Featured image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines — Beyond the religious definition of Holy Week, the season calls for reflection and heartfelt reconnections. Embodying the poignant spirit and solemnity of this season, CCP Channel’s line-up presents stories of moral dilemmas, familial tensions, and life-changing lessons.
True to its mission of expanding access to Philippine arts and culture, the CCP Channel offers a curated selection of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival films, entries from Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, Virgin Labfest (VLF) plays, and dance performances from the CCP T(A)YONG Dalawa Project.
Cinemalaya, Gawad Alternatibo, and VLF on the CCP Channel this April
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Leading the selection is Hapagkainan, a standout one-act play from VLF 2016 written by Rick Patriarca and directed by Chris Martinez.
Set around a seemingly typical family dinner, the story slowly unfolds into a fierce confrontation as suppressed tensions and hard truths surface. This play captures the complexity of Filipino family dynamics and the pressure of unresolved conflicts with satire and dark humor.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
From Cinemalaya 2017, Lionel B. Arondaing’s Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig (Clouds of Plague) presents a compelling moral conflict set on Good Friday.
A priest and a young altar server are burdened with a confession that challenges their faith and sense of justice, prompting reflection on the lines between moral duty and religious beliefs.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Nenok, a 2015 Cinemalaya short film by Rommel Tolentino, follows the story of a nine-year-old street kid who finds shelter in the historic Barasoain Church.
Through his mischievous yet emotional journey, the film explores innocence and survival at the intersection of faith and everyday life.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Fresh from the Gawad Alternatibo 2025 comes more selections that further deepen the month’s reflective tone.
Pieta by Dy Margarette Cerio and Johnfil Crisjim Nuñez juxtaposes a mother’s anxiety with devotion.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Meanwhile, young filmmaker Jillian Santiago tells a quiet and personal story of a young girl searching for a parent who left home in Farther, Closer, Farther.
Through memories and fragments of the past, this third place prize-winner in the Animation Category showcases the contradictory but constant push and pull between distant people connected through longing.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
An honorable mention from the recent 37th Gawad Alternatibo, Wika Nadera’s Tirik follows a father visiting the former resting place of his son in a cemetery.
As he walks through the space, memories resurface, blending his personal grief with the visible neglect and decay around him. The experimental film becomes a reflection not only on loss, but also on how nostalgia and history intertwine in moments of mourning.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Oda Kay Papa by Johnsep Mari Abode offers a profound documentary on illness and the strength of familial love that endures.
Told from the perspective of a devoted wife and son, the film follows a family’s mental and financial struggles as they care for the father, who is bedridden with Parkinson’s disease.
Regional dances from the CCP T(A)YONG Dalawa Project
Complementing the film and theater line-up of the CCP Channel are performances from the CCP T(A)YONG Dalawa Project, which offer instructional videos on folk and indigenous dances on love, ritual, and tradition across different regions in the country.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Balse ng Desposorio: Unang Hakbang sa Walang Hanggan presents marriage as both a personal and spiritual journey.
The bride and groom are made to understand that forming a family requires believing in what the Lord can do. Performed by Sining Bulakenyo, this dance from Bulacan highlights love as a commitment grounded in deep faith.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Kasal Dauinanon: Ritwal, Rito, Ug Tradisyon explores the wedding traditions in Negros Oriental. Through the moving image of his Polaroid, a photographer discovers the magic of the Dauin Church.
A dance during the reception, Sulili, follows the rites. Spearheaded by PFDS Negros Oriental Chapter and NORSU, and brought to life by the Kahayag Dance Company, this cultural treasure bridges the old tradition to the modern artistic taste of the younger generation.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
A romantic courtship through dance, Valse Zamboangeña: El Paranguas de Amor uses the art of movement to express affection, effort, and the beginnings of love. A shy boy returns the parasol of a girl.
Accidentally, they will be partnered in a dance of valse (waltz) where they express their budding feelings for each other. The WMSU Jambangan Dance Troupe beautifully interprets this Spanish-influenced social dance from Zamboanga City.
Official poster courtesy of CCP.
Serving as a gateway to Philippine arts and culture, the CCP Channel continues to bring meaningful stories and performances closer to audiences anytime, anywhere.
By availing a monthly subscription of Php 99 or an annual rate of Php 599, viewers can access a wide range of curated content from the CCP’s archives and productions, ranging from Cinemalaya films to full concert seasons of the revered Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
For more information on the CCP Channel, visit its official website at https://culturalcenterph.channel/. Purchase a subscription directly through the link. Follow the CCP’s official website (https://culturalcenter.gov.ph/) and social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for updates on its shows, workshops, and productions.
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