Mindanao fest a box-office hit

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The first Sineng Pambansa in Mindanao was a “box-office hit,” according to Vicente Toh, owner of the venue, Mindpro Citimall.

Mayor Celso Lobregat likewise related that the two movie houses in the mall were packed throughout the three-day festival, which ran Feb. 23-25, with “Zamboangueños from all walks of life.”

At a screening of Sheron Dayoc’s “Halaw,” among the viewers were Muslim schoolgirls from Barangay Taluksangay, where the film was shot.

According to the Film Development Council of the Philippines, which spearheaded the event with the city government, head count for the festival reached 15,000. This was proof, FDCP head Briccio Santos said, that audiences “are hungry for films that truly touch the Filipino, as only Filipino-made films can.”

The high attendance figure was noteworthy, considering that the theaters were smaller—compared to the first fest in Iloilo—and there were two films with “adult content” in the lineup (Monster Jimenez’s documentary “Kano” and Ato Bautista’s noir drama “Di Natatapos ang Gabi”).

Three films had Mindanao as setting (Teng Mangansakan’s “Limbunan,” Paul Morales’ “Concerto” and Eduardo de Castro’s “Zamboanga”); others tackled contemporary issues like migration (Chito Roño’s “Emir”) and child labor (Mes de Guzman’s “Ang Mundo sa Panahon ng Bato”).

One entry highlighted a popular sport in the province, cockfighting (Rozie Delgado and Miguel Kaimo’s “Sabungero”).

The viewers actively participated in the open forums.

Next stop for Sineng Pambansa is Baguio, from March 25 to 27.