Producer, Writer, Director Statement By Atty. Vince M. Tañada About KATIPS THE MOVIE

As lawyer who pursued my artistic passion by starting the Philippine’ Stagers Foundation Inc. (PSF) back in 2001 with the intent to educate as many youths as we can and train as many artists with the passion and talent for theatre, I am proud that it eventually grew into the Philippines’ premiere and biggest touring theatre company. The pandemic greatly affected our dedication to bring our Musical plays that at the time was averaging at least 500 performances a year. It  was part of our artistic thrust to educate audiences all over the country - not only in the power of the arts but in teaching the young and old alike of the explosive force that knowledge of history has, in whatever form it will take. 

But the Arts will always have a way to manifest even in times of difficulty. Last year, in the heat of the ongoing pandemic, Philstager’s Films was born as a web-based media outfit in our way to keep our passion burning and to somehow give work to some of our more displaced talents. For almost one year, with an ever-growing viewership and engagement, we believe that the time has come for our small film outfit to grow.

What better way to do it but to magnify one of our most successful musicals into the big screen?

“Katips: Mga Bagong Katipunero” was originally performed onstage in the year 2016; winning the ALIW Awards for Best Musical Performance that year, I believe that sharing the story of students fighting for freedom in the middle of a force too big for them to control would be a timely metaphorical representation about our society today as we fight against the menace that continues to eat at our freedom as human beings. 

As a WRITER, the play was written with the help of a historian to make sure the chronological accuracy of events is given justice. I support against history revisionism as a parasitic fiber that continues to gnaw at society today, especially the young. As a movie, the screenplay has undergone a revamp without affecting the narrative. I did this to make sure that the film remains neutral in its political stand and only continues as a statement of facts about the realities from the 70s until the latter 80s through the eyes of fictional students who might have very well been real people in the guise of different names. 

As a DIRECTOR, the film was shot using various styles. Since it’s a musical, this is incomparable to any other historical musicals that has ever been done in the country so far. Using pseudo-realistic techniques and metaphors, the movie is an exploration on how vast a filmmaker can make use of music, lights, costumes, visual effects and symbolisms in order to deliver a story as poignant and as life-changing as reality, experienced first-hand will be for viewers.