Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) was founded by a group of cinema critics, writers and scholars on May 1, 1976. It aims to serve as the critics’ voice, bestowing recognition and honors on the stellar films in the Philippines, through the annual Gawad Urian Awards. The founding members were: Behn Cervantes, Pete Daroy, Pio de Castro, Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Gino Dormiendo, Mario Hernando, Bienvenido Lumbera, Manny Pichel, Nicanor Tiongson, and Nestor Torre.
Mahalagang inawin na ang MPP ay binubuo ng mga kritikong may iba’t ibang pananaw at estilo. Bukod sa kanilang opisyal na listahan ng mga pelikulang pinapupurihan, ang MPP ay wala nang iba pang “opisyal na opinyon.” Hindi tinutungkol ng MPP ang pagpapahayag ng nagkakaisang kuru-kuro hinggil sa mga partikular na pelikula. Bawat Manunuri ay may sariling kuru-kuro na bunga ng sarili niyang pandam-dam, isipan, edukasyon at karanasan. Ang tanging nagbubuklod sa kanila ay ang paniniwala na bagaman produkto ng isang industriya ang pelikulang Pilipino, ito ay isa ring sining na maipaglilingkod sa ikayayaman ng pagkatao ng madlang nagbabayad upang panoorin ito. – Bienvenido Lumbera (Unang nalathala sa Sagisag, Agosto 1976.)
It is important to note that the MPP is made up of critics with different views and styles. Apart from their official list of commendable films, the MPP has no other “official opinion.” The MPP does not refer to the expression of a consensus on specific films. Each Critic has his or her own opinions as a result of their own feelings, thoughts, education and experience. The only thing that unites them is the belief that although Filipino film is a product of an industry, it is also an art that can serve to enrich the personality of the audience who pay to watch it. – Bienvenido Lumbera (First published in Sagisag, August 1976.)
The Current MPP Members
Shirley Lua
Chair
She is an associate professor of literature and cultural studies at De La Salle University (DLSU). She is former Director of DLSU Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center. She co-edited the book Direk: Essays on Filipino Filmmakers (with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.).
Grace Javier Alfonso
She served as Chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP) Open University in 2007 and was founding chair of the Film and Audiovisual Department of the UP College of Mass Communication. Her columns “Sight and Sounds” appear in Daily Tribune and “Kultura Popular” in Sunday Malaya.
Laurence Marvin S. Castillo
Laurence Marvin S. Castillo teaches literary and cultural studies at the Department of Humanities, University of the Philippines Los Baños. He served as member of the UPLB pelikuLAB, which organizes the Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival. He earned his PhD in cultural studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. He has written scholarly essays on Philippine cinema and literature.
Gary Devilles
Gary C. Devilles is an associate professor of the Filipino Department of Ateneo de Manila University. He is the author of Sensing Manila, published by Ateneo University Press, which won the Best Book in Literary Criticism in the 39th National Book Awards. He is also the author of Pasakalye: Isang Paglalayag sa Kasaysayang ng Panitikang Filipino and co-editor of Roland Tolentino in Kritikal na Espasyo ng Kulturang Popular, both published by Ateneo University Press. He took up AB Philosophy and MA in Filipino Literature in Ateneo de Manila University and his PhD in Media Studies in La Trobe University, Australia.
Butch Francisco
He writes a column for Philippine Star. He has hosted TV programs and shows. He was the editor of TV Times, Parade Magazine, and We Forum, among others. He was part of the cast of Tukhang, a crime drama series.
Miguel Rapatan
He is Professor of Communication at De La Salle University where he also served as head of the Center for Educational Multimedia. He is former chair of the Cinema Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2007-2013).
Anne Frances N. Sangil
Anne Frances N. Sangil is an Associate Professor at De La Salle University where she currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Literature. She was a Writing Fellow for Film Studies for the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of DLSU, and also worked as the Assistant Editor of the Film volume of the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts.
Katrina Tan
Katrina Tan is an associate professor at the Department of Humanities at the University of the Philippines Los Banos where she currently sits as the Chair. She obtained her doctorate degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia in 2021. A film festival organizer and programmer, she founded the regional film festival Pelikultura: The Calabarzon Film Festival in 2010 and programmed films in this festival and in Cinema Rehiyon. She served as the Luzon representative in the National Committee on Cinema (NCC) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2014-2016. Currently, she is a member of the NCC Executive Council (2023-2025).
Nicanor Tiongson
He is Professor Emeritus at the UP Film Institute, University of the Philippines. He was awarded the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Parangal sa Sining at Kultura in 1998. He served as the overall editor of the revised CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts and the editor of the URIAN Anthology series.
Rolando Tolentino
He is the Vice President for Public Affairs of the University of the Philippines (UP), former director of Likhaan Institute of Creative Writing, and former Dean of the UP College of Mass Communication. He was the Commissioner for the Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). His corpus of scholarly books and articles deals with Philippine literature, popular culture, cinema and media, interfacing national and transnational issues.
Tito Genova Valiente
He is a public anthropologist and film educator. He is with the Japanese Studies Program of Ateneo de Manila University. He writes a column called “Reeling” for Business Mirror. He is the director of the Institute of Bikol History and Culture at Ateneo de Naga University.
Contact
Shirley Lua
Chair, Manunuri ng Peilikulang Pilipino (MPP)
Email manunuripeilikula@gmail.com
Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Gawad Urian)
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