The First Iloilo Film Festival held Jan. 19-22 under the auspices of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the City Government of Iloilo and SM Cinemas was a super success. FDCP Chairman Briccio B. Santos and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog were so delighted with the outcome of their project that they are now planning a bigger presentation next year.

“It really exceeded all expectations,” Chairman Santos said of the result of the film festival which coincided with the Dinagyang Festival in the city. Throughout the five-day festival, queues of moviegoers were seen in front of the theaters. Screening time everyday was SRO.

The opening ceremony was held Jan. 19 at SM City Iloilo Cinema and attended by Chairman Santos, Mayor Mabilog, Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III, CCP Pres. Raul Sunico, FDCP Executive Director Mike de la Rosa, Sarge Lacuesta of the Philippine Film Export Services Office (PFESO), city executives and the producers and directors of the films exhibited. Prior to the screening of the opening film Jim Libiran’s “Happyland,” famous pianist Raul Sunico played beautiful and well-loved songs to the delight of the full-packed audience. The Kabayao Family also played classical music.

The films screened and their respective directors were: “Sigwa” (Joel Lamangan), “Lola” (Brillante Mendoza), “Bakal Boys” (Ralston Jover), “Yanggaw” (Richard Sommes), “Red Shoes” (Raul Joralan), “Himpapawid” (Raymond Red), “Happyland” (Jim Libiran), “Halaw” (Sheron Dayoc), “Sampaguita” (Francis Xavier Passion), “Kano” (Monster Jimenez) and “Emir” (Chito S. Roño).

The Iloilo Film Festival officially launched Sineng Pambansa, a thrust of the FDCP that aims to revitalize the film industry by showing Filipino films – for free! – in different cities in the country. After Iloilo, there will be film festivals to be held in Zamboanga City (Feb. 25-26) and Baguio City (March 24-26). Chairman Santos said they intend to hold at least seven film festivals around the country this year.

Relevant to this project is the establishment of Cinematheques, alternative venues for alternative films, the first of which will be launched in Makati by the end of this month. Cinematheque will house at about 100. It will also house a room for lectures and symposiums.

Cinematheques will also be launched in Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo before the end of the year.

Sineng Pambansa was launched in Iloilo because of the rich and colorful history of motion pictures and movie-going experience in this city. According to research made by Doreen Fernandez and reported by historian Nick Deocampo, as early as 1897, films have already been showing outside of Manila through the efforts of such pioneers as Señor Pertierra, a Spanish expatriate and a certain Englishman with the surname Bischoff. It was Bischoff who was the first to show films in Iloilo. These were short features of the Cinematographo Pastor shown in Bischoff’s bodega or camarin on Calle Real.

Then came the establishment of movie houses, among them Cine Oriente, Cine Palace, Cine Lyrik (which later became Cine Lyric). In 1919, one landmark event happened and stood out in that decade was the showing of the first full-length Tagalog feature film in Iloilo: Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid.”

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FDCP head a filmmaker too

If he is so passionate about his job in helping Filipino filmmakers, it’s because Chairman Santos is also a filmmaker himself. His latest indie film, made in 2008, was “Anino ng Setyembre,” starring Alessandra de Rossi. He lived half of his life in Europe, especially in Germany where he studied when he was young. Then he also stayed in Paris where he worked with an audio-visual company, and where he indulged in his other passion – painting.

Filipino independent producers and directors have indeed found a staunch ally and supporter in Chairman Santos. While he is indefatigable in his efforts to make Sineng Pambansa make a difference in the local film industry, he is also in constant consultation with foreign film executives for the Philippines’ participation in more international film festivals. He has also been very keen in enhancing the services of FDCP’s PFESO in order to lure producers to come and shoot their films in the country.

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ETC fabulous line-up of shows

With the onset of the New Year new seasons, new shows, and must-see movies are now offered in your favorite channel, like ETC which aims to continue to dominate your TV viewing with top notch programming that caters to the youth.

ETC’s newest show to have matching episodes after their US telecast is the scandalously good suspense drama “Pretty Little Liars.” Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hannah continue their search for the mysterious texter who knows all their deepest, darkest, not to mention dirtiest secrets in the new timeslot of 8 p.m. every Friday.

Returning to ETC this January is “Project Runway.” Re-visit Parsons School of Design as 16 designers look to make the cut in the sixth season of the show aired at 9 p.m. Joine Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors as they give three lucky designers the chance to present their work at New York Fashion Week.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Jan. 26, go to National Artist Napoleon Abueva, international recording artist Imelda Papin, Daisy Avellana, Vitaliano Bernardino, Timmy Cruz, Carol Sy, Milagros dela Cruz, Teresita Goquingco, Tony Gana, Johnny Revilla, Mimi Koa, Vilma Umengan, Raya Mananquil, Peep-Peep Villa, Dr. Pons Doloroso, Joset Endozo, Margaret Go, Reina A, Garcia, Gloria D. Rivera, entertainment columnists Alfie Lorenzo and Gorgy Rula, Leandro Manuel “LM” Contreras-Talampas, an emergency nurse at the US Airbase in Qatar, Isabella Cuartero, Mary Grace Maluya-Frones of Tagum City, and former PBB housemate Kian Kazemi…