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Eldest among the Seven

Sampaloc Lake - the most prominent of the seven lakes of San Pablo City has provided shelter, employment, and inspiration to its immediate community for countless decades. In return, the natural resource suffered from an indiscriminate use by the residents themselves and the consequences of rapid urbanization. Recently, the local government has implemented a clearing of all residential structures within the legal easement of the dying lake to pave the way for a tourism master plan that endeavors to balance revenue and environmental protection.

On the eve of the clearing operations, filmmaker Dennis Empalmado documented the final musings of the residents, advocates, and artists whose lives revolved around the 99-hectare crater lake.

  • Dennis Empalmado
    Director
    Hindi Tao Hindi Hayop, Piso Dalawang Piso, Pandanggo, Imahenasyon
  • Dennis Empalmado
    Writer
    Hindi Tao, Hindi Hayop, Nilalang, Pandanggo, Darkroom
  • Roy Empalmado
    Executive Producer
  • Dennis Empalmado
    Producer
  • Owen Suerte
    Producer
  • Jerico Torres
    Sound Editing
  • John Guiller Abarcar
    Original Score
  • Gerry Alanguilan
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Panganay sa Pito
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    40 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 12, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle
    Seattle, Washington
    United States
    June 1, 2018
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Chimes of new moment - Re-visioning Just communities
    Bangalore
    India
    November 20, 2018
    South India Premiere
    Official Selection
  • International Ecological Film Festival TO SAVE AND PRESERVE
    Okrug
    Russian Federation
    June 4, 2018
    Russian Federation Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New Earth International Film Festival
    Kraków, Małopolska
    Poland
    October 15, 2018
    Central Europe Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Lift-Off Sessions
    Iver, England
    United Kingdom
    May 20, 2019
    South East England Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Dennis Empalmado

Dennis Empalmado studied filmmaking at the MOWELFUND FILM INST. His work experience runs the gamut from sounds recordist/sound designer to writer/director of short, feauture length films and documentaries. His work is influenced by Filipino counterculture of the 1970s and 1980s.

His current works were screened at local and international film festivals. He has also worked with some notable independent and mainstream film makers and film scholar at GOETHE-INSTITUT (German Cultural Center).

Dennis Empalmado was born and raised in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines where he currently resides with his wife and two sons. One of his advocacies is to impart film knowledge and incline people who aspire to be filmmakers. With that in mind, he also established a basic filmmaking workshop in San Pablo City.

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