Directed by the cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo, Tadhana is the first Philippine full-length animated film. It was commissioned to be based on the book of the same name on the history of the Filipino people. The book's author is credited as the authoritarian and then-President Ferdinand Marcos, but was actually ghostwritten by other historians. The film presents a satirical, humorous and poignant view of the Philippines' history of Spanish colonisation through highly original and surreal vignettes fusing art, mythology and music. Several artists collaborated, voiced characters and appear in the film. Noted printmaker Pandy Aviado served as the film's assistant director while Santiago Bose was one of the film's many animators. Tadhana premiered on Philippine television during the anniversary of Martial Law in 1978 before the original 35mm film reel mysteriously disappeared. The only known copy of the film left is a recording on Betamax tape by film archivist Teddy Co, made during the film's live broadcast. The tape was transferred to U-matic, and this U-matic tape has been digitised, translated and subtitled by Mowelfund Film Institute for this programme. This is its first screening outside the Philippines.
