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I must confess I’m a movie addict. As much as I can, I don’t miss watching good films on the big screen – blockbuster hit or not. Yes, I frequent mall cinemas if I have time. It’s my way of fighting stress and I always have a good share of relief in the comforts of mall cinemas.
Long before metro malls found their way down here, there were already a few cinemas/movie houses in Lipa City. And this is what this article is all about. Rewind the times when there were no IMAX, 3D cinemas, Dolby Surround Sound.
Let our contributor, Eric S. Masupil, take you to Diamond Jubilee, Oromar, and Rainbow cinemas. 🙂
Pre-mall Movie Memoirs of a Lipeño
For today’s generation, life in Lipa is unimaginable without the malls. Be it to see a movie, buy personal stuff, eat out, or simply to bum around, the mall is the place to be. But long before the malls perpetuated themselves into the city and into the collective consciousness of Lipeños, there were already home-grown establishments like movie houses which qualified as trappings of urban living.
Today, the city of Lipa boasts of 10 mall cinemas which brag of 3D, Dolby, etc., bringing nearly all (I say “nearly all” because why the hell was Shutter Island not played in these movie houses?!) the local and Hollywood blockbusters in virtually the same time as their nationwide / worldwide release.
Yet there was a time when Lipeños had to wait for a month or two (or worse, in vain) after a movie’s metro release before such played in any of these independent cinemas- Diamond Jubilee, Oromar, and Rainbow. Picture and sound quality in these theatres were obviously inferior to what today’s cinemas offer but they still served the purpose- providing me my movie fix.
Diamond Jubilee used to be in the building where Homeworks Furniture now is, Rainbow has become Chowking Bayan, both were in C. M. Recto St. while Oromar used to be in P. Torres St. just across the Funeraria Umali. All three theatres were divided into two sections – the lower orchestra and the elevated balcony. The admission charge was higher in the balcony (P40) than it was in the orchestra (P25) because of the former’s upholstered seats and apparently better screen perspective than the latter.
These three theatres were also known for the kind of movies they exhibited – Diamond Jubilee was the only one that showed foreign movies (the ridiculous and Philippine-shot Missing In Action 1 and 2) and the top-grosser/s in the annual Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF).
During that time, the MMFF’s top draw was always the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ)’s Panday (four movies in five years), always shown on or about January 20, in time for the city’s fiesta. These movies were local hits I was able to watch the last two (I was too young yet to watch a movie when parts 1 and 2 were shown).
Diamond Jubilee also played action films by Senators Lito Lapid (Ben Tumbling) and Ramon Revilla Sr. (Kapitan Inggo: Kumakain ng Bala) and before it was shut down, it became notorious for showing “pene” films– very graphically bold pictures (“pene” means penetration / the actual sexual act) that in today’s standard would be rated triple X and would make legitimate adult movies seem like Walt Disney productions. Titles included Bomba Queen, Mapaglaro, Hubo Sa Dilim, and Diligan Mo Ng Suka Ang Uhaw na Lumpia.
Rainbow, in contrast, was known for showing family- and youth-oriented movies like Dolphy’s Once Upon A Time, Tito, Vic, and Joey’s Super Wan-Tu-Tri, Sharon Cuneta’s Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Manilyn Reynes(!)’ Feel na Feel The Movie (“The Movie” had to be included in the title to avoid confusion because she had a song and a concert of the same title) and Romnick Sarmenta’s(!!) and Sheryl Cruz’s (!!!) Puso sa Puso. It was also considered as the cleanest theatre during that time (nicely cushioned and bug-free seats, reliable air-conditioning unit, and a projector that didn’t bog down in the middle of a screening, except during a power outage).
Oromar was infamous for its bug-laden plywood seats and showed B-movies starring Redford White, Cachupoy, and Palito like Balandra Crossing (a spoof of Hollywood’s Cassandra Crossing), and Rambuto (inspired by Rambo) and excellent comedies like May Daga Sa Labas Ng Lungga and May Lamok Sa Loob Ng Kulambo, both starring Eddie Garcia and Gloria Diaz.
These three theatres were also a testament to the huge fan base of FPJ. His movies Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop, Ako ang Huhusga, and Hindi Ka Na Sisikatan Ng Araw were all shown simultaneously in these three cinemas which, until then, was unthinkable. Sharon Cuneta’s Kahit Konitng Pagtingin (opposite FPJ) and Maging Sino Ka Man (with Robin Padilla) had more than a month’s run in Rainbow Theatre which by the standard one-week run was also record-breaking.
I shall end this nostalgia about how movies where before the era or malls with my two-part, one-movie experience when I watched at the Rainbow Theatre Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak starring Eddie Garcia and Dina Bonnevie. A power outage occurred in the middle of the film’s screening. While we were waiting and sweating in the dark, the guard shouted that nothing could be done as the power generator wouldn’t work.
We instantly shouted and cussed like lunatics and to appease us, the takilyera (the person who tore a moviegoer’s purchased ticket into two before he / she is allowed admission) marched in front of the projector and told us that we may just sign on a designated sheet of paper in the lobby so that we may come back the next day to finish the movie for free. Everybody found the proposition acceptable so we did as told.
I came back the following day and found out that Ms. Bonnevie got mortally wounded by a gunshot while Mr. Garcia became exposed as a corrupt City Mayor. It was the best ending ever and was certainly worth coming back to the theatre to watch the same movie.
Eric Masupil teaches Natural Science subjects at Lipa City Colleges and spends his spare time reading and watching stuff on TV. He also jogs regularly in his attempt to stay healthy.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
I have always been a big fan of Sir Eric. ^_^
Thank you, Mr. Sharigan. Are you a former student?
Clap. Clap. Clap.
I have always been a big fan of Sir Eric. ^_^
Thank you, Mr. Sharigan. Are you a former student?
Nostalgic. My first movie was Wake Up Little Susie syempre sa Rainbow Cinema. Thanks Sir Eric for this write-up! think you should have your own blurb box na dito sa WOWBatangas. hehe.
Nostalgic. My first movie was Wake Up Little Susie syempre sa Rainbow Cinema. Thanks Sir Eric for this write-up! think you should have your own blurb box na dito sa WOWBatangas. hehe.
Thanks Sir Eric for this! Some of the first movie experiences I really remember here in Lipa was Christian Slater’s “Hard Rain” at MS Cinema, back in 1998. Tandang-tanda ko pa kasi walang tigil ang ulan sa aming pinapanood tapos anlamig ng aircon sa MS, kaya para na rin kaming bida sa movie.. Isa pa yung kay Cesar Montano’s Rizal sa bagong bukas na Fiesta Mall kung saan si Rizal ay ipinakitang ilang buwan ng hindi naliligo. I understand mga bagong sinehan na ito kumpara sa Rainbow at Oromar, pero wala kasi akong maalala na napanood ko sa Rainbow at Oromar. Hehe.
Thanks Sir Eric for this! Some of the first movie experiences I really remember here in Lipa was Christian Slater’s “Hard Rain” at MS Cinema, back in 1998. Tandang-tanda ko pa kasi walang tigil ang ulan sa aming pinapanood tapos anlamig ng aircon sa MS, kaya para na rin kaming bida sa movie.. Isa pa yung kay Cesar Montano’s Rizal sa bagong bukas na Fiesta Mall kung saan si Rizal ay ipinakitang ilang buwan ng hindi naliligo. I understand mga bagong sinehan na ito kumpara sa Rainbow at Oromar, pero wala kasi akong maalala na napanood ko sa Rainbow at Oromar. Hehe.
naaalala ko lng e sa rainbow cinema ako unang nakapanood ng sine sa buong buhay ko… hehehe noong isinama ako ng tita ko na fan na fan ni rico yan… ang pelikula noon e si Rico Yan at Juday… Kay Tagal kang Hinintay ang movie… nostalgic.. bilis naging obsolete ng mga ganung theaters nang mauso ang Mall Theaters…
si Mr. Sharingan yata eh si Drew… heheheh
@Gerlie:: Thanks for appreciating the article. I nearly did not submit this one cause I thought it wasn’t that substantial compared to the second one i wrote and which got posted earlier (First Day High 101). Anyways, i shall try to keep submitting contributions every now and then. Nga pala, napanood ko rin ang Wake Up Little Susie.
@Jr: Sa Fiesta Mall ko na napanuod ang Hard Rain. Hehe
@Mark: The Juday-Rico movie that I got to watch at the Rainbow Theatre was Paano ang Puso Ko (theme song sung by April Boy, harharhar!). It also starred Wowie de Guzman (Juday’s original love team). 😀
naaalala ko lng e sa rainbow cinema ako unang nakapanood ng sine sa buong buhay ko… hehehe noong isinama ako ng tita ko na fan na fan ni rico yan… ang pelikula noon e si Rico Yan at Juday… Kay Tagal kang Hinintay ang movie… nostalgic.. bilis naging obsolete ng mga ganung theaters nang mauso ang Mall Theaters…
si Mr. Sharingan yata eh si Drew… heheheh
@Gerlie:: Thanks for appreciating the article. I nearly did not submit this one cause I thought it wasn’t that substantial compared to the second one i wrote and which got posted earlier (First Day High 101). Anyways, i shall try to keep submitting contributions every now and then. Nga pala, napanood ko rin ang Wake Up Little Susie.
@Jr: Sa Fiesta Mall ko na napanuod ang Hard Rain. Hehe
@Mark: The Juday-Rico movie that I got to watch at the Rainbow Theatre was Paano ang Puso Ko (theme song sung by April Boy, harharhar!). It also starred Wowie de Guzman (Juday’s original love team). 😀
I also watched one “judyAnn-Wowee” film sa Rainbow Cinema. Vivid pa rin sa alaala ko ang scene na sinasabi ni Wowee De Guzman na “lintik na pagmamahal yan” haha. Yun nga ga ang Paano ang Puso Ko o ?
Yup, ma’am Gelie. That line was from that movie. Hehehe
I also watched one “judyAnn-Wowee” film sa Rainbow Cinema. Vivid pa rin sa alaala ko ang scene na sinasabi ni Wowee De Guzman na “lintik na pagmamahal yan” haha. Yun nga ga ang Paano ang Puso Ko o ?
Yup, ma’am Gelie. That line was from that movie. Hehehe
12 June 2010
Hi, Ms. Dyan and Sir Eric!
Watching movies (especially when I was younger), aside from reading books, has been part of my restless life. There were times when I used to see three films a week on their first day showing.
I even stayed for 5-hour screening in a Quiapo movie house across the Quiapo Church (it was three days before my C.P.A. board exam date) and watched without remorse in one seating with a hopia box from Binondo for lunch, Bruce Lee’s three blockbusters in continuous silver screen showing (“The Big Boss”, “Fist of Fury” and “Way of the Dragon”). Di pa uso kasi ang Escolta DVD and Echague blu-ray discs.
My friend and big brother –guide-in-Manila (me being a naïve provincianong Batangueňo), Chito Recto introduced me in 1973 to Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” (Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall) movie in one of the C. M. Recto theaters. That would start my long and almost-fanatical affair with the three Godfather movies and books of Mario Puzo’s. There and then, I decided that my favorite actor is Al Pacino, eclipsing erstwhile screen hero and my idol, Charles Bronson.
But, of course, this intense enthusiasm for motion pictures, had been initiated to me by those theater-goings to cinema houses of Lipa City.
And Dyan’s recent WOW Batangas post has enlivened the memory film to roll again, saving me from ennui. Thank you, ms. Dyan and sir Eric!
But, may I betray my era?
If my memory serves me right, Diamond Jubilee was known to us then as “Kumintang Theater,” where I’s seen a double-program featuring Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” and Tagalog film, “Ang Lagablab sa Maribujoc.” Please don’t ask me what the movies were all about, because that would be too much a stretch.
And Oromar had another name during that primordial time when I was a jeepney barker for Lipa – Tiaong route, the terminal of which was located just across the street. I’d usually stayed near or beside the theater’s marquee because the sound system carried outside the movies’ talkies as if we were inside the movie house. We’d just need our wild and wide imagination! Oh, what a life so simple to make us happy, then!
THANK YOU FOR THE SPACE. And hello to Ms. Gerlie, who’d introduced me to Mitch Albom’s first book, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” I am now devouring “For One More Day.”
I miss the three of you, my friends . . . .
12 June 2010
Hi, Ms. Dyan and Sir Eric!
Watching movies (especially when I was younger), aside from reading books, has been part of my restless life. There were times when I used to see three films a week on their first day showing.
I even stayed for 5-hour screening in a Quiapo movie house across the Quiapo Church (it was three days before my C.P.A. board exam date) and watched without remorse in one seating with a hopia box from Binondo for lunch, Bruce Lee’s three blockbusters in continuous silver screen showing (“The Big Boss”, “Fist of Fury” and “Way of the Dragon”). Di pa uso kasi ang Escolta DVD and Echague blu-ray discs.
My friend and big brother –guide-in-Manila (me being a naïve provincianong Batangueňo), Chito Recto introduced me in 1973 to Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” (Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall) movie in one of the C. M. Recto theaters. That would start my long and almost-fanatical affair with the three Godfather movies and books of Mario Puzo’s. There and then, I decided that my favorite actor is Al Pacino, eclipsing erstwhile screen hero and my idol, Charles Bronson.
But, of course, this intense enthusiasm for motion pictures, had been initiated to me by those theater-goings to cinema houses of Lipa City.
And Dyan’s recent WOW Batangas post has enlivened the memory film to roll again, saving me from ennui. Thank you, ms. Dyan and sir Eric!
But, may I betray my era?
If my memory serves me right, Diamond Jubilee was known to us then as “Kumintang Theater,” where I’s seen a double-program featuring Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” and Tagalog film, “Ang Lagablab sa Maribujoc.” Please don’t ask me what the movies were all about, because that would be too much a stretch.
And Oromar had another name during that primordial time when I was a jeepney barker for Lipa – Tiaong route, the terminal of which was located just across the street. I’d usually stayed near or beside the theater’s marquee because the sound system carried outside the movies’ talkies as if we were inside the movie house. We’d just need our wild and wide imagination! Oh, what a life so simple to make us happy, then!
THANK YOU FOR THE SPACE. And hello to Ms. Gerlie, who’d introduced me to Mitch Albom’s first book, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” I am now devouring “For One More Day.”
I miss the three of you, my friends . . . .
i didn’t know that you loved movies. i didn’t even realize that you also write. all i know though was how u love jewel. wow..it’s nice to read this article. brought me back to good ol’ days. unfortunately, i wasn’t able to watch any film from these cinemas. fiesta mall na ata inabot ko. hehehe..
*certified masupil fan* thumbs up!
Thanks, F. Would be good to know who “F” is.
i didn’t know that you loved movies. i didn’t even realize that you also write. all i know though was how u love jewel. wow..it’s nice to read this article. brought me back to good ol’ days. unfortunately, i wasn’t able to watch any film from these cinemas. fiesta mall na ata inabot ko. hehehe..
*certified masupil fan* thumbs up!
Thanks, F. Would be good to know who “F” is.
@sir dodo – gerlie and I miss you too 🙂 and we miss the strawberry ice cream and the pizza delivery! haha.. Sir, we would appreciate it if you would contribute some of your precious works here on our site. I’m so glad that Sir Eric’s contribution was so nostalgic that a lot of our readers liked it. I’m sure madami din kayong maibabahagi sa amin.. 🙂
@sir dodo – gerlie and I miss you too 🙂 and we miss the strawberry ice cream and the pizza delivery! haha.. Sir, we would appreciate it if you would contribute some of your precious works here on our site. I’m so glad that Sir Eric’s contribution was so nostalgic that a lot of our readers liked it. I’m sure madami din kayong maibabahagi sa amin.. 🙂
@ dodo – Oromar used to be called Cine Lipa; Rainbow use to be Kumintang. Diamond & Jubilee are actually two new cinemas.
@ dodo – Oromar used to be called Cine Lipa; Rainbow use to be Kumintang. Diamond & Jubilee are actually two new cinemas.
Have lots of memories at Rainbow. Specially, the Alladin movie. 😉
Have lots of memories at Rainbow. Specially, the Alladin movie. 😉