DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E

www.dfa.gov.ph                                                       2330Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                          Tel. No. 834-4000
 
SFA-AGR-852-07                                                                                                                                     19 Nov 2007

COLMA MOVIE OPENED THE 2007 CHICAGO FILIPINO-AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL  

19 November 2007 - The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported to the Department that the 2007 Chicago Filipino-American Film Festival (CFAFF) was held on 09-11 November 2007 at the Chopin Theatre in Chicago. 

The opening night reception was held on 09 November 2007. Consul General Blesila Cabrera and the Consulate staff joined the guests, organizers, film makers, Fil-Am media and the Filipino-American community.

The 4th Annual CFAFF was organized by the Filipino American Network (FAN), a non-profit organization that challenges and supports Filipino-American young adults by providing resources, connections and opportunities to enrich their lives, support their growth and deepens their self-awareness   of their Filipino heritage.

The festival opened with the musical COLMA, the community outside of San Francisco in which the Filipino-American screenwriter and actor H.P. Mendoza grew up. COLMA is also famous for being one of the burial locations of choice for many former San Francisco-area residents. Text Box: Consul General Blesila C. Cabrera and the Consulate officers and staff at the opening of the 2007 Chicago Filipino American Film Festival at Chopin Theatre.The story revolves around the lives of Rodel (played by Mendoza), Billy (Jake Moreno) and Maribel (L.A. Renigen) as they try to make sense of their lives and emotions after graduating from high school. A coming-of-age story set to music, COLMA features thirteen songs written by Mendoza. 

Consul General Cabrera congratulated the Filipino American Network for organizing the Festival which provides an opportunity for Chicagoland to experience Filipino cinema at its finest. She said that the movie COLMA depicts the challenges of a Filipino-American adult life in the real world. She also said COLMA and other films featured in the festival like Batad, Three to Five and Glassy; Ligaw Liham (Letters from Nor) and the documentary A Moral Debt, which examines the current efforts to gain recognition for the Filipino veterans of World War II, are movies which every Filipino-American should watch. 

The Consulate supports the efforts of FAN to promote appreciation of Philippine culture and heritage among Filipino-American young adults. END.

 

/Gary

 

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