Cinematheque Centre Manila is a haven for film buffs. It houses a 101-seater Cinematheque Centre Manila theatre, the Museo ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Museum of Filipino Film), National Film Archives of the Philippines, the FILM ASEAN Knowledge Management Center, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
According to its brochure, the Cinematheque Centre Manila aims to be a hub for the overall development of the community’s education and understanding towards Filipino and international film culture. In order to achieve its goal and to cultivate future generations of Filipino filmmakers and audience, it holds events such as film screenings, workshops and symposiums. The film showings cost a minimal amount, and I can vouch for the comfort of sitting in those chairs inside the theatre.
This statue of Filipino National Artist for Film Gerry de Leon stands near the entrance of Cinematheque Centre Manila. In homage to one of the pillars of Philippine Cinema, this statue was commissioned by Film Development Council of the Philippines, Office of the President, and unveiled on 15th of December, 2015 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.
Gerry de Leon’s achievements as a film director have been recognized and praised not only by his countrymen and cinema artists, but also by discerning critics and film audiences abroad. His exceptional visual aesthetic and style allowed him to closely examine and interpret the human psyche of the Filipino.
The Museo ng Pelikulang Pilipino is an object-based film museum that gives special focus to six Filipino directors who have deeply impacted the development of cinema in the country: Jose Nepomuceno, Manuel Conde, Gerardo de Leon, Lamberto Avellana, Ishmael Bernal, and Lino Brocka. Their statues, personal effects, and memorabilia, together with other film artifacts are neatly lined up in glass casings or hang on the walls. Some of the objects are accompanied by audio-visual historical biographies.
National Artist for Film Medallion bestowed to Gerardo de Leon by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1982.
The Film ASEAN Knowledge Management Center is on the second floor. It is a library dedicated to providing resources such as books, magazines, DVDs and other factual materials regarding moving image cultures from across the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region. Researchers, students, filmmakers, and others interested in films are welcome to use the facility. They have computers with a playlist of ASEAN films that one can use for free.
Computers with FILM ASEAN members films. At the time of my visit, there were fewer than 100 films on the list but it is updated periodically. Anyone can use it for free.
More film gadgets are found in this area.
Cinematheque Centre Manila occupies what used to be Instituto Cervantes – Manila’s location before the Spanish institution moved to Makati City. It has a decent-sized open ground, a theater, a library, a café, a souvenir shop, and two floors of classrooms. Some of the book shelves of Miguel Hernández Library now contains film-related materials. The red chairs that Instituto Cervantes’ students used are still in the classroom, serving film students instead of Spanish learners.
Cinematheque Centre Manila is at 855 T. M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines. Telephone Numbers: (632) 708-7920 and (632) 256-8331.
For more information, please visit www.fdcp.ph.