National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik is asking Filipino filmmakers to create more films that speak about the deeds of Filipino heroes.

In his appearance as guest speaker in Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4’s online press conference last Oct. 8, Kidlat Tahimik took note of the coming of 2021 which marks the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s landing on Philippines soil.

“Next year is 2021. Does that ring a bell, folks? It’s the 500th anniversary of 1521. There was a guy called Magellan. I think it’s a big event and I hope they include more stories about ‘yung mga sariling bayani natin (our own heroes),” he said. “Let’s start aiming that way.”

“Nakakasawa na ‘yung mga ‘Spiderman’ at ‘Wonder Woman’. Tangkilikin natin ang sariling bayani,” he appealed. (It can be tiring to keep seeing “Spiderman” and “Wonder Woman”. Let’s patronize our own heroes.)

Kidlat even has a term for it, “USB” for “unsung sariling bayani.”

“Ang Lakaran ni Kabunyan”, a film by Kidlat Tahimik, is one of the films to be showcased in PPP this year. He calls it a “backyard film,” starring his youngest son. In the film, Tahimik’s son takes a trip and on his way to island-hopping, he meets interesting people and learns a few things from them.

“He moved to Davao from Baguio. We decided why not document ‘yung trip. Lakaran, for a lot of us (means) ‘O, sa’n ba ang lakaran? Mag-gi-gig ba tayo?’ (Where are you headed? Will there be a gig?)” he explained. Kidlat Tahimik also pointed out the spiritual aspect of the physical journey in the film.

“We used my old 1974 Volkswagen combi,” Tahimik added. “Marami siyang na-pick-up na wisdom ng mga artists (he was able to pick up so much wisdom from the artists [he met]) and that is what is special about this lakaran (walk).”

kidlat tahimik fb fdcp — Kidlat Tahimik. Image: Facebook/FDCP

“[The light] is a goal that we all have as [artists] and I think we followed the katipuneros’ (revolutioninaries’) spiritual goals,” he said. “[I hope all our] new filmmakers would also follow the route [and] inject some kaliwanagan (enlightenment) into their films.”

Organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4 features at least 145 titles, made up of 67 full-length films and 78 short films. JB

QC movie house Cinema Centenario announces closure