JERRY OLEA
Best film ng Cinemalaya 21: Layag sa Alon, Hangin at Unos (Oktubre 3-12, 2025) ang documentary na Bloom Where You Are Planted.
Noong nakaraang Setyembre 1, inihayag ng Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) na isa ito sa limang nominadong best film sa 49th Gawad Urian na gaganapin sa Oktubre.
Ang apat pa ay Quezon, Sunshine, Cinemartyrs, at Bar Boys: After School.
Ang synopsis ng pelikula: “The Cagayan Valley Region in the Philippines serves as the dedicated workplace of Agnes (a development worker), the chosen home of Amanda (a jailed mother-artist-activist), and the birthplace of Randy (a slain peace consultant).
“Yet, they find themselves unable to return home: one is relentlessly pursued by the government, another is imprisoned, and the third is killed on his journey home.
“The paths taken by these three activists will be explored including the pit stops, obstacles, detours, and the long road ahead in the journey towards rebuilding a home with the people of Cagayan — a place that they work together to shape, and also shape who they are.
“Amid all these, the film explores their disrupted connections to home and celebrates their enduring resilience in the face of adversity.”
"NO TO CENSORSHIP"
Ngayong Setyembre ay may screenings ang Bloom Where You Are Planted sa ilang pamantasan at pamayanan.
Pero ang September 21, 2026 screening nito sa Isabela State University-Echague, kinansela.
Facebook post ng Bloom Where You Are Planted noong Setyembre 19, Sabado: “NO TO CENSORSHIP! LET BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED SCREEN IN SCHOOLS IN CAGAYAN VALLEY!
“Our screening in Isabela State University- Echague was unilaterally cancelled by the university administration, headed by Executive Officer Dr. Artemio Martin Jr. today, a weekend, and a few days before the planned screening on September 21.
“According to the concerns raised by the administration, even with completed paperwork and approvals from concerned departments, the activity could be connected to a political gathering of recruiters and anti-government activities in line with the significant date of Martial Law Commemoration.
“In addition, concerns of a possible rally occurring after the screening is raised. With this, we see this as a form of censorship of the film.
“Our film is made out of archival materials from the Cagayan Valley movement. The scenes are straight out of the lives of Cagayan and Isabela farmers and farmworkers, and activists who chose to serve the people amid threats and attacks.
“The entirety of the film was made for the people to see how the continuing attacks on Cagayan Valley activists are happening.
“It is saddening that the university administration seems to be on the side of the oppressors of student organizations.
“We still hope to screen in Isabela and more than willing to screen to other universities and schools in Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and even Batanes.
“Fight censorship! Stand with student organizations who want to learn more about the Filipino struggles.”
Read: MTRCB responds to calls to ban violent scenes in films, TV shows
NOEL FERRER
Ang documentary na 58th ay nag-Philippine premiere sa Cinemalaya 22: Reel Reflections noong Agosto 13, 2026 sa Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City.
Noong Agosto 20, inihayag ng Quezon City Screen Commission na on hold ang screening ng 58th kaugnay sa pagdiriwang ng History Month.
Noong Setyembre 11 nabigyan ito ng permit to exhibit (PTE) ng MTRCB.
Ang validity ay hanggang Setyembre 22, 2026, Martes. Expired na by September 23, Wednesday.
Setyembre 13, Linggo, nang i-announce ni Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Director General Paolo Villaluna na eligible ang 58th sa kategoryang best documentary ng 99th Academy Awards o Oscars, at susuportahan ito ng FAP.
Setyembre 16, Miyerkules, nag-umpisa ang commercial release ng 58th sa Shangri-La Plaza.
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN 58
Naka-pin sa Facebook account ng producer na si Ms. Nessa Valdellon:“It was a day of thought-provoking conversations and so much emotion:
“A lovely older lady during the afternoon talkback spoke about the horror of watching the already silenced again being silenced.
“Her husband then asked if we have done enough as journalists, as civil society, to end the dynasties, the overstepping of power, the violence. I wish the answer had been yes.
“In the cinema lobby, one of our thoughtful docu bosses discussed not only the unfathomable, unthinkable crime she had been pushed to remember but how she felt this was oddly groundbreaking, a pivot in how Public Affairs produces docs.
“Inside, I felt I finally succeeded in showing what I’ve been asking the prod teams to do for years: find new, impactful ways to tell important stories.
“We were all surprised when Reynafe’s cousin stood up to speak at the last talkback and she (the daughter of the 58th) was on his cellphone and had been listening to the Q and A all the way from the US.
“There was a student from St. Louis in Baguio, the head of NUJP in Cagayan de Oro and more who traveled to see the film.
“It was a completely sold out screening … for a documentary … in a commercial theater. Not normal.
“A woman who said she grew up in a conflict area of Mindanao asked about the impact of the massacre on Reynafe’s children … as she herself cannot forget her own trauma.
“Aica our writer couldn’t finish her response to the girl’s question as she was sobbing, we all started crying on the panel.
“Glaiza de Castro was also in tears, she asked people to spread the word about the 58 and said she would want her unborn child to see the film someday.
“Kara David, who was the most inspired talkback moderator I’ve yet seen, decided to end the night by quoting Jonas Burgos of all people (not knowing that JL Burgos’ wife Mona is part of our 58th campaign) and how we as a nation are so quick to forget.
“I realized this docu is about remembering the 58, yes, but it’s quietly also about the 11,103, about thousands killed during the drug war, about those who have gone missing the past years, about recurring human rights violations and a culture of impunity, about us journalists feeling helpless in the face of covering it all.
“It was as if the spirits of some of the victims were reaching out to us in that cinema as we gathered last night. Kinilabutan kaming lahat.”
Read: Glaiza de Castro admits fearing for safety after watching 58th
GORGY RULA
Ang trilogy na Tatsulok written ang directed by Jhonny Bobier ay nag-world premiere noong Agosto 21, 2026 sa Cinema 11 ng Gateway Mall 2, Cubao, Quezon.
Kinansela kapagkuwan ng Gateway Cineplex 18 ang screening dapat nito noong Agosto 29 sa kaparehong sinehan.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC ng Gateway Cineplex noong Agosto 26 sa socmed: “This is to inform the public that Gateway Cineplex 18 is NOT ASSOCIATED with TANAJUAN PELIKULA and its planned public screening of TATSULOK at Cinema 11 on August 29, 2026.
“The film Tatsulok will not be shown across all cinemas at Gateway Cineplex 18. Thank you.”
Wala kasing PET (permit to exhibit) mula sa MTRCB ang Tatsulok. Setyembre 6, naglabas ng three-part video sa Facebook si Jhonny Bobier at nagpaliwanag.
Aniya, hindi siya ni-require ng management ng Gateway Cineplex na kumuha ng PET mula sa MTRCB para sa premiere ng Tatsulok. Noong mismong mag-i-screening na, saka lang daw siya hinanapan.
Wala raw siyang alam o kinalaman sa alleged fake MTRCB permit ng Tatsulok.
Himutok pa ni Jhonny Bobier sa FB noong Setyembre 6: “WALANG KALAYAAN SA MAPAGPALAYANG PELIKULA.
“Ilan sa pelikulang nilikha ko noon ay nakatanggap ng hindi angkop para sa pampublikong pagpapalabas ang mga kwentong gaya nito.
“Sa bawat pagkakataong pinipilit kong lumikha ng pelikulang patungkol sa pag-ibig ay ibinabalik pa rin ako sa mga kwentong gaya ng tatsulok.
“Boses ng mga pilipinong tinanggalan ng karapatang marinig at makakita.
“Walang pwedeng magsabi ng tama o mali sa mga kwentong gaya nito dahil hindi ito nabuo sa katang-isip, sabi-sabi o mga paratang.
“Ito ang kwento ng mga gaya ko.
“Mula sa lugar kung saan talamak ang droga, bayaran sa pulitika, sugal, mananamantalang alagad ng batas at patayang walang katarungan.
“Ang sapilitan pagbili ng boto sa magulang mo,
“Pagkulong sa kapatid mong walang kasalanan,
“Pagmamakaawa ng nanay mo sa tulong medikal,
“Pagsasamantala ng mismong alagad ng diyos,
“At pagpatay sa loob mismo ng inyong tahanan,
“Kanino ako pwedeng magsumbong?
“Sa alagad ng batas na bahagi ng katiwalian?
“Sa kinauukulang hindi kami pinakikingan?
“Sa tahanan ng diyos, kung saan ako pinagsamantalahan?
“Masisisi mo ba ako kung lilikha ako ng mga pelikulang gaya nito?
“At nasaan ang katarungan hindi maaaring gumawa ng mga ganitong pelikula gayong patuloy pa rin itong nararanasan ng mga pilipino.
“Ito lang ang alam kong paraan,
“Para marinig ng mga na sa itaas.
“GUMAWA NG MGA PELIKULANG MAPAGPALAYA SA BANSANG HINDI MALAYANG GUMAWA.”
"ABOLISH MTRCB"
FB shoutout niya noong Setyembre 12 na National Cinema Day: “MAPAGPALAYANG ARAW NG PELIKULANG PILIPINO!”
FB shoutout niya noong Setyembre 19, Biyernes: “TALAGA BA MTRCB? PATI FILM SHOWING KO NOONG 2025 GUSTO NINYONG KASUHAN?”
Nito ring Biyernes ay may panawagan si Jhonny Bobier sa Facebook: “ABOLISH MTRCB. Huwag ninyo kaming tanggalan ng kalayaang gumawa ng mapagpalayang pelikula.
“Ang sining ay hindi dapat humihingi ng pahintulot, pagtanggap, o pag-unawa.
“Sa pagkat ang tunay na sining ay malaya.
“At ang pelikulang malaya ay hindi dapat kinukulong, pinatatahimik, o sinasala.
“Dahil ang kalayaan sa sining ay hindi pribilehiyong ipinagkakaloob, “ito ay ipinaglalaban.”
Read: Tatsulok screening canceled amid MTRCB fake permit issue
LALA SOTTO on broadening mtrcb's scope
Nito ring Setyembre 19, Biyernes sa FB page ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) ay ipinaliwanag ni Chair and CEO Lala Sotto ang careful review process for films and TV shows ng Ahensya.
May link doon ng FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). Sa tuwi-tuwina, naglalabas ang MTRCB ng weekly movie rating guide na “Pribyuhan.”
Sinuportahan ng mga miyembro ng Mababang Kapulungan ang panukalang badyet ng MTRCB, pati na rin ang mga panawagan na lawakan ang saklaw ng mandato ng Ahensiya.
Ito ay matapos tuldukan ng House of Representatives ang diskusyon sa plenaryo sa PHP197.89M na pondo ng MTRCB para sa taong 2027.
Pinasalamatan ni MTRCB Chair at CEO Lala Sotto ang mga mambabatas na naintindihan ang kahalagahan ng isang panukalang-batas na isasama ang online streaming platform at subscription video on-demand sa mandato ng Ahensiya.
“We are humbled and grateful for the expressions of support from our esteemed lawmakers who deliberated on our proposed budget today and called for the expansion of our mandate,” sabi ni Chair Lala pagkatapos ng plenary deliberation sa panukalang pondo ng MTRCB.
“This strengthens our commitment to promote responsible viewing to protect our children, while advancing the growth of the film and TV industry.
“As we assured our senators in last week’s budget hearing, we are ready to respond to these changes in the media landscape that affect the industry.
“Should Congress pass a bill to broaden the Agency’s scope, we are ready to take on these additional responsibilities as part of our commitment to serve the public with integrity and accountability.”
Si Leyte 2nd District Rep. Lolita Javier ang tumayong sponsor ng proposed budget ng MTRCB sa plenaryo.
Sina PHILRECA Party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus, Akbayan Rep. Percival “Perci” Cendaña at Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jett Nisay ang umusisa sa pondo at mandato ng MTRCB.
Si Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay ang nagmungkahi na tapusin na ang talakayan ukol sa panukalang badyet ng Ahensiya.
Ang apat na mambabatas, pati na si Javier, ay sinuportahan ang modernisasyon ng mandato ng MTRCB.
Sang-ayon sila na malaki na ang ipinagbago ng media landscape mula nang itinatag ang MTRCB sa ilalim ng Presidential Decree 1986, laluna at sikat na ang mga online streaming platform at social media.
Kahit na limitado ang kapangyarihan ng MTRCB sa mga sine at palabas sa TV, ipinaliwanag ni Chair Lala na may developmental initiative ang Ahensiya, gaya ng Responsableng Panonood program na itinuturo ang media literacy at responsible viewing sa mga pamilya.
“We reach out to parents and educators and share our PROTECT Framework with them, so that they can shield our children from harmful content, starting in our homes and schools,” sabi ni Chair Lala.
“The MTRCB is thankful that our lawmakers appreciate the value of our efforts and continue to trust us by expressing their support for our modernization.
“We will always rise and meet this challenge through the faithful discharge of our duties.”