THE Cultural Center of the Philippines celebrates the Women’s Month this March with series of art events, film screenings and other events. The celebration is part of the CCP’s mandate to create and facilitate platforms that pursue gender and development (GAD).

The Arthouse Cinema, a project under the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division, will feature cinematic works by women filmmakers, and films tackling women and gender issues.

Catch Kip Oebanda's “LIWAY” on March 14 (Thursday), 2:00p.m., at Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater). Liway, which received the Audience Choice Award and Special Jury Commendation in the Cinemalaya 2018, is based on a true story.

The full-length film follows the story of Dakip, a young boy who lives with his parents Day and Ric inside Camp Delgado, a makeshift prison inside a military camp for both rebels and criminals. Given their circumstances, Day does her best to shelter the child from the harsh realities of their life. She uses storytelling about an enchantress named Liway, as well as songs and imagination, to help ensure that her boy is free from trauma. At the tail end of the Martial Law, Day’s own dark past catches up on her and the lives of the detainees become increasingly difficult. She is confronted with the cruel possibility that the best interest of her child means never seeing him again.

At 5:00p.m., the screening will continue with Women in Shorts, featuring Cinemalaya's best short films including “MATER” by Annemikami Pablo (2015); “PUSONG BATO” by Martika Escobar (2015); “WAWA” by Anj Macalanda (2015); “PEKTUS” by Isabel Quesada (2016); “MANONG NG PA-ALING” by E del Mundo (2017); “LOLA LOLENG” by Che Tagyamon (2017); and “YAKAP” by Mika Fabella and Rafael Froilan (2018).

On March 28 (Thursday), there will be a back-to-back screening of Anna Francesca Espiritu's “PAN DE SALAWAL (2018)” and Inna Miren Salazar Acuña and Dos Ocampo's “ANG BAGONG PAMILYA NI PONCHING (2016).” The screenings will be 2p.m. and 5p.m., respectively, at Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

In partnership with the Women Playwrights International Philippines, there will be a Readathon of Women Plays on March 15 and 16, from 9am to 6pm, at the Silangan Hall, 4/F Cultural Center of the Philippines.





Women empowerment continues with Gandang Ganda Sa Sariling Gawa (GGSSG) Zine Fair on March 16. Co-organized by the Gantala Press, the whole day fair will offer books, zines and artworks created by women artists and authors.

Through its Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point, the CCP follows the implementation of gender mainstreaming advocated by the Philippine government. It is concerned with women as well as with the social construction of gender and the assignment of specific roles, responsibilities and expectations to women and men.

All events are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to join the different activities. Government employees are encouraged to attend. For inquiries on film screenings, call the FBNMD at 832-1125 local 1702/1704. For the Readathon on Women Plays, call the Intertextual Division at 832-1125 local 1707.