In difficult times such as what our country is facing now, it is comforting that there are still a few places where a Filipino can be proud of his heritage.Nestled on the sprawling lot of LVN studios on P. Tuazon blvd. in Quezon City is the LVN Museum. Once inside the compound, the visitor has to inform the people at the front desk at the administration building of his purpose, or he can call beforehand and have his name registered so the security guard can let him through. There is an entrance fee of P30.
The museum is still housed in a one-storey building, but don’t be fooled because there is nothing simple about the facade or the front lawn. Both are colorfully decorated with bayonets, shields, coat of arms and old lighting equipment. It’s a prelude to what a visitor can expect to see inside the museum: more than two decades of film legacy!
Before I went to the museum, I read up on the history of LVN from a masteral dissertation of a university professor. I learned that the studio was established in 1938, shortly before the Second World War. The acronym LVN was taken from the first letter of the last names of its partners: Doña Narcisa Buencamino de Leon, Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa Sr.
It was closed down during the war and opened again after the Liberation until 1961, when it finally stopped producing movies. LVN Studios’ facilities were revitalized to cater to post-production needs of its clients.
The museum is packed with surprises. I call them that because from what I’ve learned from my edifying interview with its curator and founder, Bernard Fernandez, the pieces on display were salvaged from a neglected state in storage. A museum was never in the plan of LVN.
Fernandez said that the museum was created by a mere stroke of fate, with a little initiative from him. He recalled seeing boxes and boxes of old costumes and props stacked in a bodega more than 10 years ago. Then in 1989, he had a vacant lot—where old and rotting cars were piled up—leveled down and a sort of open structure was erected. He employed a hired hand and moved the salvaged boxes to that site.
Di mo baya aram na si Meri-anne Ditan at Beatriz eh bulwak talent kan LVN kan panahon? Susme, dai ka baya nagbabasa kan World War II Journal kaito (mabasa ini ni Meri-anne, siguradong tuokon ako kaito, hahaha!)
ReplyDeleteMiss you na friendship!
Napakaganda ng mga pelicula ng LVN, eto ang lagi kung pinapanuud nung bata pa ako, pero hindi pa naman ako ganu matanda 47 yrs old pa lang ako, pahanhon po iyon ng parents ko.
ReplyDeleteAt maganda ang pagka direct ng films kahit black & white. Parang Pinoy Hollywood. Ang mga artista ay mga disiplinado pati ang pelikula ay disente. Sayang at namwala na ang LVN, yun ang favorite ko.
ReplyDeleteGusto ko bumili ng mga vintage films nila sana mura lang.
ReplyDeleteSi Rosa Rosal ang isa sa pinakagusto kong LVN star magaling umarte talaga at maganda, kahit anong role nya, ganun din pag kontrabida sya.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days gusto ko pumunta ng LVN museum, ngayun ko lang kasi nalaman ito na may museum na. Pag dumadaan ako ng P. Tuazon ay lagi ko tinitingnan ang LVN compound at pati yung LOGO ng LVN, minsan napadaan ako ay wala na at iba na ang lugar. Yung bakod ng LVN ay andun pa din. Yung lumang bahay ay wala na dun sa compound.
ReplyDeletemy mobile number in case 0909 301 8833 Talk n Text or SUN 0932 911 6471
ReplyDeleteSi Lamberto Avellana ay magaling na director, buhay pa kaya sya?
ReplyDeleteSana i advertise nyo ng maayos ito para malaman ng marami.
ReplyDelete