In a milestone for Philippine cinema, Liza Araneta-Marcos and veteran filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes led the reopening of the Cinematheque Centre Manila on February 26.
Reyes also serves as chairman and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
In his speech, Reyes highlighted the historic significance of the reopening.
“Sa wakas, may bahay na ang pelikulang Pilipino. We are 107 years old. But it is only now that Filipino cinema has found its home,” he said.
The First Lady underscored the importance of the Cinematheque in a Facebook post.
“Today we opened the Cinematheque Centre Manila at Intramuros — the new home for Filipino cinema. A space where our films are preserved, restored and honored — so the stories that shaped our identity will continue to inspire generations to come,” she wrote.
The reopening was celebrated with a screening of the classic Filipino film Sisa.
The First Lady also praised award-winning filmmaker Jun Robles Lana, veteran actress Hilda Koronel, and the team behind the production.