The film by award-winning director Marilou Diaz-Abaya will be shown Dec. 15 until January 2002 at the Iwanami Hall, a Tokyo theater noted for showing critically acclaimed foreign films for the Japanese audience.
During a press conference at the Japan National Press Club Friday, a local journalist asked President Arroyo whether the Filipino values that Rizal espoused during his time were still alive in the Philippines.
The President replied that "Dr. Jose Rizal remains our national hero and his life is part of the basic curriculum of students in the Philippines from the primary to tertiary level."
"In his many writings and books, Dr. Rizal wrote of the relationship between Japan and the Philippines and that it will be very important," she added.
The film, produced by GMA Network Films in 1998, has been praised by critics in several film festivals abroad and achieved a grand slam by winning the best picture award of various award-giving bodies.
Tickets are priced at a minimum 1,600 yen and screening time will be at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Leaders of the Filipino community in Japan greatly welcomed the screening, saying it would help improve the image of the country in the eyes of the Japanese people.
Mario Heriales, editor of the Silangan Shimbun, a Filipino community newspaper, said the film showing would counter the negative publicity of the country. He said most of the news coming from the Philippines has to do with prostitution, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
Rizal stayed in Japan for several months and had a Japanese girlfriend. The Philippine national hero also has a statue in Hibiya Park.
Cesar Montano portrays the 19th century hero in the film, one of a handful about Rizal made in recent years.