Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan lauded the active participation and support shown by First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos during the launch of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
"Higit pang nabigyan ng kulay at sigla itong festival dahil sa aktibong pakikilahok at suporta ng ating First Lady, Atty. Liza Araneta-Marcos. Nais ko pong kunin ang pagkakataong ito upang pormal na i-welcome dito sa Lungsod ng Maynila ang ating Unang Ginang (This festival was given more color and vigor due to the active participation and support of our First Lady, Atty. Liza Araneta-Marcos. I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome our First Lady to the City of Manila)," she said.
The city of Manila on Tuesday, July 16, hosted the 50th anniversary of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and announced the first batch of film entries at the Bulwagang Villegas inside the Manila City Hall.
The event was attended by First Lady Marcos, Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, members of the MMFF executive committee, as well as other city government officials.
According to the mayor, it was in 1966, during the time of former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas, when the "Manila Tagalog Film Festival" or "Manila Film Festival" was established.
The festival was aimed at giving local producers and film makers the chance to showcase their masterpiece or work in prime theaters and cinemas because at that time cinemas used to feature English films by foreign producers only.
It was held from June 12 to June 24 wherein purely local films were shown in theaters.
Through the years, she said the Manila Film Festival was expanded and became Metro Manila Film Festival where all the entries were shown not only in Manila but the entire Metro Manila as well.
She said the celebration was held at the Bulwagang Villegas, which was named in honor of former Manila Mayor Antonio Villges, because he is the father of the Manila Film Festival.
In 1984, there was a special award called "Gat Antonio Villegas Cultural Award," which she said is given to the most unique film that features Filipino culture and introduces the Filipino character to the world.
"Limang dekada na ang paglulunsad ng Metro Manila Film Festival, at ngayong taon nga ay ibinabalik ito dito sa Maynila para sa kanyang golden edition. Maraming salamat MMDA at sa bumubuo ng MMFF Executive Committee (It's been five decades since the launch of the Metro Manila Film Festival, and this year, it's coming back to Manila for its golden edition. Thank you very much MMDA and the members of the MMFF Executive Committee)," the mayor added.
Several activities were prepared for the annual film festival which includes classic poster murals, 50-peso film showing of different Filipino films, masterclasses for senior high school and college students as well as international Filipino screenwriters, producers, and animators.