film festivals -- but most, if not all, have been overshadowed by the country's big movie studios that churn out seemingly uninspired films that follow mostly in the way of Hollywood's hollow blockbusters and comedies, and the popular Asian horror genre. These studios appeal to the audiences with their movies featuring bankable celebrities and catchy plots, but usually leave out the quality and substance that makes a film truly worth buying a ticket for.

I applaud the hard work of our independent studios and filmmakers who, even with limited resources, manage to deliver films that cater to both the aesthete and the intellect. They are visionaries in the sense that they are able to see through mundane human conditions and turn them into a riveting portrait of the idiosyncrasies of man. There is also a rising trend in the form of digital film production and also the Internet's multimedia capabilities, where up-and-coming directors can experiment and be the next Brocka or Bernal, two of the many gifted directors that were successful in bringing the Filipino psyche to higher grounds.

It's somewhat appalling that it takes the global film scene to acknowledge the excellence of quality Filipino movies, for a majority of our own race to realize what immense talent we possess. If we can only gain more support for our “indie” filmmakers, have greater awareness of our innate creativity, and have a deeper appreciation of our culture, then we can promote and nurture that talent. Through the result of these efforts we can show what fine Pinoy cinema is all about -- not just to international film spectators and award-giving bodies -- but most importantly to ourselves, and emerge with honor and pride at the greatness, more than ever, of the Filipino spirit.