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Jessie Garcia's monumental Movie Album Quizbook now off the press In what year was Sharon Cuneta bestowed the title Megastar? or what was the most expensive film ever made in the Philippines?... care to scan your mind and answer these flickering queries that reflect the grandeur, splendor and magnificence of the Philippine cinema once hailed as the Hollywood Far East? Be enthralled and entertained once again as we take a glimpse of the best facts, feats, tales and spellbinding trivia on Tagalog movies since its beginning through the monumental and well-researched book of Jessie B. Garcia.
A native of Bacolod City , Jessie B. Garcia earned his AB Degree, major in English, from the University of the Philippines . He won five times in the Palanca Awards for his magnificent plays and short stories. His writings have been included in several prestigious anthologies and he has published four books on Tagalog movie trends and local showbiz luminaries. At present, he teaches literature, drama and film courses at Central Philippine University considered as one of the most prominent schools in Western Visayas . This amiable and witty college instructor who remains to be a part and living chronicler of our local cinema kept an endless passion for our dying Philippine movie industry that he is trying to revive through his book. It took him ten years to complete the collection of rare pictures of movie stars and finished his well-researched book. His inspiring effort reminds us of the significance and relevance of treasuring our past, our rich culture that showcased the brilliance of the Filipinos in setting the trend on movie making. The book itself is a living testimony and proof that a sage writer like Jessie Garcia is someone worthy of emulation for giving utmost importance of reminiscing, treasuring, and enriching the past as the key to save the dying movie industry. After all, we are Filipinos and we should love our own movies created and produced with astounding artistry. The living movie icons of our film industry deserve once again the limelight for their immortal contribution to prove that Filipinos can excel and shine globally.
As a fulfillment for his lifelong dream and passion, Jessie Garcia launched his 422-page book entitled “A Movie Album Quizbook ” at the Central Philippine University's Educational Media Center (CPU-EMC) last March 9, 2005. The program started at exactly 3 in the afternoon and was well-attended by various media personalities, guests, fellow college instructors and his ever-supportive students that recognize the brilliance of the author. Instead of the usual ribbon-cutting ceremony, the program was highlighted with the releasing of butterflies courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences Butterfly Garden that added color to the event. A 45-minute documentary on local movies produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines entertained the audience and later the author himself held a trivia quiz about some of our living movie icons.
His book, “A Movie Album Quizbook ” is now on sale at CPU for 799 pesos and will be available soon at the National Bookstore. Therefore, before I reveal the answers for the two intriguing questions in the beginning of this article here's a reminder: learn to love your culture and be a proud Filipino by watching Tagalog movies. It's not crap to watch them instead appreciate the brilliance of your fellow Filipinos in making excellent movies and do something to save the dying local movie industry. Now, the most expensive film ever made in the Philippines is “Apocalypse Now” and Sharon Cuneta earned the title “megastar” in 1984. There you go… now buy the book too and I'm sure you'll find more movie trivia to spin your mind. (Learn to love Tagalog movies! Email the writer at rslphoenix@yahoo.com) |
