An analysis of the film 'The Kingdom,' winner of the 2nd Best Picture Award and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival. The article critiques the film's portrayal of an uncolonized Philippines, arguing that it is not faithful to precolonial Filipino culture.
Of all the 10 movies featured in the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival , which incidentally also celebrates its 50th year, I would focus on ' The Kingdom ,' winner for the 2nd Best Picture Award and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award.The main reason for this is that while the other nine films were undoubtedly fictionalized narratives, ' The Kingdom ' made a bold claim.
The makers of the movie offered it as a representation of an uncolonized Philippines, one that was never under any imperial domination, or foreign occupation.Thus, while it remained as a fictionalized imagination, it has offered itself to be scrutinized in terms of how 'authentic' its imagination was.It is here that while the movie has earned accolades from many, and jurors have awarded it as the second best and also cited its cultural contribution, I take issue with it for the simple reason that it was not faithful in its representation of a country that did not live under the specter of colonial rule.Some of the problems that I had with the movie may appear petty. But for a country that is supposed to be free from any colonial imprint, it is really puzzling why the gesture of obeisance toward elders is the 'mano po.'Before the arrival of the Spanish in the Philippines, respect for elders and hierarchical social structures were already integral to Filipino culture. Precolonial Filipinos demonstrated respect to elders and authority figures through gestures of submission and reverence. Bowing or kneeling to show deference were common, but not 'mano po.'The act of kissing or bowing so that the forehead touches the hand of the object of respect or deference was a common practice in Catholic cultures to show respect or seek blessings. The term 'mano po' directly translates to 'hand, please' in Spanish ('mano' means hand). During the Spanish colonial period, the gesture became formalized as part of a broader influence of Spanish customs and Catholic practice
The Kingdom Metro Manila Film Festival Philippines Colonialism Precolonial Culture
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