MANILA, Philippines – A photo exhibit of movie ads from the “The First Golden Years of Philippine Cinema (1936-1941)” will open at the CCP Main Theater Lobby on July 20 at 2:30 p.m. The vintage photos are from the collection of art connoisseur Danny Dolor.

Mounting the exhibit billed as “Alitaptap Kikilapkilap,” are the Cinemalaya Foundation and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The opening of the photo exhibit coincides with the start of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival held annually at the CCP.

Invited to the opening of “Alitaptap Kikilapkilap” are stars and other celebrities of yesteryears and of course at present time.

The exhibit is a follow-up to the “The Golden Years: Memorable Tagalog Movie Ads 1946-1956” exhibited on Nov. 9, 1993 at the Ayala Museum and then went on to the SM Megamall Art Center on Jan. 8, 1994. Due to clamor from movie aficionados, the exhibit was made into a book, published by Danny Dolor in 1994.

Film historians call 1936 to 1941 as the “First Golden Years of Philippine Movies.” In 1937, Sampaguita Pictures was established with “Bituin Marikit” as its maiden offering, topbilled by Elsa Oria, Rogelio dela Rosa, and Ely Ramos and directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa. In 1938, Excelsior Pictures was put up with “Ang Maya” as opening film starring Consuelo Salazar and directed by Jose Nepomuceno.

In 1939, LVN was founded with “Giliw Ko” as its first offering, starring Mila del Sol, Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, and Fleur de Lis (later renamed Mona Lisa), and directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa.

The other big movie studios during the ’30s and the ’40s were X’Otic Films, Parlatone Hispano-Filipino Inc. and Filippine Films.

There were already big studios then but most of the films were independently produced. These we now call “indies.”

The brightest stars during those golden years of Philippine Cinema included Rosa del Rosario, Carmen Rosales, Rogelio dela Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Elsa Oria, Ely Ramos, Rosario Moreno, Rudy Concepcion, Mila del Sol, Fernando Poe, Arsenia Francisco, Jose Padilla Jr. and brother Carlos, Lucita Goyena, Angel Esmeralda, Yolanda Marquez, Corazon Noble, Norma Blancaflor, Fely Vallejo, Mary Walter, Purita Sta. Maria, and Tita Duran, then a child star.

The popular comedians then included the tandem of Pugo & Tugo, Billy “Surot” Vizcarra, Vicente Ocampo, Monang Carvajal, Menggay, and Manuel “Sano” Silos. Silos was also one of the top directors of the ’30s and beyond along with his brother Octavio. The other noted directors of the era were Carlos Vander Tolosa, Gerardo de Leon, Lamberto Avellana, Gregorio Fernandez, Manuel Conde, Ramon Estella, Lorenzo Perez Tuells, Tor Villano and Carmen Concha, known as the first woman director.

In 1942, when the Japanese forces invaded Manila and the rest of the country, the First Golden Years of Philippine was cut short. De Leon and Avellana remained active until the ’70s. They were the leading directors of the Second Golden Years of Philippine Movies, the ’50s. The two were named National Artists.

The Third Golden Years of Philippine Movies came in the ’70s and the leading directors then were Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal who were named National Artists.

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Legarda Pushes For Continued Restoration Of Ifugao Rice Terraces

Senator Loren Legarda has enjoined Filipinos, particularly concerned government agencies, community stakeholders, and the people of Ifugao, to sustain efforts in bringing back the magnificence of the Ifugao Rice Terraces even as the famous terrace clusters had been removed from the World Heritage in Danger List.

“I am glad to receive the news that the Ifugao Rice Terraces are no longer in the list of World Heritage in danger. This should inspire everyone to exert more effort in the full restoration of the beauty and cultural integrity of the terraces,” said Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Cultural Communities.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently announced the removal of the Ifugao Rice Terraces from the World Heritage in Danger List.

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Celebs Rockeoked The Night Away

Young celebrities – actress and blogger Saab Magalona, members of the rising band Never The Strangers Ace Libre, Francis Victa, JP del Mundo, and PJ La Vina, actor and host Robi Domingo and MYX VJ Chino Lui Pio – joined the recent rockeoke-themed launch of the latest Blackberry 7 smartphones at the Prive Luxury Club.

Research In Motion (RIM) and Globe Telecom launched two new smartphones – Blackberry Curve 9220 and Blackberry Curve 9320 recently.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, July 11, go to cooking expert Sylvia Reynoso-Gala, jeweler Jul Dizon, L.A-based Jerry Hunter, Baby Monroy, Meynard Penalosa, Eliseo Aurelio, Jr., Beer Flores, Powell Renosa, Erik De Venecia, Charmaine Gail A. Pagente, Johnna Mae S. Magbanua, Oliver Teves, Bex Vinaviles, and entertainment columnist Mercy Lejarde…