Vilma Santos encourages Filipinos to watch masterfully crafted films; CCP screens Nora Aunor’s film on the death of an OFW

The reception of diversified audiences at the St. Paul University in Quezon City (SPUQC) for the retro showing of Star Cinema’s “”Anak,” a 2000 blockbuster film about the sacrifices of an OFW mother starred in by Vilma Santos, Claudine Barretto, Baron Geisler, Cherry Pie Picache, Amy Austria, Joel Torre, among others, written by now National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee and directed by Rory Quintos was a hit.

Students, teachers, professionals and other viewers from St. Paul and other schools in Metro Manila were enthusiastic and emphatic about the movie which made them shed tears and ask well-meaning questions which Vilma and Ricky gamely answered.

“Sana po, manood kayo ng magagandang pelikula hindi lamang ng sa akin kundi lahat ng mahuhusay at napapanahon (I hope you watch beautiful films not only mine but all that are good and relevant),” encouraged Vi which earned a favorable response from the crowd.

The film still resonated to the watchers more than two decades hence. “Hanggang ganito ang sistema ng ating lipunan, kung walang magandang pagbabago, lilikha at lilikha ako ng mga ganitong pelikula (As long as the system of our society is like this without changes for the better I will continue to write films like this),” exclaimed Lee.

The screening of the restored copy of “Anak” was a collaboration among SPUQC, ABS-CBN’s Sagip-Pelikula and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) outreach project, “Lakbay-Cine” and “Cine Icons” of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division to spotlight on the creations of National Artists (NA).

Meanwhile, on March 15, 2024 at 1 pm at the GSIS Theater, “Cine Icons” will reshow Viva Films’ “The Flor Contemplacion Story” which stars NA Nora Aunor, written by NA Ricky Lee and directed by Joel Lamangan.

The Nora film is free admission.(Boy Villasanta)