DAPITAN CITY (PIA) - Ambitious it may sound, but Dapitan is dipping its toes in the film-making industry, aiming for greatness and the summit of screenplay as the Film Capital of the Philippines.

Four of the short films listed for viewing at the prestigious Director's Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival were shot in the historic city of Dapitan.

We all know how Dapitan got its reputation, history-wise, and how this small city on the northwestern coast of the island of Mindanao impacted history when the National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was banished to the area to spend the last four years of his life, from 1892 to 1896, before his execution five months later.

To the whole world, Dapitan is a place of exile and punishment for the national hero; to the Dapitanons, it was an opportunity to learn from the great man himself. 

Over a century later, the mark left by Dr. Rizal in the place inspired not only historians but now filmmakers as well to capture the cinematic view of the place. Dapitan is going to Cannes.

Along with other directors who visited Dapitan, she vowed to advertise Dapitan as a great film location. "The very time we visited Dapitan, we saw everything; we saw mountains; we saw a tree overlooking Dapitan; we saw beaches and fishing villages," she said.

However, above all the great scenery, she underlined the hospitality of the Dapitanons as "truly unparalleled."

The directors also lauded the talents shown by Dapitanons in acting when they auditioned for the short films.

"They were really great, good actors. We did not expect we have hidden gems here in Dapitan, especially in the art of acting," said Casting Director Ryanne Murcia, who shared her amazement at the skills shown by the Dapitanon actors.

One of the four short films cast Dapitanons, a girl and a boy, as lead actors, while a total of 85 local talents were hired as extras. The films were directed by Filipino directors and co-directed by Asian directors.

City Mayor Seth Frederick "Bullet" Jalosjos said the celebration of the successful shoot of the films for the Director's Fortnight at Cannes is only the beginning of the greater heights Dapitan is aiming to reach.

"We envision more creative collaborations like this, drawing filmmakers and artists to Dapitan to explore its history and hidden treasures. Because experiencing Dapitan isn't just about exploring a beautiful city; it's about experiencing a crucial chapter in Philippine history. It's about walking in Dr. Rizal's footsteps, understanding his struggles and triumphs," he said. (RVC/EDT/PIA Zamboanga del Norte)