Lt. Col. Anastacio Campo’s diary is a revealing memoir of a Filipino officer stationed in Davao City at the outbreak of World War II. There are relatively few Filipino first-person accounts of the war and most of these are from Bataan or Manila. This account, set in Davao, opens a heretofore unknown vista for most Filipinos. Having been written at the time, it has an immediacy and personal flavor that are unique. Lt. Col. Campo’s diary is enriched with his granddaughter Maria Virginia Y. Morales’s comments and annotations that provide background information, which brings out his human side. An important addition to the Filipino memoirs of World War II, this book is a step toward making the Filipino war experience better understood as a truly nationwide experience.Concerto, 2008: A Film by Paul Alexander Morales
Official entry to the 2008 Cinemalaya Film Festival
Davao war drama Concerto to open Mindanao filmfest
DAVAOENO director Paul Alexander Morales’ Davao-set World War 2 epic Ang Concerto will open the Mindanao Film Festival on Dec. 14 at the Gaisano Mall Cinemas.
Concerto, based on a true story, tells about a piano concert held in the forest of Davao City involving a family which seeks refuge in the safety of the jungle to escape the bombs of liberating American bombers and a group Japanese soldiers encamping nearby.
The film, an official entry in the recent Cinemalaya Film Festival, stars Meryll Soriano (daughter of Willie Revillame), Jay Aquitania (brother of Bubble Gang’s Antonio Aquitania), Nonoy Froilan (celebrated Danseur and father of MYX VJ Nica Froilan), Ynna Asistio (daughter of controversial actress Nadia Montenegro), and Shamaine Buencamino (wife of actor Noni Buencamino).
The film received rave reviews from different critics. Some compared it to Peque Gallaga’s classic World War 2 epic Oro, Plata, Mata. Gallaga, who incidentally one of the resource persons in this year’s Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop, will be returning as a guest of the Mindanao Film convention.
Review from the Mindanao Times.
PEP: Concerto to be screened starting Nov 19
www.pep.ph
by: Jocelyn Dimaculangan
Starring Jay Aquitania, Meryll Soriano, Shamaine Buencamino, and Ynna Asistio, Concerto is a Cinemalaya 2008 entry that will touch viewers' hearts for showing the hardships that a family had to go through during World War II.
This film depicts the true-to-life experiences of a household that takes pride in their family heirloom—a piano that is able to bring much joy and music in the midst of an ugly war.
The displaced Filipino family camp out in a forest in Davao and they try to live peacefully with Japanese officers camped nearby. This does not sit well with the patriarch of the family (played by Nonoy Froilan) since he experienced torture at the hands of the Japanese.
Romance blooms between the young daughter (Ynna) and a young Japanese officer but can she fight for her love amidst the turmoil surrounding them? Meanwhile, the older sister (Meryll) yearns for the chance to play the piano once again.
This period film directed by Paul Alexander Morales will have theatrical screenings starting November 19, 2008.
Theatrical Screenings of Concerto November 19 to 25 2008
- Indie Sine, Robinson’s Galleria
- SM North Edsa
- SM South Mall
- SM Megamall
- Glorietta 4, Ayala Center Makati
Synopsis ~ The Family ~ Japanese in Davao ~ War ~ Music