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Joel David’s ‘Canon Decampment:’ Philippine cinema through the years
By Allen Gaborro What many Filipinos think about Philippine cinema off the top of their heads are the plethora of heavily marketed, A-list action flicks, romantic and socio-economic on-the-edge melodramas, and hilarious comedies that have illuminated theater screens for decades. Distinguished cinema analyst and academic Joel David acknowledges the significance of this familiar view. But […]
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‘When the State demanded silence, artists answered:’ A Ma-Yi symposium
In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law. His first orders took control of newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Rallies were banned. Curfews were imposed. Critics were arrested. Tens of thousands were detained. People were tortured. Some disappeared. Some were killed. Fear was not a side effect. Fear was the system. Theater did […]
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Why corruption persists: Young FilAms look to history, entrenched political elites
By Cristina DC Pastor As the Philippines confronts renewed scrutiny over allegations of corruption, particularly involving government spending and flood-control projects, a group of young Filipino Americans are asking a difficult question: Why does corruption persist in the Philippines? For these young observers, the answer cannot be reduced to individual politicians or a single administration. […]
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Double feature Queer Flipside storytelling comes to Jersey City Aug 7; one night only
On August 7, 2026, Art House Theatre in Jersey City will host a landmark double feature for one night only, celebrating queer Filipinx art, history, and identity. The evening brings together two critically-acclaimed works: “Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo,” a documentary on queer Filipinx history, and “Anak ni Tapia: Leaving Mother,” a […]
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Hiroshima: 81 years later
By Wendell Gaa This month of August marks the 81st Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan by American military forces which would ultimately lead to the end of the Second World War in 1945. It is the first of only two times in the history of humankind that nuclear power was unleashed by […]
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A descendant’s pride: How Jiji Shapiro keeps the legacy of Marcela Agoncillo alive
By Cristina DC Pastor “Look, they’re wearing clothes!” Jiji Shapiro’s young son nudged his brother as they were browsing the family album. Based on what her U.S.-born sons have read on the Internet, they had thought then that Filipinos lived on trees and wore nothing. On hearing the well-worn gossip, a shocked Ma. Jerona – […]
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Historical parallels: insurgencies, political dynasties, and corruption scandals Part 2
By Cesar Polvorosa Jr. Encomienda Legacy Spanish colonialism implanted deeply unequal class structures across both the Philippines and Latin America. Through systems resembling encomiendas or feudal arrangements, land, wealth, and political power became concentrated in the hands of narrow elites. Over generations, this produced entrenched political dynasties, oligarchic control, regional strongmen, and persistent inequality. Political […]
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Finding the Philippines in Mexico Part 1
By Cesar Polvorosa Jr. Standing on the sun-warmed shore of the Yucatán Peninsula during my son’s wedding, watching Caribbean waves roll gently onto the Mexican coast, I was struck by an unexpected sense of familiarity. It felt like the comforting embrace of home. The feeling went beyond the tropical sway of coconut palms and the […]
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‘Manila’s Finest:’ When history speaks the truth
By Cristina DC Pastor “Manila’s Finest” is not merely another police drama. It is a period film that recreates a turbulent chapter in Philippine history through oral research, personal memories, and lived experiences. Set in 1969 Manila, just before the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, the film follows Captain Homer Magtibay, portrayed by Piolo […]