BAGUIO CITY – For being selected as a National Artist for Film and awarded the Order of National Artist, the city is congratulating and commending Eric De Guia or “Kidlat Tahimik”, a son of former city Mayor Virginia Oteyza De Guia and referred to as the “Father of Philippine Independent Cinema”.
The Award is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who made significant contributions in the development of Philippine Arts.
This is stated in city council resolution number 359, series of 2018, passed collectively and jointly by the local legislature and signed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Fondly called tatay by the city’s local indie film makers and artists, De Guia started his film career with an independent film titled “Perfumed Nightmare” (Mababangong Bangungot) that won the International Film Critic’s Prize in 1977 at the Berlin Film Festival and later made other films that also earned prestigious awards.
He was University of the Philippines-Diliman Student Council president and later earned his Master in Business Administration Degree at Wharton Business School in Pennsylvania, USA. De Guia also worked in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France.
“In order to forge new paths and direction for future generations of Filipino artists and keep the city’s momentum for its artistic accomplishments and cognizant of artistic geniuses, it is incumbent upon the city government of Baguio to give credit and encouragement to renowned and respected Baguio-based Filipino artists,” the measure states./Gaby Keith
