As the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) celebrates its golden anniversary, let us look back on cinematic treasures produced in the last five decades.

Eddie Romero’s Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? was screened on Christmas day of 1976. The epic period drama starring Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz from a screenplay of the young Roy Iglesias tackled the Filipinos’ plight during the Spanish and American colonization. 

Gloria Diaz recalled during the Centennial Commemoration: Director Eddie Romero, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts last month at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City when Christopher de Leon and Eddie Romero won awards at the MMFF. “I was left alone on the table,” she muses. “I don’t think anybody noticed—I was just by myself.” Everyone was asked to come onstage for a photo opportunity. “Again, I was left alone,” the former Miss Universe winner confessed. When she went home, at six in the morning, her phone rang. It was Eddie Romero telling her, “I think I owe you something.” Gloria started to cry and he offered her her next movie, Sinong Kapiling, Sinong Kasipin?

Mike de Leon’s chilling Kisapmata won Best Film at the 7th MMFF awards. Who can forget the performances of Vic Silayan and Charo Santos in this dark world of silence and violence? The film was inspired by The House on Zapote Street written by Nick Joaquin. It established Mike de Leon as one of the greatest directors of his generation. This was also screened at the Directors’ Fortnight at the 35th Cannes Film Festival.

Olongapo, The Great American Dream by Chito S. Roño discovered the talented Jaclyn Jose (Raquel) as a young Amerasian looking for a real home along the dirty streets of the red-light district of ‘Gapo. She longs for her long-lost American father, dreaming of a better life. Torn between choosing her boyfriend or living in America, she chooses the chance “to be whatever” she wants to be—anywhere. The o film also stars Joel Torre, Susan Africa, and Chanda Romero.

The love triangle-themed Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal by Jose Javier Reyes starring Lea Salonga, Aga Muhlach, and Ariel Rivera is one of the best romantic comedies produced in Philippine cinema. An unexpected romance between Sandy (Salonga) and her fiancé’s friend (Muhlach) occurs as wedding preparations are ongoing for Sandy and David (Rivera). The film won Best Actor for Muhlach and Best Supporting Actor for Rivera. 

Christmas is for children and the Filipino family so Magic Temple was a hit in the 1996 MMFF season. Directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes from a screenplay by Erik Matti, the fantasy adventure looks into the journey of three kids, starring Jason Salcedo, Junell Hernando, and Marc Solis as they train with their master to fight wicked forces. Its visual effects were commendable at that time from the mastery of Benny Batoctoy.

One of my earliest recollections of watching short films on the big screen was the MMFF short film competition in 1997 where I was glued to Nonoy Dadivas’ Anak Maynila, an animated film using still photos and drawing, shot in 35mm film camera. It was a touching, powerful drama about an impoverished mother carrying her son to Quiapo Church asking for alms.

Laho by Fruto Corre is a short feature on an innocent boy playing basketball in a deserted town in Pampanga at the time of Mount Pinatubo eruption where lahar displaced and devastated the community.

This Christmas, 10 homegrown Filipino-produced MMFF films are on offer to the Filipino audience. The film industry needs to be sustainable and it is the moviegoing public who will help our Filipino talents be discovered to the world. Let us all watch the 2024 MMFF entries at cinemas nationwide.