New York Fil-Ams mark Bonifacio Day with special film screening

From right, Consul Mario de Leon Jr., Prof. Luis Francia, film historian Gil Quito answer questions from the audience after a special screening of “Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo” during the Bonifacio Day celebration at the Philippine Center in New York. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

NEW YORK CITY—Filipino Americans here marked the 152^nd birth anniversary of Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio with a special screening of “Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo” on November 30 at the Philippine Center.

Close to a hundred film and history aficionados and young Fil-Ams flocked to the Center’s Kalayaan Hall for the free screening of the film, which was made by the same producers of the widely popular and critically acclaimed “Heneral Luna.”

“Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo” won Best Picture at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2014, Star Awards 2015 and FAMAS Awards 2015.

Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. paid tribute to Bonifacio as “Father of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino Nation.” He also pointed out that Andres Bonifacio’s place in the history of the Philippines continues to be the subject of many a debate even until today.

Nearly a hundred Filipino Americans flocked to the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall to view the Bonifacio film made by the same producers of “Heneral Luna.”

“Rightly so, because debates lead to enlightenment and understanding, something that we should strive to achieve when it comes to our Philippine heroes, especially among our second-generation Filipino-Americans,” the consul said.

Prof. Luis Francia, professor of Asian American Studies both at New York University and Hunter College and a prize-winning writer, and Gil Quito, New York-based film historian, scriptwriter and producer for TV, film and stage, gave a brief overview of the Bonifacio’s the person and of the film, respectively.

Francia and Quito joined the Consul de Leon in a talk-back after the screening, addressing questions from the audience. A number of the questions dealt with whether Bonifacio should be considered the first president of the Philippines, his relationship with Jose Rizal vis-à-vis La Liga Filipina, and the challenge of raising awareness of the Philippine heroes among the young generation.

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