Indelible Memories from 2012

Indelible Memories from 2012 by Francis Joseph A. Cruz There isn’t any other year in Philippine cinema where the aroma of death is as appare...

Philippine Film Awards, in a Rotten Nutshell

Philippine Film Awards, in a Rotten Nutshell by Francis Joseph A. Cruz It is quite strange that for a country whose movie industry is report...

Celso Ad. Castillo (1943-2012)

A Tribute to the Kid by Francis Joseph A. Cruz He was the Kid. At age 21, he directed his first feature entitled Misyong Mapanganib  (1965) ...

Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1955-2012)

Marilou Diaz-Abaya and the Story of my Cinephilia by Francis Joseph A. Cruz I hate to admit it but the first Filipino film I ever paid money...

In Defense of the Status Quo

In Defense of the Status Quo by Francis Joseph A. Cruz If cyber-libel was a person, natural or juridical, it would have been itching to call...

Of Blind Items and Critics

Of Blind Items and Critics by Francis Joseph A. Cruz You eventually get used to it --- the hate, the fear, the derision, the awkward pleas f...

Dolphy's Last Hurrahs

Dolphy's Last Hurrahs by Francis Joseph A. Cruz In 2000, Dolphy played Walter Dempster, Jr., more popularly known as Walterina Markova, ...

Mario O'Hara (1946-2012)

The Great O'Hara by Francis Joseph A. Cruz He was seated in front of us, inside one of the many rooms in the Cultural Center of the Phil...

Dolphy, National Comedian

Dolphy, National Comedian by Francis Joseph A. Cruz In 1928, Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. was born in Tondo to a ship mechanic and a tailor. Bec...

Cinemalaya Resignation Letter

Cinemalaya Resignation Letter Last February 28, 2012, I was greeted with the news that Emerson Reyes' MNL 143 was disqualified from Cine...

2011: Philippine Shorts

2011: Philippine Shorts Criminally overlooked perhaps because their commercial value is limited, short films are like really effective pick-...

Bring the Macho Back, etc.

Bring the Macho Back by Francis Joseph A. Cruz We live in a country where men wear skinny jeans, sport hair done in salons, and parade skins...

Cartas de la Soledad: An Interview with Gutierrez Mangansakan II

Cartas de la Soledad: An Interview with Gutierrez Mangansakan II Gutierrez Mangansakan II is first and foremost a writer who promotes the co...

When Silver is Better than Gold: Silvershorts

When Silver is Better than Gold: Silvershorts Once every few years, silver is worth more than gold. From the hundreds of short films, rangin...

Observations from a Semi-Starry, Starry Night

Observations from a Semi-Starry, Starry Night It was a blind item coursed through an acceptance speech. Arnel Mardoquio, director of Sheika ...

Chris Martinez: The Man Behind the Golden Septic Tank

The Man Behind the Golden Septic Tank If it’s from Seiko, it must be good. The tagline of the movie studio that has made for itself a reputa...

The Short Films of Kidlat Tahimik

Orbit 50: Letter to My Three Sons (1992) The Short Films of Kidlat Tahimik For the 12th edition of the Jeonju International Film Festival, t...