August 29, 2025 | 12:00am
In its celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month this September, the Film Development Council of the Philippines is spotlighting women icons of Filipino cinema, past and present, including five trailblazers whose work has helped shape and sustain the industry.
The special recognition will take place during the gala night on Sept. 11 at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City.
“The FDCP will honor five Filipino women whom we believe are very essential to (understanding Philippine cinema) today,” said FDCP chair Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes at a media gathering ahead of the festivities that carry the theme Pelikula at Pilipina.
The honorees are production designer and screenwriter Raquel Villavicencio; cinematographer and teacher Lee Briones-Meily; actress, director and mentor Gina Alajar; filmmaker Olivia Lamasan; and Malou Santos, the former head of Star Cinema.
Tribute screenings highlighting their contributions will take place at SM North EDSA, as well as FDCP Cinematheque Centers across the regions.
STAR/ File
These include “Tanging Yaman” (2000) with cinematography by Briones-Meily; “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” (1991) with screenplay by Villavicencio; “Moral” (1982), starring Alajar; “Madrasta” (1996), directed by Lamasan; and “Anak” (2000), produced by Santos.
In recognizing these five women, the FDCP celebrates their achievements and invaluable role in the direction that Philippine cinema or pop culture is taking today.
“If we are to be honest, throughout the history of Filipino cinema, the woman, the Filipina, has been the anchor who shaped the foundation of the industry. How can you tell the history of Filipino cinema without mentioning Emilia Blas (Lea Productions), Mother Lily (Monteverde of Regal Films), Doña Sisang (Doña Narcisa de Leon of LVN Pictures), Boss Mina (Aragon of Viva Films)? After that came Ma’am Charo (Santos-Concio), Miss Malou (Santos).”
He noted that women have been present from the very beginning, whether as producers, actresses, writers or working behind the scenes in technical and creative roles.
“Misnomer yan pag sabihin mo na ang Filipina director started with Marilou (Diaz-Abaya) and Laurice (Guillen), no! As early as Rosa Mia (of Sampaguita Pictures), okay. We even had a Filipino action director in the person of Maria Saret. We’ve always been matriarchy,” direk Joey said.
“And if you look at the major studios of our country, only Viva is a patriarchy. All the rest are matriarchy. It’s always been the woman who has played a very, very strong role in the Filipino film scene,” he reiterated.
The PFIM’s opening film itself is a tribute to women on screen — the digitally restored version of Ishmael Bernal’s “Ikaw ay Akin” (1978), which is headlined by two screen legends, the late National Artist Nora Aunor and the Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos. Screening will happen on Sept. 1 at the Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza.
“This is a seminal film. Because it more or less embodies two of the greatest Filipina actresses ever. So what better way to start this whole event than to highlight Nora and Vilma?” said direk Joey.
Audiences nationwide can, likewise, catch female-led and woman-centric classics through special screenings across the country.
Film Fridays will feature “Brutal” (1980) and “Karnal” (1983), directed by National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya, on Sept. 5, at Centro De Turismo, Intramuros, and “Anak Dalita” (1956), directed by National Artist Lamberto Avellana, on Sept. 12 at Teatro, Fort Santiago.
JuanFlix Presents: Lights Camera Attraction! will screen “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus” (2018), directed by Dwein Baltazar, on Sept. 20 at SM North EDSA. Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Filipino will present the restored “Sisa” (1951), directed by Gerardo De Leon, on Sept. 21 at the Metropolitan Theater.
