DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN

THE PHILIPPINES
ART APPRECIATION
WHAT IS CINEMATOGRAPHY?
Cinematography (from ancient greek
 κίνημα, kìnema "movement" and
γράφειν, gràphein "to write") is the science or
art of motion-picture photography by recording
light or other electromagnetic radiation, either
electronically by means of an image sensor,
or chemically by means of a light-sensitive
material such as film stock.
WHAT IS CINEMATOGRAPHY?
Cinematographers use a lens to focus reflected
light from objects into a real image that is
transferred to some image sensor or 
light-sensitive material inside a movie camera.
These exposures are created sequentially and
preserved for later processing and viewing as
a motion picture. Capturing images with an
electronic image sensor produces an electrical
charge for each pixel in the image, which
is electronically processed and stored in a video
file for subsequent processing or display.
WHAT IS CINEMATOGRAPHY?
Images captured with photographic
emulsion result in a series of invisible latent
images on the film stock, which are chemically
"developed" into a visible image. The images
on the film stock are projected for viewing the
motion picture.
Cinematography finds uses in many fields
of science and business as well as for
entertainment purposes and mass
communication.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE PHILIPPINES

• January 1, 1897 – Philippine cinema was said

to have been introduced in the Philippines by
the Spaniards, a year after the Lumiere
brothers initially showed their
cinematographe.
• The Spanish equivalent of the French term
cinematographe is cronofotografo which was
later shortened to cine.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• Four films were shown on a 60 mm Demeny-

Gaumont chronophotographe projector at the
Salon de Pertierra at no.12 Escolta, Manila
where the Ullman Jewelry Shop was formerly
situated. Businessmen Liebman and Peritz
installed the projector.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• The film show was dubbed as the “Espectaculo
Cientifico del Pertierra” after Sr. Francisco Pertierra, a
Spanish businessman who imported the motion
picture devices.
• The four films were “Un Homme Au Chapeau(Man
with a Hat), Une Scene de Danse Japonaise (Scene
from a Japanese Dance), Les Boxers (The Boxers),
and La Place de L’Opera (The Place L’Opera).
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• January 2, 1897 – The following local newspaper

carried the announcements of the film screening, El
Comedio, Diario de Manila, La Vox Espanola, and El
Espanol. The films lasted no more than 45 seconds
each. Viewers were charged 50 centavos for
cushioned seats, and 30 centavos for lunetas and
benches.
• January 29, 1897- Patronage to the film show began
to decline resulting in the lowering of admission
prices until Salon de Pertierra finally closed down.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• August (1st week) 1897-Antonio Ramos, a Spanish
Army officer imported a Lumiere cinematographe
along with thirty films.
• August 31, 1897 – Liebman and Peritz opened another
movie hall in Escolta. Among the film strips was the
Czar’s carriage passing the Place de la Concorde.
• Admission price was higher with Liebman and Peritz
charging one Mexican for seat preference and half a
dollar for general entrance.
• The paid billed their entertainment fare as
“Cinematografo” , later shortened to “cine”.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• November 1897 – The term “cine” became the generic
name for movies in the vernacular. The Liebman and
Peritz closed down their movie hall when patronage
became to decline.
• September 1898- Antonio Ramos made the following
films: Panorama de Manila (Manila Landscape), Fiesta
de Quiapo (Quiapo Fiesta), Puwente de España
(Bridge of Spain), and Ecseñas Callejeras (Street
Scenes).
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
July 1909 – Two major developments spurred
local cinema: The establishment of Manila film
studios and the mushrooming of movie theatres
due to abundant film supply.
August 8, 1909- There was a quick proliferation
of movie theatres. Cine anda has its inaugural
screening.
Between 1909-1911 – Other movie houses like
Paz, Cabildo, Empire, Majestic, Comedis, Apollo,
Ideal, Luz, and Gaiety were opened.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Early part of 1912 – Harry Brown and
Edward Meyer Gross, whose stage play La
Vida de Rizal (The Life of Rizal) had been a
commercial success, collaborated and
produced the local full length film, Rizal
Bracken. To ensure the film success, Brown,
acting as director, engaged his wife, Tetay
Molina, to play the role of Josephine Bracken.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
August 24, 1912 – Albert Yearsley, manager
of Oriental Film Company and owner of
Empire and Majestic Theatre, decided to
produce his own Rizal film. He beat the
Brown-Gross team when he showed his film
to the screening body at Grand Opera House
a day before the Brown-Gross film was
released.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Between 1910-1915 – Numerous foreign-
owned film companies established their firms
in the Philippines. They ensured steady film
production.
The imposition of taxes on film was another
development. In the process, short films
ceased to be the format and the age of
feature films soon flourished.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1917 – Jose Nepomuceno, the Father of the
Philippine Movies, together with his brother,
organized the film studio Malayan Movies.
Englishmen, Albert Yearsly and Edward Meyer
Gross, constructed the Majestic and Zorilla
theatres along the narrow lane of Azcarraga (now
C.M. Recto Avenue).
Yearly did the lengthy motion picture “The Life
and Death of the Great Filipino Martyr, Dr. Jose
Rizal”, in the role of Leonor Rivera was portrayed
by the first Filipina lead star, Tetay Molina.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1919 – Nepomuceno directed the film version of
Hermogenes Ilagan and Leon Ignacio’s zarzuela
entitled “Dalagang Bukid” (Country Maiden), which
starred Atang de la Rama.
1920- Fire swept the place and the outfit was
forced to sell its equipment. Faustino Lichauco
started filming “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”
but stopped filming halfway.
Claudio Briones and Ricardo Marcelino quarreled
on the set of Piping Saksi(Mute Witness) that
resulted in the shelving of the film.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Vicente Salumbides revived film making in
Miracles of Love which starred Hermogenes
Ilagan. Jose Nepomuceno made two films ‘Ang
Tatlong Hambog” and the “Miracles of Antipolo”.
1927 – Manuel Silos made a 16mm silent film
called “Tres Sangganos” (The Three Tramps).
1930- Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) was
hailed as Nepomuceno’s masterpiece.
1932- The first sound movie of Nepomuceno was
“Punyal na Ginto” (Golden Dagger), adapted from
the novel of Antonio Sempio.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1937- Pedro Vera of Sampaguita Pictures
started filming “Bituing Marikit” and “Madaling
Araw”.
1938- Don Ramon Araneta founded
Excelsior Pictures and filmed “Ang Maya”.
1939-Doña Narcisa “Sisang” de Leon
founded LVN and produced the film “Giliw
Ko”, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa. “Punit
na Bandila” was also filmed by Nepomuceno.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
At the end of 1939, other films were shown.
Among these were Ramon Estrella’s “Bayan
at Pag-ibig”, Gerardo de Leon’s “Bahay
Kubo” and Lamberto Avellana’s “Sakay”.
The growth of the film gave birth to new
stars which included Rosa del Rosario,
Carmen Rosales, Elsa Oria, Lucita Goyena,
Rosario Romero, Mila del Sol, Rogelio de la
Rosa, Angel Esmeralda, Fernando Poe Sr.,
and Rudy Concepcion.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1953 – The National Media Production Center
(NMPC) was created to produce and
disseminate international and educational films.
Larry Alcala made an animation film.
1958- Lamberto Avellana’s “El Legado” (The
Legislator won the Conde de Foxa award in the
Certamen International de Cine Documental
Ibero-Americano y Filipino in Bilbao, Spain.
After 2 years, he capped the same award with
his film “La Campana de Baler”.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1961 – The Grey Menace filmed in 1955 was
cited in West Germany’s Asian Film Week.
This film was directed by Jesse Ramos and
produced by the Department of Agriculture.
1963 – “Brave Little Island”, a short film about
Corregidor, won a certificate of acceptance in
the San Francisco film festival.
1964- “Soul of Fortress” and “Mangandingay”
won the Rotary Award for Service to Mankind
in the Asian Film Festival.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1969 – Avellana’s “The Survivor” was
awarded the Prix D’ Honneur in
Cambodia. The film was a re-enactment
of the life of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
1971- “The Land of the Sun Returning”,
a color documentary film, garnered the
Golden Award in the United States.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1973 – “Kasaysayan ng Lahi” (Story of a Race)
became the Philippine entry in the 5th International
Cinema Festival in USSR.
1980 – a number of award giving bodies started to
entail tracks of the Film Academy for Motion
Pictures, Arts and Sciences (FAMAS).
Michael Persons, an American residing in the
Philippines, and Virgilio Aviado were honored as
pioneers of experimental film making in the
Philippines.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Currently, the Movie Television Review and
Classification Board (MTRCB) classified motion
pictures and television shows according to the
suitability of content to the audience:

GP (General Patronage)-Admission is open to all.

PG(Parental Guidance open)- Admission is open to
persons below 15 years old must be accompanied
by an adult.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
PG-15(Parental Guidance)- Admission is open only
to 15 years of age and above.
R-18(restricted) – Admission is open only to adults
18 yrs. Old and above
X-Movie or show is not for public viewing.