Art Appreciation
History of Philippine Cinema
Introduction:
The youngest of the Philippine arts,
film has evolved to become the most
popular of all the art forms. Introduced
only in 1897, films have ranged from
silent movies to talkies; black and
white to color. Outpacing its
predecessors by gaining public
acceptance, from one end of the
country to the other, its viewers come
from all walks of life. Nationwide, there
are more than 1000 movie theaters.
Early in the 1980s, it was estimate
Metro Manila alone, there were around
2.5 million moviegoers. As an art form,
it reflects the culture and the beliefs of
the people it caters to and most times,
is one who shapes their
consciousness.
January 1, 1897
The first film screenings in the
Philippines took place on this day.
The title of the films shown were Un
Homme Au Chapeau (Man with a
Hat), Une scene de danse Japonaise
(Scene from a Japanese Dance),
Les Boxers (The Boxers), and La
Place de L’Opera (The Place
L’Opera). The films were projected
using the 690mm Gaumont Chrono-
photograph projector at the Salon
de Pertierra at No. 12 Escolta,
Manila.
1897
In the same year, the Lumiere
Cinematograph was first
introduced in the Philippines by a
Spanish soldier named Antonio
Ramos.
1900s
A resurgence of movie houses
begins in the early 1900s not only in
Manila but in provinces that already
had electricity. To this day, among
the ASEAN countries, the
Philippines retains several of its old
movie houses in the urbanand even
in the secluded rural areas of the
country.
1919
Jose Nepomuceno’s Dalagang
Bukid (Country Maiden) was
released. Dalagang Bukidis the first
Filipino (silent) film produced in the
Philippines. Jose Nepomuceno
became known as the Father of
Philippine Cinema.1930s
Film began to be recognized as
another medium of art. Stories from
Philippine literature and popular
theater were the main sources of
storyline and characterization. On
March 9, 1933, Jose Nepomuceno’s
Punyal na Guinto (Golden Dagger)
Premiered at the Lyric Theater.
Punyal na Guinto was credited as
the very first locally made talkie
(film with sound).
1940s
The local audience embraced
Philippine cinema’s focus on war
and heroism during this era.
1950s
Regarded as the first golden age of
Philippine cinema, major Philippine
production studios produced a slew
of artistic and notable films in the
1950s, some of which have been
internationally acclaimed. One of
the most notable of these was
Manuel Conde’s Genghis Khan
(1952), the first Asian film to be
screened at the Venice and Cannes
Film Festivals. At this point, the
Philippine film industry averaged
about 350 films per year, making
the Philippines second to Japan in
terms of number of film
productions per year in Asia.
1960s
Filmmaking through monopolized
studio system saw its end during
the 60s as the era gave way to new
and independent film production
outfits. Along with this promising
change came the introduction of
new and different film genres for
the local audience to explore. Such
genres include Western, musical,
action, and bomba (soft porn) films.
1970s
In the early 1970s, propaganda
films became rampant as the
Marcos regime strove to retain their
control and power over the
country. The government created a
censorship board that would
regulate films and ban those that
criticize the administration. The
second golden era of Philippine
cinema transpired in the late 70s
despite the government’s
censorship mandate.
1980sDespite the = government’s
censorship mandate starting in the
late 70s, the 80s was the peak of
the second golden era of Philippine
cinema. Notable films and
filmmakers that pushed Filipino
cinema during this dark and
dangerous period are Tinimbang Ka
Ngunit Kulang by Lino Brocka,
Himala by Ishmael Bernal, Burlesk
Queen by Celso Ad. Castillo, and
Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos by
Mario O’Hara.
1990s
In spite of the promising new wave
of independent movies and
filmmakers, local production
companies resorted to producing
hastily made, low quality and
formulaic films due to increasing
production cost, extremely high
taxes, censorship, and piracy.
Despite this predicament, the film
industry flourished and churned out
about 200 films per year.
2000s
Local film release dwindled down
to 50 per year as Hollywood films.
took over a big chunk of the Filipino
film market at the beginning of the
decade. Fortunately, the rise of the
digital age in filmmaking swiftly
made its way in the local industry,
making it easier for independent
filmmakers to produce films. Slowly
but steadily, the local film industry
found its new footing in the digital
age of filmmaking which paved the
way to the proliferation of critically
acclaimed films that caught the
eyes of prestigious film festivals
both local and abroad.