Consul General Mangalile, SIPAG-NY Discuss Community Engagement and Upcoming Events
New York, 30 August 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York successfully hosted the 2024 Sinehan sa Konsulado (SSK), a flagship cultural initiative that celebrates the richness of Philippine cinema and its role in reflecting Filipino history, culture, and values. Held from 27-29 August at the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center (KJCC), New York University, this year’s series featured the screenings of four significant films: José Rizal, Pag-asa, Ang Huling Katipunero, and Hinabing Pag-asa.
The highlight of this year’s SSK was the screening of the digitally restored and remastered version of the 1998 classic José Rizal, presented as part of the commemoration of National Heroes Day on 26 August and History Month throughout August. This screening, supported by the different chapters of the Knights of Rizal in New York, attracted a diverse audience that included members of the Filipino community, the academe, and Philippine history enthusiasts. In his opening remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile emphasized the universal relevance of Rizal’s life, noting that his story is a “universal narrative that resonates with all who believe in justice and human dignity.”
On the second day, the Consulate featured Pag-asa, a documentary from the Atom Araullo Specials series, which explores the geopolitical significance of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. This screening was held in observance of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) in September and drew representatives from the Consulate General of Bangladesh, the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations, and members of the Filipino community. Complementing the screening was an exhibit titled “Archipelagic States: Identity, Consciousness, and Law,” displayed outside the theater. The exhibit provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the Philippines’ maritime heritage and the strategic importance of its archipelagic identity. Following its display at NYU, the exhibit will be displayed at the lobby gallery of the Philippine Center in New York from 3-30 September 2024.
The final day of the series presented two I-Witness documentaries: Ang Huling Katipunero by Howie Severino and Hinabing Pag-asa by Kara David. Ang Huling Katipunero shed light on Macario Sakay, the last of the Katipunan leaders to continue the fight for Philippine independence. The event was made even more special by the presence of Mr. Disney Carreon, one of the videographers of Ang Huling Katipunero, who is now based in New Jersey. Meanwhile, Hinabing Pag-asa, which focused on the resilience of the Maranao people following the Marawi siege, aligns with the Consulate’s Philippine Fiber and Textile Promotion Program.
This year’s Sinehan sa Konsulado was made possible through partnerships with Sulo: The Philippine Studies Initiative of New York University and GMA Network, which provided the films and assisted in promoting the event. END
