In memory of Manong Gerry

MANILA, Philippines - Last Thursday, Sept. 12, saw the launch of the year-long celebration of the centennial of National Artist for Cinema Gerardo de Leon and the commemorative stamp. The event follows Presidential Proclamation 497.

Spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), the event was held at Leandro Locsin auditorium at the NCCA building in Intramuros, coinciding with the birthday of Gerardo de Leon.

The evening began with the screening of a 20-minute film clips that featured highlights from De Leon’s classic films, followed by reminiscences shared by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, Anita Linda who appeared in De Leon’s Sisa and Robert Arevalo, De Leon’s nephew, who appeared in, among other films, The Moises Padilla Story (1961) and Ang Daigdig ng mga Api (1965) for which he won FAMAS Best Actor.

Executive director Emelita Almosara, chairman Felipe de Leon and Cinema Committee head Miguel Rapatan of the NCCA also delivered messages.

The commemorative stamp by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) was unveiled by chairman Cesar Sarino and De Leon’s eldest daughter, Liberty Ilagan, who also delivered the response.

Foremost among the line-up of guests that evening were members of the Ilagan clan headed by De Leon’s sister Honor, daughter Maria Fe Ilagan Gibbs, Liberty’s youngest sister who came with her children Janno and Melissa, and a constellation of the brightest stars from Philippine cinema’s glorious studio era: Lilia Dizon, Barbara Perez, Gloria Sevilla, Delia Razon, Luz Valdez, Marita Zobel, Pepito Rodriguez, Imelda Ilanan, Liz Alindogan, as well as former beauty queens Gemma Cruz-Araneta and Elsa Payumo. De Leon’s former studio Premiere Productions was represented by siblings Digna and Danilo Santiago.

The celebration of the National Artist for Cinema Gerardo de Leon @ 100 includes monthly film screenings free to the public, which started last Sept. 14 with the screening of The Moises Padilla Story starring Leopoldo Salcedo, Joseph Estrada and Lilia Dizon. Oct. 12 screening will be Sanda Wong (1955) starring Jose Padilla Jr., Danilo Montes and Dizon; and Nov. 9 screening will be Lilet (1972) starring Celia Rodriguez, Ronaldo Valdez, Paraluman and Vic Silayan. All screenings are at 4 p.m. at CCP’s Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

The publication of a book consisting of essays and reviews on De Leon’s body of work and the restoration and retrieval of his lost film classics are under way.

For details, call SOFIA c/o the CCP Media Arts Department at 832-1125 local 1704 and 1705, or through e-mail [email protected].