25 most significant Filipino movies of all time

DAILY TRIBUNE marked its silver early this week with two special editions of the paper that are must-keeps. For one of those anniversary issues, The Butcher came out with a list of the 25 milestones in show business.

This corner, however, still has a hangover from the celebration and has decided to do a list of the 25 most significant Filipino movies of all time. Writing about local cinema today is also quite timely because three major film organizations in the Philippines are currently aligning to help address issues concerning the local movie industry.

The three organizations that are convening are the Film Development Council of the Philippines, The Film Academy of the Philippines and Mowelfund. The event these groups are putting together will be called Araw ng Pagkakaisa ng Pelikulang Pilipino. It will be held anytime soon and is expected to be a historic day in local cinema.

During meet-ups, some of the organizers usually talk about Philippine movies and even cite which ones are their favorites. This reviewer, however, has his own choices and here below are The Butcher’s 25 most significant movies — with one dating back to pre-war times:

25. Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang (1974) — This Lino Brocka film was the one movie that started bringing the Forbes Park elite to cinemas showing a Tagalog picture. After that came second golden age of Philippine cinema. Sadly, in spite of winning six major awards at the FAMAS, it wasn’t able to stand the test of time. If weighed today, its quality is not enough to compete with other well-made films that came after that.

24. Heneral Luna (2015) — It lured even the Hollywood/K-pop-crazed millennial to go see this historical film by Jerald Tarog. But for all its grandness, it has historical inaccuracies and even production design mistakes. There were still no crochets during the turn-of-the-century!

23. Working Girls (1984) — Directed by Ishmael Bernal, it documents in a fun manner the atmosphere prior to EDSA I: the instability of the banking system, the confetti brigade and Ayala Avenue still considered the Wall Street of the Philippines.

22. Sana Maulit Muli (1995) — The best work of Olive Lamasan, it proves that not every Filipino is dying to migrate to the US. The best candidate is one who has not achieved anything yet in the Philippines — as typified by the character of Lea Salonga. But if one has a promising career (like Aga Muhlach in the story), it’s best to stay foot in one’s homeland where there is comfort and familiarity.

21. Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010) — There are countless movies about fulfilling dreams abroad and mail-order brides, but this Cebuano film by Remton Siega Zuasola is different in the sense that it is the only Filipino picture to be filmed in one shot. In cinematic terms, it is called “tuhog.” It is recorded continuously from the beginning without a single cut till the end.

20. Giliw Ko (1939) — It was the first movie produced by LVN Pictures — and a copy of it still exists! Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, it also became the launching picture of Mila del Sol, who eventually became a major star in local cinema.

19. Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960) — This Gerry de Leon drama was daring for its time: It depicted scenes of adultery, sex before marriage and basic sex deprivation. Not surprisingly, it went through a lot of problems with the censors. Some scenes had to be changed so that the film didn’t look like it was throbbing with sensuality.

18. Genghis Khan (1950). This costume picture by Manuel Conde made European audiences realize that the Philippines had a thriving film industry that early. It was exhibited at the Venice and Edinburgh Film Festivals.

17. Aswang (2019) — The only documentary to have been voted best picture (at the Gawad Urian), it shows the horrors of the Duterte drug war. This is a very important docu by Alyx Arumpac.

16. Biyaya ng Lupa (1959) — When it gets tough in the city, one pines for a peaceful life in the province. But rural living, as depicted in this film, has its own problems: the lack of opportunity to earn more, natural calamities and even banditry. Most gripping in this Manuel Silos work are the sequences leading to Marita Zobel’s rape scene.

15. Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005) — This Auraeus Solito movie about a young boy who embraces his true sexuality made the public aware that indie films exist. And that it can be entertaining to watch.

14. Larawan (2017) — Nick Joaquin’s A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino had been staged multiple times and even turned into a film in 1965. But Loy Arcenas’ Larawan, a musical, is still the most engaging version.

13. Insiang (1976) — This Lamberto Antonio material was originally a stage play with theater actress Melvi Pacuba in the title role. When it was made into a teleplay, Hilda Koronel was cast as Insiang. Translated into the big screen, the part of Tonya, the mother of Insiang, was taken away from Yolanda Luna. She was replaced by Mona Lisa. As directed by Brocka, it is not true that the film was finished only in seven days. Production designer Fiel Zabat insists that the shoot took about two weeks to complete — still short for a full-length movie.

12. Virgin Forest (1985) — Peque Gallaga shows in this historical epic what life was like during the arrival of the Americans after the country had been sold to them by Spain. Visually-breathtaking, the movie is a painless way to learn history.

11. Jose Rizal (1998) — Rizal’s life had been documented on film as early as 1912: La Vida de Jose Rizal and El Fusilamiento de Dr. Jose Rizal. However, Marilou Abaya’s Jose Rizal (with Cesar Montano as the national hero) is still the grandest and most creatively made among the Rizal movies.

10. Anak-Dalita (1956) — Lamberto Avellana vividly captures life in Manila a decade after Intramuros was bombed by Americans to smoke out Japanese forces. The Walled City had been turned into an informal settlers’ colony. It shows how life had become difficult for Filipinos after the so-called “peace time.”

9. Balangiga: Howling Wilderness (2017) — Is America truly an ally? This movie by Khavn de la Cruz shows otherwise. The film dramatizes the horrors of the Fil-American war, particularly in Samar. It is actually said that there were more deaths during our conflict with America than during the Vietnam war.

8. Karnal (1983) — Based on a true story that happened in the 1920s, this Marilou Abaya film is visually stunning. Fiel Zabat won the grand-slam for best production design in this movie — thanks to his attention to details, like the dresses of the era, footwear (Mary Jane shoes) and even ladies’ accessories.

7. City After Dark (1980) — This is a beautiful tapestry of Manila scenes in the 1980s — as magnificently presented by Ishmael Bernal.

6. Sister Stella L. (1984) — Mike de Leon showcases labor issues in the 1980s. The concerns are still the same today. Great performances by Vilma Santos, Jay Ilagan, Tony Santos, Laurice Guillen, Gina Alajar and Liza Lorena.

5. Himala (1982) — This Bernal film was generally unappreciated in the beginning because its story was too close to the Cuban film Los Dias del Agua. But it is now considered one of the greatest movies of all time — even outside of the Philippines. Nora Aunor is at her greatest here.

4. Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) — One of Brocka’s best. It is gritty — like the viewer can smell Sta. Cruz, Manila in the 1970s.

Powerful performances by Bembol Roco, Hilda Koronel and Tommy Abuel.

3. Kisap-mata (1981) — A powerful film by Mike de Leon. It is based on a true story that happened in Zapote St. in Makati in the 1960s.

The material is gripping. The performances of Vic Silayan, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan and Charito Solis are all outstanding.

2. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976) — A very important film by Eddie Romero.

It is about finding the Filipino identity and who we are as a people.

1. Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) — The greatest work of Peque Gallaga. There can be no other local film grander than this one. It truly is a masterpiece.