Over a century ago, Filipino Silver Screen pioneers started producing the nation's first Filipino made movies. But although they were 'silent' movies, they weren't totally silent because the "singing" parts were performed live during the theater screenings.
This was probably because for decades, Filipinos were used to watching stage plays (locally known as zarzuelas and moro-moros) which were much like the stage plays of today which showcase live performances.
Father of Philippine Movies
José Zialcita Nepomuceno was born in 1893 and he started his productions company in 1917. In 1919 he premiered the first Filipino made film -- Dalagang Bukid.
Although it was not the first film produced in the Philippines, it was the first by a Filipino.
The first film made in the Philippines was La Vida de Jose Rizal (The Life of Jose Rizal) produced five years prior by American Edward Meyer Gross. At this time, the Philippine Islands was still a U.S. Territory.
Incidentally, Nepomuceno bought his first film equipment from Gross on his birthday in 1917 and practiced his movie making skills for two years, until in September 25th 1919, the first Filipino made film was shown in Empire Theater in Manila.
Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden) was shown on screen with English, Spanish, and Tagalog subtitles. And as earlier mentioned, a song in the film had to be sang live, for each and every screening of the film, along with musicians who have to accompany the singer and play the musical instruments live.
Pioneers in Asia
It is noteworthy to mention that during this time, India, Japan and the Philippines were the only people in Asia who were making films in their part of the world.
Jose Nepomuceno (1893 - 1959)
Jose Nepomuceno went on to produce and direct numerous other full length films and documentaries. He was a photographer, journalist and a foreign news correspondent. Although his pioneering work with cinema was singularly his most important contribution to Philippine history, culture and arts, much more their people's way of life.
It is just unfortunate that all of his pioneering work has been deemed lost.
Dalagang Bukid was a huge box office hit. Nepomuceno produced a sequel in 1920 -- La venganza de Don Silvestre, to continue the story of the country maiden.
These initial successes paved the way for Nepomuceno and other local contemporaries to continue the business of producing films which eventually ushered in the Philippine Movie Industry.
Recommended Reading:
The Story Behind the First Filipino Movie (Esquire Mag)
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (fair use), Nepomoceno Productions (facebook account)