This week is FEU’s turn in the second year of “FEUlikulahan” a film festival honoring five films that have earned accolades abroad. To be screened free at the FEU Theater are “Confessional” (Nov. 18, 3p.m.); “Himala” (Nov. 19, 3p.m.) and “Astig” (Nov. 19, 6p.m.); “Kinatay” (Nov. 20, 3p.m.) and “Lola” (Nov. 20, 6p.m.). In all the screenings, people involved in the production have been invited to ask questions in an open forum following the film showing.
“Confessional” is the least known of the four films presented. Directed by first timer Jerrold Tarog, it has already won Best Film in the First Features Category of the 10th Osian’s Cinefan in New Delhi , India in July 2008 where it competed with another Filipino entry, Jim Libiran’s “Tribu “ which we loved to death. I wonder why we missed out on “Confessional?” Will surely make it to the FEU screening. This same festival where Tarog won also gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to screenwriter Pete Lacaba who has sadly been away from the scene for at least a decade.
The digital film Confessional tells of a small-time filmmaker who goes to Cebu to document the Sinulog festival and stumbles upon an ex-politician who confesses his crimes for the camera. Is he telling the truth or is he like the camera manipulating the audience? Apparently the multi talented Tarog who writes, directs, scores films, and does sound engineering, was also winner in the Cinema One Originals and at the PMPC Star Awards for Movies. He is credited for the musical scoring of the much awarded Brillante Mendoza films “Kaleldo” and “Foster Child,” as well as Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Kubrador.” “Tarog” has finished a second feature “Magatyanan” which he says is a sequel to Confessional, the second in a trilogy of man and the camera. Truth versus fiction?
“Himala” is the best known film of Ishmael Bernal, if only for having Nora Aunor in the lead, and being brought back to the moviegoer’s attention by that recent award of CNN Best Film of all Time in the Asia-Pacific region. I have a special interest in this film, having stayed during its filming in the Paoay desert of Ilocos Norte 27 years ago. More than giving value to Nora who was already a celebrated talent at the time, it also practically launched the careers of such people before and behind the camera as Joel Lamangan, Racquel Villavicencio, Vangie Labalan, Pen Medina, Spanky Manikan, Joe Gruta, Richard Arellano, Ellen Ongkeko Marfil, and the late Ray Ventura.
“Astig” directed by GB Sampedro was 2009 Cinemalaya’s box office hit with a main cast of Dennis Trillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, Arnold Reyes, and Sid Lucero and cameo appearances ranging from Ai Ai delas Alas, Gardo Verzosa, Keana Reeves, to Boy Abunda himself who was one of the producers. This episodic rendering of people surving in the squalor of Manila was recently brought to the Pusan Film Festival. I remember the crowds at the CCP waiting for a glimpse of Dennis Trillo although Arnold ’s role was the best in the film. But let’s see what the FEU audience will think.
Next film scheduled may not be the most popular, but it certainly is the one that brought immeasurable pride to the Filipino filmmaker with Brillante ‘Dante’ Mendoza’s first ever award given to a Filipino – the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for the film “Kinatay.” Dante’s voyage into the dark crevices of the underworld has been called everything from “worst ever” to “a prurient and excruciating viewing experience that makes the audience partners in crimes of inhumanity.”
And perhaps to give Dante’s works a sense of balance, the last film is also his – “Lola” with Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio (who once headed FEU’s Cultural Office), in a sad paean to two lolas who survive in the harsh and unforgiving city, powered by the irrefutable love and devotion to their family.
The choices of the films are great, giving the principally student audience an idea of how it was then in the 80s and how it is now. The festival in under the program of the FEU President’s Committee on Culture headed by Martin Lopez. Call 7364897 for information. Peoples Journal, November 16, 2009
(Himala screenwriter Ricky Lee will be the guest speaker in the forum after the screening of the film, November 19, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. His books, Trip to Quiapo, Para Kay B, and Si Tatang at Mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, will be available at the FEU Theater.)
Himala Revisited: Nora Aunor in Vienna, Virginia, for the Special Screening of the Film by Dino Dela Rosa
Vienna, Virginia--The one and only Superstar Nora Aunor was here to attend the special screening of her film “Himala,” the 1982 Ishmael Bernal classic in which she won the best actress award at the Metro Manila Filmfest. She played the faith healer Elsa and her riveting performance is considered one of her best performances. This film was sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and MOWELFUND Philippines where Boots Anson-Roa is the Executive Director. Boots and Nora both starred in the memorable drama, Paru-parong Itim (1973).
In 1967, a 14-year-old contestant from Iriga, Ma. Leonora “Nora” Villamayor, entered the then-popular singing competition Tawag Ng Tanghalan. She stood out from the other contestants for her powerful vocals, which the judges and the viewers found amazing for someone so young. She also had confidence and poise. During this time, she was living in Manila with her auntie Belen Aunor, the sister of Nora’s mother, Mamay Tuying Villamayor. For fourteen consecutive weeks, she was the weekly champion and she was ecstatic when she was proclaimed the Grand Champion.
The producers of Sampaguita Pictures took notice of her and put her under contract and christened her Nora Aunor. For a couple of years, she was cast in supporting roles in forgettable films. But in 1970, she was cast in a musical-comedy which became a box-office hit, she was paired with a handsome newcomer named Tirso Cruz III. Their second film, also a musical-comedy, was also a hit. The public took notice of this dusky, diminutive singing sensation and immediately became fascinated with her. A Star was born! Nora Aunor broke the color barrier in the movie industry when before her the tall, fair-skinned mestizas were the leading ladies (Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes and Gloria Romero).
From the ’70s to the late ’80s, La Aunor reigned supreme as the movie queen making one box-office hit after another. She also conquered TV with her long-running musical variety show, Superstar and the drama series Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora. It was in her drama series where she honed her now effortless acting skills. Her director, Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara, taught her different acting skills. And Nora was a fast learner.
She received critical notice when she won her first best actress award for And God Smiled at Me (1972). She finally won her first actress award from FAMAS for Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos in 1977. By this time she had revealed that she is an actress of extraordinary depth. Since then she was won countless awards.
In 2004, after she did her highly successful U.S. concert tour, she fell in love with San Francisco and decided to try living there. She realized that she enjoyed living there, having some privacy and being Nora Aunor, a private citizen, something she hasn’t enjoyed doing since she joined showbiz at a young age. But she still did a series of concerts for her many U.S-based fans. Last year she became a permanent resident.
When she attended the special screening here in Vienna, Va. on August 13-14, her many fans in the Washington D.C. metro area came to see her. For two nights, she mesmerized everyone with her legendary golden voice as well as her brilliant performance in Himala. Her fans was so thrilled to see her since she rarely comes here to perform, the last time she was here is when she had her concert, “Nora-Kuh: The Power Of Two,” at the Lisner Auditorium.
Her iconic presence at the special screening of Himala proved yet again that after than more than four decades in the industry, Nora Aunor is still at the top of her game and stil the one and only Superstar. There hasn’t been anyone like her before her or since.
The Resistance of Philippine Cinema Film Festival by B. Vergara
Ishmael Bernal’s Himala is the kind of film that, when the word “Himala” is uttered or written, is inevitably followed by “The Greatest Filipino Film Of All-Time, Forever and Ever”, or other superlative words to that effect, and it’s unlikely that it would be deposed from its canonical perch any time soon. How anyone could pick just one movie, I have no idea, and my knowledge of Philippine cinema is relatively sparse at best, so I can’t necessarily agree or disagree, but good lord, what an amazing movie Himala is. Its most famous lines, uttered by the incredible Nora Aunor in a performance mainlined straight from Maria Falconetti and delivered to a cast of thousands (okay, hundreds), are total spoilers, so I won’t repeat them here. Suffice it to say that they’re seared into the brain of every Filipino moviegoer who saw this in the ’80s and the decades since, and yours, if you come to the screening. Just thinking about that scene makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.
This screening of Himala will be held in Kuala Lumpur. See the Annexe Gallery website for more details about the event and the organization.
MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE presents HIMALA
Selected and introduced by Amir Muhammad
Film Screening
Mon 6 July, 8pm
Presented by The Annexe Gallery: The Art & Soul of Kuala Lumpur
Admission Free, bring your own snacks
Monday Night Movie is a new series of monthly film screenings at The Annexe Gallery, with titles chosen and introduced by guest curators.
Our first title, chosen by filmmaker/writer/publisher Amir Muhammad, is Himala (“Miracle”, 1982), an award-winning Filipino film directed by the late Philippine National Artist Ishmael Bernal.
Based on a 1967 incident and news report, Himala tells the story of Elsa, a barrio lass whose visions of the Virgin Mary changes her life and causes hysteria in a poor, isolated village. The film is centered on the issues of religious faith and faithlessness. The film stars Philippine superstar Nora Aunor in the leading role.
The movie premiered at the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival, and in 1983, became the first—and so far the only—Filipino film to be included in the “Competition Section” of the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, Himala has been exhibited in a number of film festivals around the world. In 2008, Himala won the 2008 CNN Asia Pacific Screen Awards Viewers Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time. ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Amir Muhammad is a writer, publisher and occasional filmmaker. Two of his previous documentaries, Lelaki Komunis Terakhir and Apa Khabar Orang Kampung, are banned in Malaysia. His works have screened in numerous international film festivals including Berlin and Sundance. He set up Matahari Books in 2007 to publish local non-fiction and film-related books. By the end of this year it would have published 20 books.
Himala is in it again. During the successful re-launch of Mr. Ricky Lee’s book Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, the promising young actress Ms. Angel Locsin did the reading of Elsa’s lines including the immortal “Walang himala!” I watched Ms. Locsin’s book reading video in YouTube. I thought she did well and I applaud her for having the guts to do it in the first place. It was a very nice tribute to Himala and to the one and only face of Himala, Ms. Nora Aunor. The Noranians who were present at the launch also showed appreciation and congratulated her, a display of honest, gracious gesture I must say.
Now, the showbiz news is buzzing a “clamor” for the remake of the famous film with Ms. Locsin as the popular choice to play the legendary Elsa character. Mr. Ricky Lee, the script’s creator himself, does not seem opposed to this idea. And there’s another news that Ms. Locsin is also Ate Guy’s personal choice to reprise the role. From the point of ownership, it will be up to Mr. Lee to decide. Either way, we will respect his decision, and the actress who will eventually be picked for the role of Elsa will have our best wishes.
It is not to say though that we don’t have an opinion about this. I’m sure we all do. So, may I say mine then?
My take on Himala remake is “PLEASE OH PLEASE NOT!”
Nothing to do with Ms. Locsin, if I can clear this out now. Frankly, I don’t really have a choice as to who will be the next best Elsa because it never crossed my mind that there will ever gonna be another Elsa. Nora and Elsa ... they are one.
Nora Aunor factor aside and her magnificent acting in Himala (lest I get branded as one very selfish Noranian), the reason for the negative take on the remake is that I can’t think of a very good reason for doing it. Himala is my greatest Filipino movie of all time, perfect as is ... timeless ... classic. It was a collaboration of three genius artists and never will it happen again. A remake may create a stir for a short while but I firmly believe that it will be the original classic that people will keep going back to. The message of Himala rings true until this day and beyond. It will always be relevant. Yes, it is old but it is also “new.” I have watched Himala several times and each time, a new discovery will unfold.
I’d like to say that I am not at all opposed to movie remakes. I’ve enjoyed a few remakes that I’ve seen. But there are movies that just cannot be remade, and Himala (in my humble opinion) is definitely one of them.
Can we make a perfect thing more perfect? No such thing, is there?
I hear about a sequel to Himala. I don’t know about this but perhaps this is a better idea than a remake, although I think that Himala’s ending is brilliant. I don’t quite expect any more resurrection of Elsa.
Why not make another classic film? Mr. Ricky Lee can very well write the new script. Ms. Locsin or another actor/actress can seize the new role and make it his/her own like Nora did with Elsa. I think I much prefer this.
Or even better, why not another Nora classic film?
Tinanghal si Nora Aunor bilang “Aktres na may Pinakamataas na Papuri” sa 11th PASADO Gawad Sining Sine na ginanap sa Manila Grand Opera Hotel, May 16, 2009. Ang kanyang tropeo ay tinanggap ng kaibigang si Ricky Lee, na ginawaran din ng parangal bilang “Manunulat na may Pinakamataas na Papuri.” Unang recipients ng naturang awards sina Ate Guy at Sir Ricky.
Isa sa highlights ng gabi ang parangal sa Himala bilang “Pasadong Pelikula sa Lahat ng Panahon.” Sabi sa binasang citation:
“Ang Himala ay isang pelikulang nananatiling pinakapaborito at pinakaepektibo na kagamitan sa pagtuturo ... Pabalik-balik pa rin itong ipinalalabas, mainit pa ring pinag-uusapan, at walang sawang pinag-aaralan. Hanggang ngayon patuloy pa rin itong umaani ng parangal sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, kabilang na rito ang pagkilala ng CNN bilang Best Film of All Time in the Asia-Pacific region nitong nakaraang taon.
“Ngayong gabi, bukod sa pagkilala ng PASADO sa magaling na direktor nito na si Ishmael Bernal, pinararangalan ng PASADO ang dalawa pang matatayog na haligi sa likod ng pelikulang ito na sumasalamin sa sarili nitong galing, laman, at dating. Sila ang nagsisilbing simbolo ng pelikulang ito.”
Sabay nang tinanggap ni Sir Ricky ang tropeo nila ng Superstar. Sa kanyang acceptance speech, sabi niya:
“Ginawa namin ang Himala noong 1982—sa budget na 2.7 million pesos—sa loob ng dalawang buwan, kalaban ang walang tigil na pag-ulan, bagyo, iba’t ibang klaseng sakit, flu, dysentery, mga away sa set dahil sa nawawalang panty o continuity. Pero masayang isipin na after 26 years ay napapansin pa rin siya at nabibigyan ng parangal …
“Kung wala si Nora walang Himala. Binuo namin ang Himala na siya lang ang nasa isip namin. Sinulat ko ’yon para kay Nora noong 1976. Kung naririto si Nora, alam kong pasasalamatan niya ang lahat ng tao na, sa walang tigil na akyat-baba ng buhay at pelikula, walang-sawang naniwala at tumangkilik sa kanya hanggang ngayon … ”
Maraming salamat sa bumubuo ng PASADO.
Some sidelights of interest to Noranians:
·Sa intermission sa pagitan ng concert at awards proceedings, pinatugtog ang tatlong unang tracks ng Habang Panahon CD ni Ate Guy. Isa ang komedyanteng si Eugene Domingo sa nakapansin sa pamilyar na tinig ni Ate Guy, nabanggit ni Sir Ricky. Agad ding nakilala ni German Moreno ang tinig ng kaibigan. "Batang-bata pa ang boses ni Nora," komento pa ni Sir Ricky. Inanunsiyo ang bagong CD ni Ate Guy.
·Isang gurong miyembro ng PASADO ang tumayong “Nora Aunor” buong gabi, mula nang mag-comment si Eugene Domingo na ka-height nito si Ate Guy.
·Sumuporta sa awards night ang mga Noranian mula sa Federation, GANAP, at ICON. Hindi nagkulang sa cheering squad.
·Sa binasang roster of PASADO best actress winners, special mention si Ate Guy bilang huling binanggit: “AT ANG NAG-IISANG SUPERSTAR, si Ms. Nora Aunor …”
“We were shooting iyong funeral scene,” pagkukuwento ni Joel Lamangan, casting at crowd director, at gumanap din bilang pari. “Take one lang dahil gagabihin na. Gumuhit si [Ishmael Bernal] sa lupa, Guy, sabi niya, guguhit ako dito, naka-crane shot ako, maglalakad kayo, pagdating mo dito sa guhit, paglapit sa’yo ni Gigi (Dueñas, gumanap na Nimia), luluha ka sa kaliwang mata.
“Takot na takot ako. Sabi ko, Nora, ’day, kelangang magawa mo. Gagawin ko po, sabi niya.
“Umpisa na. Action! Tamang-tamang pagdating nga ni Nora sa guhit at paglapit ni Gigi, pumatak ang mga luha niya sa kaliwang mata. Napapalakpak ako sa husay. Naging Noranian ako after that!”
Katotohanan lagi ang gusto ni Ishmael Bernal. Ito ang lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, bilang scriptwriter ng pelikula. “Ricky, gawin nating minimalist ang pelikula. Tanggalin mo ang mga taba at burloloy.”
Ito lang ang natatandaan kong nagkaroon ako ng argumento sa kanya dahil sabi ko’y baka maging masyadong deretsahan ang lines. Pero iyon ang gusto niya, sabi niya, deretsuhin mo na ang pilosopiya...
Pero sa kalahatan ay natutuwa ako sa mga discussion namin ni Ishma dahil sinulat ko ang Himala sa isang panahong kinukuwestiyon ko ang Diyos, ang pamahalaan, at maging ang ilang mga paniniwalang nakagisnan ko. Ang mga inhustisya at paghihirap na dinaanan ng mga mamamayan ng Cupang ay dinaanan ko rin sa sarili kong buhay, at masasabi kong ako man, noong mga panahong iyon, ay naghihintay din ng himala. --Excerpt from “Ang Paggawa ng Himala”
Learn more amusing secrets and untold stories behind the making of Himala in this new article written by Ricky Lee, included in the special edition of Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, the ground-breaking anthology first published in 1988 that put together Lee's journalistic essays, film script and short fiction.
Tatang will be released later this month and will be launched at Powerbooks Megamall on May 31, Sunday.
Aside from the full screenplay of Himala, the book also contains previously unpublished photos taken during the actual shoot of the film, catching superstar Nora Aunor, Ishmael Bernal, Joel Lamangan and the production staff at work.
Regular price of the book is P450. However, there will be a P70-discount for every advance copy pre-ordered from Writers Studio Philippines. Please contact Jerry thru (02) 928-9557, 0921-7849363, 0917-5331948, or e-mail: writers.studio12@gmail.com.
Pararangalan ng Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro (PASADO) ang Himala (Ishmael Bernal, 1982) bilang PASADONG PELIKULA SA LAHAT NG PANAHON, unang pelikulang tatanggap ng ganitong pagkilala mula sa grupo.
Bibigyan ng parangal ang pangunahing aktres ng pelikula, si Ms. Nora Aunor; ang sumulat nito, si Ricardo Lee; at ang Experimental Cinema of the Philippines.
Ang Gabi ng Parangal ay gaganapin sa May 16, 2009 (Sabado), sa Manila Grand Opera Hotel, mula 4:00 pm. Sumusunod ang programa:
4:00-5:00 pm – Mini Concert (Students of Different University) 5:00-6:00 pm – Dinner 6:00-8:00 pm – Awarding Ceremonies
Para sa tiket (Php 400), makipag-ugnayan kay Prop. Manny Gonzales, 09173530594.
Ang kumpletong listahan ng mga pararangalan at nominado:
Mga Natatanging Gawad PASADO ’09
PASADOng Guro Ces Quesada
PASADOng Kabataan Female (KC Concepcion) Male (Luis Manzano)
PASADOng Pelikula sa Lahat ng Panahon HIMALA Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (Producer) Ms. Nora Aunor (Aktres) Ricardo Lee (Manunulat)
PASADO Lifetime Achievement Award GMA-Kapuso Foundation/ Ms. Mel Tiangco German Moreno (Entertainment)
PASADO Dangal ng Akademya Boy Abunda (Broadcast Media)
Mga Nominado
Pinakapasadong Pelikula Baler (Viva Films) Dayo sa Mundo ng Elemental (Cutting Edge Prod) Caregiver (Star Cinema) Jay (Phil. Independent Film) Ploning (PanoraManila Picture) Serbis (Center Stage Production)
Pinakapasadong Direktor Chito Rono (Caregiver) Dante Brillantes Mendoza (Serbis) Mark Meily (Baler) Dante Nico Garcia (Ploning) Francis Xavier Pasion (Jay)
Pinakapasadong Aktor Baron Gaisler (Jay) John Llyod Cruz (A Very Special Love) Jericho Rosales (Baler) Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan) John Estrada (Caregiver)
Pinakapasadong Aktres Anne Curtis (Baler) AiAi Delas Alas (Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat) Judy Ann Santos (Ploning) Sharon Cuneta (Caregiver) Gina Pareno (Serbis)
Pinakapasadong Katuwang na Aktor Coco Martin (Jay) Coco Martin (Serbis) Philip Salvador (Baler) Jinggoy Estrada (Magkaibigan) Yul Servo (Torotot)
Pinakapasadong Katuwang na Aktress Boots Anson Roa (Love Birds) Irma Adlawan (A Very Special Love) Ces Quesada (Ploning) Mylene Dizon (Ploning) Eugene Domingo (Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat)
Pinakapasadong Dulang Pampelikula Jay Serbis Ploning Baler Caregiver
Pinakapasadong Sinematograpiya Baler For the First Time Ploning Baler A Very Special Love
Pinakapasadong Editing Ploning Baler Caregiver Serbis One Night Only
Pinakapasadong Istorya Baler Caregiver Ploning Jay Serbis
Pinakapasadong Musika Baler Ploning Dayo Urduja A Very Special Love
Pinakapasadong Tunog Baler Urduja Dayo Ploning Mag-ingat Ka sa Kulam
****** Noranians are people smitten by a talent extraordinaire: Ms. Nora Aunor, a singer with golden voice, world-class film artist, cultural icon, living legend—the ultimate multimedia Superstar of the Philippine entertainment industry.
Noranians are SUPERSTARstruck.
This is their page to celebrate their identity as Noranians.
****** Noranians may share here their impression of Nora Aunor; any trivia on her music, performances, or other works; their own stories as Noranians. E-mail contributions to superstarstruck@gmail.com.
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