Putting together a definitive list of great movies is never easy. Film taste is fiercely personal—shaped by our upbringing, our generation, our morals, and the emotions a story manages to pull out of us. Yet, a ambitious new book takes on this massive challenge with heart, passion, and a deep reverence for the craft.

Title: SINE. PELIKULA. FILM: The 100+ Greatest Movies of Philippine Cinema Published by Summit Books, this 300-page volume brings together decades of cinematic storytelling into one curated collection. Curated by former YES! magazine editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon alongside cinema scholar Dr. Joel David, the book features 127 reviews and synopses spanning from 1937 to 2020.

From Box-Office Hits to Hidden Masterpieces

What makes this volume special is its refusal to limit “greatness” to just one genre or era. Instead, it celebrates the vast spectrum of Filipino storytelling:

• Timeless Classics & Indies: Heavyweights like Lino Brocka’s Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag and Ishmael Bernal’s Manila By Night sit alongside Kidlat Tahimik’s indie benchmark Mababangong Bangungot and Arnel Barbarona’s Tu Pug Imatuy.
• Blockbusters & Rom-Coms: Pop-culture juggernauts like Heneral Luna and Ang Panday share space with modern favorites like Cathy Garcia-Molina’s One More Chance and Antoinette Jadaone’s That Thing Called Tadhana.
• Comedic Favorites: Classic laughs from Mar S. Torres’s Jack and Jill complement contemporary cult comedies like Jade Castro’s Zombadings.
• Rediscovered Treasures: Early masterpieces like Gerardo de Leon’s El Filibusterismo and Gregorio Fernandez’s Malvarosa get their well-deserved spotlight.

Beyond the reviews, the book incorporates biographical profiles of National Artists for Film, including cinematic icons like Fernando Poe Jr., Manuel Conde, Eddie Romero, and Mike de Leon.

The Story Behind the Selection

Creating a canon requires immense effort and debate. Rather than pitting movies against each other to rank or score them, the creators set out with a simpler goal: to assemble an honest list of films that are truly “wondrous, esteemed, and outstanding.”

To bring the project to life, Maglipon convened the seasoned YES! editorial team to watch, debate, and select the titles over several months, supported by the film expertise of Dr. Joel David.

As Maglipon reflects, film appreciation is ultimately subjective. It’s rooted in background, culture, and individual bias. SINE. PELIKULA. FILM doesn’t claim to be the final word on Filipino cinema—instead, it serves as an open invitation for readers to revisit these stories, explore local film history, and perhaps even compile a favorite movie list of their own.

Whether you’re a lifelong film buff or just starting to explore local movies, this book is an inspiring guide through the history of Philippine storytelling.