tracing LIGHT
Vogue Philippines|August 2024
Behind the firsts in the history of Philippine cinema is a family who draws with light.
PATRICIA VILLORIA
tracing LIGHT

There's a story that film producer Luis Nepomuceno liked to tell his grandchildren from the height of his career: He once served as a middleman for an American production team filming a project at the same time his own production studio was working on a film as well. One day, while the Americans were lugging around heavy mirror light reflectors the size of refrigerators, he breezed past them with his crew carrying the most feather-light reflector—a smug moment that showed his ingenuity as an experienced Filipino filmmaker.

A young Artu Nepomuceno, his grandson, asked what the reflector was made of, and L.uis told him his crafty secret. He peeled off foil from empty cigarette packets and glued them on simple illustration boards for a D-I-Y reflector that accomplished the same job as the industrial-grade film reflectors for a fraction of the price.

Artu says that his grandfather Luis was always telling stories like this. And among the many stories he has told, the one defining story of his career also happens to be the first Filipino film in theaters to be shot in technicolor, Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, released in 1967.

The film follows a romantic drama starring Charito Solis and Ric Rodrigo, beginning with the bashful first blushes of courtship between their two main characters, the trials that test their relationship spanning decades, and a gripping ending with all the markers of a classic melodrama of the time. In that year, the film was selected as the country’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 40th Academy Awards, but fell short of being accepted as a nominee.

From that film, Luis continued to carve his own name in the film industry with Igorota, Ang Langit Sa Lupa, and a bevy of other feature-length and short films that have inspired younger generations of filmmakers today.

Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Vogue Philippines.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Vogue Philippines.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE VOGUE PHILIPPINESVer todo
eternal poetry
Vogue Philippines

eternal poetry

In an exclusive interview with Vogue Philippines, BULGARI's FABRIZIO BUONAMASSA STIGLIANI and MAURO DI ROBERTO talk about how an appreciation for craftsmanship and technique makes it possible to realize poetry in precious stones.

time-read
8 minutos  |
August 2024
evan ever evolving
Vogue Philippines

evan ever evolving

Unpindownable and unputdownable, model, actor, and all-in-one wunderkind Evan Mock makes magic in perpetual motion.

time-read
6 minutos  |
August 2024
SCENE STEALERS
Vogue Philippines

SCENE STEALERS

In recent years, the landscape of local cinema has changed dramatically with an influx of new and talented actors. Meet three Filipino leads rewriting the script, ushering in a new era across all facets of filmmaking.

time-read
6 minutos  |
August 2024
FORCE sensitive
Vogue Philippines

FORCE sensitive

Designer Kelvin Morales premieres his latest collection, translating resonance in barongs, structured pieces, and a neutral palette spliced with ultramarine.

time-read
5 minutos  |
August 2024
twm FLAMES
Vogue Philippines

twm FLAMES

SASSA JIMENEZ and VESTIDO are a match made in circular fashion heaven. By MARBBIE TAGABUCBA.

time-read
3 minutos  |
August 2024
INSIDE OUT
Vogue Philippines

INSIDE OUT

It’s all overcast skies and solitary roads. Something in the air shifts when ANNE CURTIS explores Tokyo.

time-read
3 minutos  |
August 2024
reel.and REAL
Vogue Philippines

reel.and REAL

NICO SANTOS is intent on breaking boundaries and becoming a beacon of pride. By VICTORIA GOLDIEE

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
tracing LIGHT
Vogue Philippines

tracing LIGHT

Behind the firsts in the history of Philippine cinema is a family who draws with light.

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
shadow PLAY
Vogue Philippines

shadow PLAY

ZELDA WILLIAMS wants to make friends with her monsters

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS
Vogue Philippines

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS

How a series of serendipities helped a women-led artistic team bring Gabriela Serrano’s sophomore short dream-time

time-read
5 minutos  |
August 2024