After 107 Years, Filipino Cinema Finally Has a Permanent Home — Cinematheque Centre Manila Reopens in Intramuros
First Lady Liza Marcos and Film Development Council of the Philippines chairman Jose Javier Reyes officially reopened the Cinematheque Centre Manila in its new Intramuros location on Wednesday — and Reyes couldn't contain his emotion about what it means for Philippine cinema.
'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,' Reyes said in his speech. The micro cinema had been temporarily closed since February 2025 when the FDCP announced it would relocate from its previous location on T.M. Kalaw Street in Ermita.
The Cinematheque is more than just a screening room — it's a hub for film education, workshops, forums, and community building. 'Hindi alam ng karamihan na ang daming workshops, ang daming forum, ang daming film talk na nagaganap sa Cinematheque,' Reyes noted, adding that most Filipinos don't even know there are five Cinematheques across the country.
Other Cinematheque Centres are located in Iloilo, Davao, Zamboanga, Compostela Valley, and Bacolod City. Unlike commercial theaters that show mainstream films driven by business interests, these FDCP-run venues showcase independent, classic, and world cinema — giving Filipino filmmakers and audiences an alternative space to celebrate the art of film.
Award-winning actress Hilda Koronel posed with the First Lady and Reyes at the opening, adding star power to the occasion. The new Intramuros location — nestled within the historic walled city — feels poetically right for an institution dedicated to preserving and nurturing a 107-year-old art form.
Source: Manila Bulletin
