The screenings of “Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos” and “Children of the War” were attended by a diverse audience, including Arthur Grabiner, a World War II veteran. Photo from newyorkpcg.org
The Philippine Consulate General in New York recently held the 17th “Sinehan sa Konsulado” at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York.
This year’s screenings put the spotlight on the Filipino people’s courage during World War II and the richness of the Philippines’ many languages.
Day 1
The two-day event in August kicked off with two historical documentaries.
The first, “Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos” (2018), remembers the former chief justice through interviews with top historians, official documents and articles written by his son Pepito.
The second, “Children of the War” (2025), tells the story of seven survivors of the traumatic Battle of Manila 1945, who were then children.
The screenings were followed by a discussion portion with Desiree Benipayo, the vice president of the Philippine World War II Memorial Foundation, as well as the author of the book “Honor.”
Day 2
The second day spotlighted the Hiligaynon and Bicolano languages with screenings of three independent short films. “Winged Dreams to the Blue Heavens” (2020) is a story inspired by the Ilonggo writer Magdalena Jalandoni in her childhood years.
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“Salog Ning Diklom” (2021) follows an alcoholic fisherman searching for his missing wife.
“Acuzar” (2019) is a romance drama about the proposed Sugar Import Liberalization bill. The short was awarded Best Feature Film at the 2020 Anatolia International Film Festival in Turkey.
Consul General Senen Mangalile shared some remarks with the attendees on both days. On the first day, he emphasized that the event is not just a film screening but an “opportunity for reflection” and a “celebration of the courage of the Filipino people.”
On the second day, he spoke on the importance of preserving Philippine languages, “to ensure that the voices of our ancestors and the unique expressions of regional cultures continue to resonate for generations to come.”
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