Constanilla: Upcoming Visayan Film

SUCCESSFUL. The recent Family and Child Summit organized by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) was a tremendous success. Majority of the colleges and universities here sent their professors and students to the day-long activity at the Cebu Capitol Social Hall. In fact, it was Standing Room Only (SRO) as the venue was filled to the rafters.

PRIDE. One of the summit speakers was veteran drama actress Gloria Sevilla, herself an MTRCB member. I salute Tita Glo for her emphatic declaration that despite being based in Manila, she is so proud to tell everyone that she is and will always be a Cebuana. She told the crowd that her mother was from Sibonga town and her father was a native of the municipality of Bantayan. “I want everybody, especially the millennials, to know that I am so proud to be a certified and genuine Cebuana,” the veteran star said.

CHALLENGE. Three other summit speakers challenged those moneyed individuals to help revive the Cebuano/Visayan movie industry. MTRCB chairperson Rachel Arenas, filmmaker Nick Deocampo and movie director Jose Javier Reyes stressed that reviving the Cebuano/Visayan movie industry is a tall order but a doable move. I fully agree with them. If only those wealthy and well-meaning Cebuanos cooperate, reviving the local film industry becomes easy or possible.

PRODUCER. I salute my good friend Charlita Muego for deciding to produce a movie, which has a working title of “When Sadness Lingers.” Visayan filmmaker Romm Burlat (he is from Dumaguete) will direct it. Filming starts next month here in Cebu. The movie is for local and international release. Best of luck, my lovely friend! (For reactions, text 0932-277-8771.)