There is no better way to celebrate the birth anniversaries of two National Artists than free screenings of their acclaimed cinematic works. This year commemorates the centennial birth anniversary of National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, while National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor turns 71.
The CCP Cine Icons will have back-to-back screenings of 1976 romance-musical “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?,” directed by Romero, on May 22, 2pm and the 1995 crime-thriller “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” starring Aunor, on May 23, 2pm, at the UPFI Film Center in Diliman, Quezon City.
Both screenings are free and open to the public. A special talkback session with Dranreb Belleza and Joey Romero will follow after the May 22 screening. For May 23, Joey Lamangan, Boni Ilagan, and National Artist Ricky Lee will be attending.
Set during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards and, later, the American colonizers, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? Narrates the adventures and misadventures of a naive peasant boy who wanders through the tumultuous time. Historical events became the catalysts for the young boy to find his true self, and realize his identity as a Filipino.
Co-written with director Roy C. Iglesias, the film starred Christopher de Leon for the titular role, with actress Gloria Diaz and the late Eddie Garcia. The musical romantic film scored three wins at the 1977 Famas Awards including Best Music, as well as five wins at the 1977 and 1981 Gawad Urian Awards including Best Film of the Decade, Best Picture, and Best Director. It won six awards at the 1976 Metro Manila Film Festival including Best Film, Best Art Direction, and Best Screenplay.
Conferred with the National Artist award in 2003, Romero directed cinematic works that delve into Philippine history and political landscape. Among his most revered films include Aguila, Kamakalawa, and Banta ng Kahapon. Romero also directed some critically acclaimed war films in the early 1960s, such as Lost Battalion (1960), The Raiders of Leyte Gulf (1963), and The Walls of Hell (1964).
The Eddie Romero film screening is in partnership with the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) and the UP Film Institute (UPFI), and in cooperation with ABS-CBN Sagip Pelikula.
CCP Cine Icons partners with UP Film Institute and VIVA Films to bring another special screening of The Flor Contemplacion Story to the Filipino people.
Directed by Joel Lamangan, with screenplay by National Artist Ricky Lee and Bonifacio Ilagan, the film follows the tragic tale of Flor Contemplacion, an overseas Filipino domestic worker (OFW) from the Philippines who was sentenced to death after she was accused of killing her fellow OFW and the child in her care.
The Flor Contemplacion Story operates on various personal, social, and political levels. Both controversial and critically acclaimed, it won Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1996 FAP Awards, among 18 other wins and 16 nominations.
National Artist Nora Aunor played the titular role. Seasoned actress, singer and film producer, Aunor has made several significant contributions to the Philippine cinema industry. She has appeared in several award-winning films; notable of which are Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo, They Womb, Dementia, and Himala which is the launching film of the CCP Cine Icons.
Launched in 2023, CCP Cine Icons is a special program of the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division-Production and Exhibition Department (FBNMD-PED) which aims to honor and popularize the life and works of National Artists and Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awardees.
To reserve slots for Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? screening, pre-register at https://bit.ly/CCPCineIcons-EddieRomero-GKMPKN-reg. For The Flor Contemplacion Story screening, slots can be reserved at https://bit.ly/CCPCineIcons-TFCS-UPFI-reg. Walk-ins are welcome. On-site registration begins one hour before the screening at the cinema entrance.
To get the latest updates on future film screenings from CCP Cine Icons, follow the official CCP and CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
