In honor of Manong Gerry

MANILA, Philippines - The recent centennial year celebration (Sept. 12, 2013 to Sept. 12, 2014) for National Artist Gerardo “Manong Gerry” de Leon (inset) was capped by the screening of his movie Pedro Penduko (1954, by Premiere Productions starring Efren Reyes and Edna Luna), based on a Liwayway serial novel by National Artist Francisco V. Coching, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) which collaborated in the film’s restoration with the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA).

After the screening, the Ilagan family had a reunion with friends who helped make the Gerry de Leon Centennial Year a success, at the family-owned Singing Cooks & Waiters restaurant.

(1). Manong Gerry’s daughter Liberty Ilagan with nephew Janno Gibbs; (2). Liberty’s daughter Happy Ongpauco, Leelee Exarhos and Randy and Cecille Limjoco; (3). National Artist Eddie Romero’s wife Vivian Romero and Gemma Cruz-Araneta; (4). Ronaldo Valdez and wife Maria Fe ‘Baby’ Gibbs (Manong Gerry’s youngest daughter); (5). Baby, Liberty and their sister Vikki Ilagan-Rousotte; (6). Barbara Perez and Robert Arevalo (Manong Gerry’s nephew); and (7). the family of Ruben Ilagan with Rudy Bernabe.