The same good folks who brought me out to present my workshop in Daly City, Kalayaan School for Equity, is hosting The Resistance of Philippine Cinema Film Festival this month. Three FREE screenings of some of Philippine cinema’s best offerings kicks off this Friday with Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros (Auraeus Solito, 2006), followed by Ishmael Bernal’s Himala (July 17) and Raymond Red’s Sakay (July 24). More info after the jump.

On June 24, 2009, Daly City’s KALAYAAN SCHOOL FOR EQUITY was honored to host Geologic of Seattle’s hip-hop duo Blue Scholars (aka Prometheus Brown) as he presented his unique take on Filipino Films in his presentation, “The Resistance of Philippine Cinema”. Based on overwhelming participant requests, we will be screening three films discussed in that presentation along with special video introductions of each film by Geo Logic. If you’re a film lover, interested in Filipino arts and culture, into international films, or just want to start off your Friday night with some good company, come on out to one or more of these screenings. Each film screening is free, but space is LIMITED to 45 people, so come early.

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Friday July 10
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros)

2005 | Director: Auraeus Solito | Starring: Nathan Lopez, Ping Medina, JR Valentin

Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy living in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves. The story revolves around the conflict between Maxi’s love for handsome young police officer Victor (J. R. Valentin), and his family’s illegal livelihood. Neo-realist in orientation, the film is a tale of lost innocence and redemption amidst the poverty of Manila’s slums.

Friday July 17
Himala (Miracle)

1982 | Director: Ismael Bernal | Starring: Nora Aunor

Ismael Bernal and Nora Aunor’s 1982 classic movie, deemed CNN’s Best Film of All Time in the Asia Pacific, tells the story of a girl who claims to have been chosen by the Virgin Mary as the messenger of good faith in a town who is convinced that its lack of water is the result of an unfortunate curse.

Friday July 24
Sakay

1993 | Director: Raymond Red | Starring: Julio Diaz, Tetchie Agbayani, Pen Medina

Raymond Red’s dramatization of the life of Macario Sakay, a Filipino
revolutionary general who led the anti-colonial Republika ng Katagalugan (Tagalog Republic) against the U.S. Military during the often overlooked Philippine-American War.

Where: Liwanag Kultural Center (222 Lausanne Ave., Daly City, 94014)
When: Doors at 6:30; Program at 6:45
Cost: FREE