CCP Channel offers stories of devotion, reflection this Holy Week

In keeping with the spirit of Holy Week, the CCP Channel’s line-up presents stories of moral dilemmas, familial tensions, and life-changing lessons. 

 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. 

 Leading the selection is Hapagkainan, a 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. 

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. 

 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. 

 Fresh from the Gawad Alternatibo 2025 come more selections that deepen this season’s reflective tone.  

 Pieta by Dy Margarette Cerio and Johnfil Crisjim Nuñez juxtaposes a mother’s anxiety with devotion. 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, which won third place in the Animation Category. 

 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. 

 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. 

 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. 

 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. 

 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. Kasal Dauinanon  was spearheaded by PFDS Negros Oriental Chapter and NORSU, and brought to life by the Kahayag Dance Company. 

 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 interprets this Spanish-influenced social dance from Zamboanga City. 

 A subscription to the CCP Channel — the monthly subscription is P99 and the annual rate is P599 – provides access to a wide range of curated content from the CCP’s archives and productions, ranging from Cinemalaya films to full concert seasons of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. For more information on the CCP Channel, visit its official website at https://culturalcenterph.channel/.