Each year, Lent descends on the Philippines like a sweltering pall as it joins the rest of Christiandom in the tradition of “Cuaresma.” This dramatic celebration is repeated in countless towns and city throughout the country. In Zamboanga del Norte, the cathedral in Dipolog City becomes the center of these commemorations.
Join us in this photographic journey with lensmen Freger Reyes and Aleksi Mari Gumela as they bring us vivid, emotional images of this year’s Viernes Santo.
I was lucky enough to be able to visit Dipolog after 2 years of trying to find my path here in the States. I was there for exactly 20 days—the 20 days where I could speak Bisaya and everyone would understand; where I did not need to use the pedestrian lane or watch for the stop sign; there I indulged myself to balut, lanzones, mangosteen, ginanggang, tambis and I get to eat my favorite cake there from Grandma’s Best. My brother picked me up at the airport, and when we were driving in the highway, I felt terrified for the roads seem so small! I was panicking inside the car! Kuya said that I am overwhelmed by just everything and that obviously two years is a long time. I had the chance to hang around with my favorite teacher, I would sit at the back of her class and try not to interfere while she was lecturing. We went to one of her hang-outs (the one on the picture the Feather Port in Galas) and shared some secrets.
A couple of incidents I encountered there: I stopped by the gas station, grabbed my wallet and stepped out of my car and was confused on where to slide my credit card. My bestfriends who were with me were laughing just then I realized, so I went back in and was blushing the whole time. Second, I had an alarming allergy during New Year’s so I went to the emergency at Provincial Hospital. The doctor just asked what did I ate, where are my rashes and red spots then wrote me a prescription—that was less than a 5 minute assessment! Luckily, he prescribed me the right medication and my rashes were gone the days after. Third, I talk on my cellphone like I have a unlimited call plan. Most of my high-school batchmates were texting me too yet complaining that my response is too slow for them and that I could not relate to their jokes. I get to speak infront of all the graduating students of Sicayab National High (where I also graduated) and talked about the difference of the educational system of both countries. I made a lot of memories with my Kuya, my Lolo and Lola, my Mentor and my bestfriends. Surely enough, Dipolog is still home, well second home for me.
Joy Martinez is a 2nd year student at Harper College, Palatine. – Ed
Handuraw Festival commemorates the fruitful stay in Dapitan of the country’s National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, while in exile following political persecution against him by the Spaniards from 1892 to 1896. Handuraw, is a Visayan term that means recollection or flashback.
Chicago, IL — Celebrating the 45th year since its founding, the Chicago International Film Festival shines its spotlight on two independent films from the Philippines.
Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize winner, The Rapture of Fe (Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe) was selected for the After Dark Program, while the gay-themed, The Thank You Girls was picked for the World Cinema and OUTragegous categories.
“Chicago is a great global society. We live in a great immigrant community and we are very diverse. It [festival] represents the whole world,” Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Jr., said during the opening night, where he also welcomed actress Uma Thurman, the Career Achievement Award recipient. Thurman also came for the premiere of her new movie, Motherhood.
Film festival founder Michael Kutza praised the participation of young Filipino filmmakers at the festival, the oldest in North America. “We have two great movies at the festival. One terribly, terribly dramatic ghost story, and the drag film which is a riot,” he said.
A the same interview, Kutza recalled how he helped former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos organize the Manila International Film Festival.
Kutza stayed in Manila for two years, including the time that the controversial Manila Film Center was built. “I love her [Imelda]. She’s fun. We had a lot of fun with Marcos, the family and everybody. We brought a lot of stars and directors there,” he said.
“I love the Philippines. I’ve been there in some amazing monsoon, so I’ll never forget that,” Kutza added.
At the international premiere of Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe, the film’s executive producer Alem Ang, dedicated the work to the typhoons victims in the Philippines.
“The film is a testament to the Filipino people’s resiliency,” Ang said during a short presentation.
In an earlier interview Ang said that they wanted to present a “world-class” film that does not only center on poverty. “There’s so much more about Filipino culture that needs to be discussed. So we thought of adding a new element to our story about battered women, which is Philippine folklore,” Ang explained.
“We’re very, very excited when we received the news,” Ang recalled after hearing from the Chicago Film Festival committee. The next stop for the Alvin Yapan-directed film is Egypt for the Cairo Film Festival.
Meanwhile, The Thank You Girls, a story about drag beauty pageant contestants, had its Chicago premiere Monday, October 12. The Visayan-language film is directed by Charliebebs Gohetia, and backed by Brooklyn Park Pictures.
The festival runs until October 8 to 22, and will feature an estimated 91 films from around the globe. An Oscar buzz is already swirling around its festival centerpiece, Precious, a story of a 16-year old African American girl who defied the odds of poverty and personal tragedies. The film is backed by Chicago-based Oprah Winfrey.
The Chinese box-office hit, Red Cliff was featured in the Gala Presentation, attended by Director John Woo.
Last year, the eventual Oscar Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival. Earlier this year, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds was also featured at its Summer Gala.
(“Letters from Chicago: 45th Chicago International Film Festival puts spotlight on 2 Filipino directors”. Photos and story by Ted Regencia)
