On April 6, 2022, “ Ang Daigdig ng mga Api: Remembering a Lost Film” was launched in the Cinematheque Theater of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in Manila.
“Ang Daigdig ng mga Api: Remembering a Lost Film” was written by film historian, Mr. Clodualdo “Doy” Del Mundo, co-published by FDCP and De La Salle Publishing House. As the title indicates, this book is about remembering an important film in Philippine History.
Ang Daigdig ng mga Api is a film made by the National Artist, Gerardo “Gerry” De Leon and starred Robert Arevalo and Barbara Perez in 1965.
It tells the story of agricultural workers in the hands of their landlord as they live in extreme poverty. It aimed to open the consciousness of the viewers about the status of our farmers at that time.
“ Ang Daigdig ng mga Api is remembered as a forceful commentary of Social Injustice crafted in a deeply insightful cinematic style.”
Liza Diño, Chairperson and CEO of FDCP
The film is supposed to be a propaganda as former president, Diosdado Macapagal, runs for reelection but the film was done after former president Ferdinand Marcos won already. Even though that happened, when the film first premiered in the 1966 Film Festival, it won eight awards such as Best Director and Best Picture.
This film was truly a gem but unfortunately, it passed away in a way that there are no physical copies that were saved, making the memory limited to the people who watched the film at that time. Considering that this film was one of Gerry De Leon’s greatest works, it was not just a loss by the Philippine Film Archive, it is also a loss to the Filipinos’ next generation.
“Wala na ang pelikula, ang nasa atin na lamang ay ‘yong libro.”
Mr. Doy Del Mundo
His book contains the remaining photos, testimonials of the persons from the film, and historical anecdotes where some of the photos were shot by Director Dik Trofeo himself.
According to Director Michael Tuviera, also known as Direk Mike, the book is “Maganda pero malungkot” (Beautiful but sad). This book is the only thing we have as a grasp in remembering a gem which makes it beautiful and sad at the same time.
“Ang Daigdig ng mga Api: Remembering a Lost Film” is now available in its publishing houses and it deserves to be in your “must-read” list especially if you’re a film-enthusiast. It is important to remember this kind of film as our heritage.
As Mr. Doy Del Mundo stated in the launch,
“Sana sa mga makababasa ng libro ay isariwa muli sa alaala. Sa mga kabataan, sana malamang mayroon tayong maipagmamalaking pelikula na dapat pahalagahan.”
Let us all support this book to preserve a filipino film that we should remember, be proud of, and pass to the next generation.
💚💚💚