For those who have heard about and aching to see or watch again the film “Citizen Jake,” helmed by directing legend Mike de Leon, the opportunity is presenting itself in two weekends prior to the big election day, including on Araw ng Kagitingan and Labor Day which are regular holidays commemorating ordinary men’s valor and sacrifices that have to do with the movie’s overarching message and mood.

The relevantly political movie is set for free streaming through the Mulat app which secured rights from the legendary filmmaker himself. Thus, this obra maestra can now be seen by Filipinos challenged by a 21st century pandemic and an election season that has interestingly divided them in a variety of colors and political points of view.

“Citizen Jake,” which stars real-life journalist Atom Araullo in the title role of Jake Herrera, is set for streaming on Mulat Premiere Cinema on April 9 and 10, and then April 30 and May 1.

The said digital age classic shown in traditional theaters a few years back touched the country’s struggle with authoritarianism. This time around, the movie will be screened through open ticketing and school watch parties amid a political climate that’s essentially altering Philippine history’s narrative to the point that misinformed individuals are resorting to red-tagging even notable bookstore outlets.

Mulat’s streaming of “Citizen Jake” is a meaningful undertaking and puts the rising creative digital avenue into a spot where it wants to be. Mulat hopes to serve as a valuable platform for content creators, filmmakers, influencers, and other modern-day artists.

The production arm officially named Mulat Broadcasting and Entertainment, Inc., and spearheaded by creative director Mel Bacani who is lauded for first-assistant director work on the also-revered film “Sakay,” is said to be utilizing the most modern and latest breakthrough technologies on Big Data, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. It wishes to guide and help underserved acts in the field of arts and communication.

“Citizen Jake” is a film noir centered on the emotional struggle of a new school journalist in search of and protecting the truth, while ironically existing as the son of a dictator’s crony. The movie also stars Teroy Guzman as Jake’s father Jacobo Hererra Sr. who plays a corrupt senator, Gabby Eigenmann as his congressman-brother Roxie, and Max Collins as Mandy, an English school teacher and Jake’s girlfriend. Other notable portrayals in the movie come from familiar names Cherie Gil, Victor Neri, Allan Paule, Nonie Buencamino, Lou Veloso, and Dina Bonnevie.

According to DLSU professor Manny Reyes who himself directed a movie about Filipinos' obsession to become American called "Dreaming Filipinos," the film’s backdrop is rooted on “state-sanctioned violation of human rights.” In his review, he noted that main character Jake Herrera’s “attempt to try to get to the bottom of a murder case is met with a lot of resistance by powerful people who maybe behind it.” The film strongly reflects director Mike de Leon’s beef with abused authority, which for the multi-awarded innovator is “not one to be followed blindly.”

De Leon’s filmography is a legend’s track record with classics from the 70s (“Itim,” “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising," "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?"), and the 80s (“Kisapmata,” “Batch ’81,” “Sister Stella L.”). He was awarded Best Director in the 1978 Asian Film Festival held in Australia.

In 1999, he brought to new-age moviegoers the brilliant “Bayaning Third World.” The same year, he was honored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines with Parangal Sentenyal sa Sining at Kultura.

Mulat’s partnership with the veteran filmmaker is poised to highlight more of his classic work for audiences of digital streaming to savor.

(To access Mulat Premiere Cinema and watch Mike de Leon’s “Citizen Jake," register to http://www.mulatmedia.com.)