CLEARLY, the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) has gained media attention and public support.
The hashtag #ExtendPPP was trending on Twitter nationwide since Monday as a sign of support to the 12 entries being shown in local cinemas.
Mardy Bragat Gocela, 25, was able to watch “AWOL,” “Birdshot,” and “Patay Na Si Hesus” during the event.
“Mubo ra kaayo ang one week. It’s a way of supporting our movie industry, plus it’s in keeping with Buwan ng Wika,”
Gocela who spoke to Cebu Daily News.
PPP is a week-long celebration that requires Philippine cinemas to screen Filipino films.
She said that PPP entries should be given more exposure in Philippine cinemas, hopefully a one-month screening.
If the PPP entries will not be pulled out of cinemas today, Gocela said she wants to watch “Pauwi Na” and “Hamog,” stories that highlight relevant issues in the society today.
Just like Gocela, Dan Sy Lopez, a local actor in Cebu is also in favor of extending the PPP.
“I support the move to extend the PPP. It’s about time we patronize indie films,” Lopez told CDN.
Alvin Duazo, a Mass Communications student, thinks we should have more movies like those being shown in the PPP.
“More than moneymaking, the movies impart meaningful stories and lessons which best represent us. I just love the diversity of films and this proves how creative we are as Filipinos. If we could grant mainstream and foreign films a long showing time, why can’t we do the same for our locally produced ones?” Duazo said
Duazo was able to watch “Patay na si Hesus,” “Bar Boys” and “100 Tula Para Kay Stella.”
Albert Chan Paran, one of the actors in “Patay na si Hesus” who played a drunk in the film, congratulated the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the huge turnout of the first PPP.
“I feel the hype and festive mood ofa film festival in the whole country. In Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila, there’s so much buzz on social media especially on Facebook and Twitter,” Paran said.
“Nakakataba ng puso. Grabe. Plus we won the Special Jury’s Choice Award. A lot of blessings for us, and for me as a cast member. I’m so proud of “Patay na si Hesus,” he added.
Liza Dino-Seguerra, chairman of the FDCP, on her Facebook account on Monday posted a screenshot of the hashtag #ExtendPPP which trended on
Twitter.
“Hala, may nag trending na #ExtendPPP. May bagong movies scheduled to show this week but let’s see what we can do. Nakakatuwa ang mainit na pagtanggap ninyo sa Pista ng Pelilkulang Pilipino,” she said.
On the same day, Seguerra also announced through her Facebook: “SM cinema, the largest cinema chain the country has set a 100M target to call Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino a success, considering it’s a first at marami pang kailangan gawin to make it better.
As of yesterday (Sunday), PPP gross has reached to 96 million. Maraming salamat sa mga nakipista!”
The 12 official entries of PPP include “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B,” “AWOL,” “Bar Boys,” “Birdshot,” “Hamog,” “Paglipay,” “Patay na si Hesus,” “Pauwi Na,” “Salvage,” “Star na si Van Damme Stallone,” and “Triptiko.”