A NUMBER of Visayan filmmakers were recently recognized by the prestigious Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) in their 44th awarding ceremony virtually.
In the lineup for the ten outstanding “Pelikula ng Dekada,” a decade-long tribute of MPP to remarkable Filipino films that have impacted on the lives of Filipinos, some of their makers are Visayan film artists like Cebuano Remton Siega Zuasola (“Damgo ni Eleuteria”), Negrense Erik Mati (“Buy Bust”) and even Sheron Dayoc (“Women of the Weeping River”), Arnel Mardoquio (“Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim”) and Arnel Barbarona (“Tu Pug Imatoy”) are from Mindanao, their language spoken is Visayan. Khvan de la Cruz (“Balangiga”) might be a Tagalog or from Luzon but his masterpiece is about the Balangiga massacre in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.
From the individual creatives, internationally acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz who won Best Screenplay for “Lahi, Hayop,”, is a Mindanaoan who speaks Visayan.
The Arumpacs are from Mindanao but they speak Visayan. Alyx Ayn Arumpac won Best Director for her gritty documentary film “Aswang” which is about the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration. It also won Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Documentary.