The 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will close with a tribute to one of Philippine cinema’s most influential figures, the late Mike De Leon. His 1980 satirical musical-comedy Kakabakaba Ka Ba? will be screened at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas 1 & Premiere Theater on October 11 at 8:00 PM.
Co-written and directed by De Leon with Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. and Raquel Villavicencio, the film follows four Filipinos who unknowingly become involved in a contraband smuggling plot and later find themselves entangled in a crime syndicate’s scheme to use materials from the Catholic church to manipulate the country.
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The film stars Christopher De Leon, Charo Santos-Concio, Jay Ilagan, and Sandy Andolong.
De Leon, known for his bold social commentary, was born into a post-war society and raised within LVN Pictures, a major studio founded by his grandmother, Doña Sisang. His upbringing heavily influenced his filmmaking style.
“The Philippines, and the state of its socio-political environment, has influenced how I have approached my films, through the camera lens and through the script,” he once said.
In 2022, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York held a retrospective of De Leon’s work, including behind-the-scenes footage from Maynila, sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, where he served as cinematographer.
His films Kisapmata (1981) and Batch ’81 (1982) were featured at the Directors’ Fortnight at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, while Sister Stella L. (1984) was the Philippines’ official entry to the 1985 Venice Film Festival.
Kakabakaba Ka Ba? earned two FAMAS Awards (Best Editing and Best Sound) and five Gawad Urian Awards, including Best Direction and Best Music.
Tickets are available at Php 350 (regular) and Php 250 (discounted) at the Shangri-La Red Carpet Cinemas ticket booth or online at redcarpetattheshang.com.
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