Filipinos are worth making good movies for

It was one time when I didn’t feel bad when I was told that there were no more tickets available for the film I wanted to watch.

I was so happy seeing the Cultural Center of the Philippines filled with people who love films. It showed that Filipinos yearn for good films. The scene disproved the condescending arguments of producers of silly films that they were just giving the Filipino audience what they want.

Cinemalaya showed that we have an abundant supply of cinema talents.

Last Saturday was the start of this year’s nine-day Cinemalaya film festival. Aside from CCP,participating theaters are in Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, and Fairview Terraces.

I’ve just watched Carlitos Siquion-Reyna’s “Hari ng Tondo.” Written by Bibeth Orteza, it stars Robert Arevalo, Rez Cortez, Aiza Seguerra, Rafa Siquion-Reyna, Cris Villongco.

But the real star of the movie is Tondo, that produced and nurtured hero warriors: Lakandula and Andres Bonifacio.

It’s a different kind of Tondo movie. It’s not a gangster film that the public identifies with Tondo but it a captures “the purgatory” atmosphere of the place. Yet, the movie is engaging.

I find the finale confrontation scene dramatic. I enjoyed Aiza Sequerra’s performance.

Katrina Stuart Santiago commented in Facebook: “I loved it. Ang galing na naamoy ko yung Tondo sa isang pelikula na ang linis ng pagkakagawa. And with a story that’s told with a light hand.”

Schedule permitting, I will try to catch up with the other films this week.

Director Joey Reyes shared in Facebook his impression of films he saw last Saturday: IST ko si 3RD, K’na the Dreamweaver, and Hustisya.

Direk Joey said: “Beautiful & heartwarming moments in Real Florido’s 1ST KO SI 3RD with inspired performances by Nova Villa and Dante Rivero. A long overdue vehicle for Nova Villa to have a movie all on her own about remembering and rediscovering love in the autumn of one’s life.

“A welcome comeback to a sorely-missed Mary Aiko Shimoji Melendez to the big screen in Louie Ignacio’s taut visual feast.

“ The Find of the Season: Ida del Mundo as a screenwriter and director in a stunning debut in K’NA THE DREAMWEAVER. Lyrical, poetic and almost mythical in its unfolding of a tale of a tinalak weaver with a rediscovered Mara Lopez in the title role. THE MUST SEE.

“And, as expected, Joel Lamangan’s HUSTISYA can be best summarized in two reverberating words: NORA AUNOR. Useless to elaborate. It’s all there.

“Hari ng Tondo and “Hustisya” are two of the movies in the filmfest’s Directors Showcase. The other are “Kasal” by Joselito Altarejos,starring Polo Ravales; “The Janitor” by Michael Tuviera, starring: Dennis Trillo, Richard Gomez, Irma Adlawan; and “Asintado” by Louie Ignacio.

Other entries : “Sundalong Kanin” by Denise O’Hara/Janice O’Hara; “Separados” by GB Sampedro; “Ronda” by Nick Olanka; “Mariquina” by Milo Sogueco;

“K’na, The Dreamweaver” by Ida Anita Del Mundo; “Children’s Show” by Derick Cabrido; and “Dagitab” (Sparks) by Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V.

Aside from CCP and Ayala cinemas, tickets are available at Ticketworld and National Book Store.