Jaclyn Jose in spotlight at Cinemalaya

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is set to highlight 2016 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner Jaclyn Jose by showing three of her earlier movies at the festival’s 12th edition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) this week.

In a statement, the CCP said it is showing the movies—which make up the “Focus: Jaclyn Jose” program—in tribute to the “Filipino artistry and world-class talent” that Jose exemplifies.

The first of the three movies is Ishmael Bernal’s Working Girls 2 (1987), the sequel to the late National Artist for Film’s 1984 comedy that depicts a diverse group of women who try to succeed in their chosen paths.

Starring alongside Jose in the film are Dina Bonnevie, Melanie Marquez, Gloria Romero, Dang Cecilio, Dante Rivero, Ricky Belmonte, George Javier, Ronel Victor, and Edu Manzano.

It will be screened at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute on Aug. 8 at 12:45 p.m.

The second is Chito S. Roño’s Itanong Mo sa Buwan (Ask the Moon) (1988), about a married bank teller who gets caught up in a bungled bank robbery and is taken hostage. For this film, Jose received her second Gawad Urian for best actress.

The film also stars Mark Gil, Anjo Yllana, Anita Linda, Tita Muñoz, Mia Gutierrez, Lucita Soriano, and Susan Africa.

Itanong Mo sa Buwan will be shown at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde on Aug. 10 at 6:15 p.m.

Completing the list is Emmanuel de la Cruz’s Sarong Banggi (One Night) (2005), which debuted at the first Cinemalaya. In the film, Jose plays Jaclyn, a prostitute hired by a group of friends to surprise their sexually inexperienced friend Nyoy (Angelo Ilagan) on his birthday.

When they discover that Jaclyn is actually a middle-aged woman, unlike what she described herself to be, they got rid of her and went to look for younger girls. Nyoy, who seems to have something more in his mind, sought for her. A bond developed between them soon after.

For this film, Jose won the Gawad Urian and Cinemalaya’s Balanghai prizes for best actress.

Sarong Banggi will be screened also at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde on Aug. 12 at 3:30 p.m.

The screening of these films is the latest event held to honor Jose, who became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an acting award at Cannes. She earned the prize for her portrayal of a drug-dealing sari-sari store owner in Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa.

Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation and the CCP in partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers. ALVIN I. DACANAY 

For more information, visit www.cinemalaya.org or www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.