Movies in my mind

The Good Life with Eli F.J. Tajanlangit

Just in case you haven’t noticed yet, this week is movie time here in Bacolod. Cinema Rehiyon, the festival of films from the regions all over the Philippines is ongoing. It is an event that should help us concretize our bid to be the center for filmmaking in the Philippines.

In one weeks time, we showed moviemakers what we have as a venue for making films our human as well as natural resources

We showed them we have cinematic places that make for good settings or locales, as Gumising ka Maruja proved in the

70's and Oro, Plata, Mata did in the 80's.

Old timers can recall how the Claparols mansion in Talisay had served as the locale for the gothic Maruja story. And how that bridge to Mambucala had been used for a crucial scene. I still recall how, when it was shown locally, people can ohhed and ahhed at that, aside from of course pointing out the locals who had joined the cast.

Oro.. Was an even more exciting experience. To begin with, it was an award-winning project that was produced by the Experimental Cinema of the Philipines It was a major event in Philippine movie history, it was the story of wardrobe Negros, and it was the directorial debut of  Peque Gallaga, even then a major force in the art and culture scene in the province.

The shooting of Oro highlighted not just the fact that with the magic of movies, the Cadiz public plaza can be part of an hacienda in Manapla and how the facade of the Negros Occidental High School can be a hospital exterior and the quadrangle its interior, and the bathhouse in Mambucal the rooms.

Gallaga, of course had inspired a whole generation of filmmakers and production people in the city, people who are now part of this exciting movement that boosts our claims for moviemaking leadership.

These are the people who now make Bacollywood.

There are close to 80 movies and 68 directors in Cinema Rehiyon. I am sure they have not missed the artistic pulse that beats here and how hospitable Bacolod and Negros Occidental are for filmmaking.

We have what it takes.

What I am happy to see however is yet another validation of how  dynamic, lively and cooperative our artistic community here in Bacolod is. I've peeked at the workings of this film festival and I've seen nhow almost every artist in the city did what he or she could to help. No stars among them, not even those acting in front of the camera.

As in most art events in the city, everybody pitched in. And that, I think is the biggest reason why we are one of the best., if not the best, hosts to any art event, however big, including and most of all, movie making.*

For feedback, go to www.lifestylesbacolod, check Bacolod Lifestyles on Facebook or follow @bacolodtweets on Twitter.     

back to top