July 15, 2011. Everyone was saving for this date to come. Except that it was a Friday night, the opening of the 7th Cinemalaya is set on that date. Independent film makers are given the chance to showcase their skills and talents in making films. The feeling of attending Cinemalaya is so unexplainable. It was first time so I really appreciated everything that I saw. I had goose bumps and felt so excited and nervous at the same time.
At around 6PM on that day, we arrived at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. When we arrived, the place was jam packed! There are so many people that it will make you feel dizzy. Being a newbie in the Independent world, I am not aware of the people I see. They might be some directors of some movies but I was not aware of it. Then, we saw Mr. Ricky Davao around and I was lucky enough to take a picture with him together with LadyKath. I also saw Maria Isabel Lopez but I was not able to get a picture because of the people she is talking to.
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| with Mr. Ricky Davao |
After some time of waiting, we have to fall in a very long line of people waiting to enter the main hall for the opening ceremonies of the 7th Cinemalaya. A huge crowd is about to enter the hall, and some were already positioned at the stairs, sitting. It was hard to find a good place to sit so I decided to roam around the place and find a better spot. I found the place where I could see the whole crowd watching the opening ceremony. I found a not so good place but I was happy enough to be there. At the third floor, behind the logo of Cinemalaya right exactly behind the letter L, I stood and got a good place to see everyone.
Shortly after the opening remarks and other words from the organizers, trailers of the movies were shown; new breed and shorts. Then after a while, people start to fall in line at the 3rd floor area of the main theater. And it was for the opening movie and I was lucky enough to find a good seat with my friends and after the film showing I went home happily even if it was so late when I arrived home, I animatedly narrated my experience with my cousins.
After a week, I decided to go back to CCP for additional pictures and appreciate the artworks from the gallery. Well I wasn’t expecting too many people to watch on a Friday night but when I arrived I was like, “Whoa!”, CCP is jam packed again. I went there with my cousin so that someone has to take my pictures since no one would accompany me. When I went to the main hall, people were gathering and it seems like they were waiting for something or someone to come. And guess what? There were loads of celebrities around that I was able to take some pictures. (See pictures below)
I was lucky that we are required to come to this event. Even though it was the sake of having grades, I was not thinking of that reason why I was attending the Cinemalaya. It was a huge privilege attending the 7th Cinemalaya.
I was not doing it for the sake of getting a high grade, I am doing it for myself; for me to get experience and get exposed to the world which in the future might be mine too.
Photos L-R: Me with Director Laurice Guilien, Paulo Avelino, Rocco Nacino, Jean Garcia and me with Ms. Raquel Villavicencio.
I was lucky that we are required to come to this event. Even though it was the sake of having grades, I was not thinking of that reason why I was attending the Cinemalaya. It was a huge privilege attending the 7th Cinemalaya.
I was not doing it for the sake of getting a high grade, I am doing it for myself; for me to get experience and get exposed to the world which in the future might be mine too.
Blog entry written by: Annie Mae S. Dela Cruz
