UPFI launches Preservation Project for the Cesar Hernando Collection
UPFI launches Preservation Project for the Cesar Hernando Collection
Turnover of the Cesar Hernando collection to the UPFI Film Archives and Library. Photo c/o UPFI Film Archives & Library
SINEGANG.ph published this press release shared by Film Institute Research Unit UP Diliman. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
The University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI), through its Film Archives and Library, is embarking on a new preservation initiative that uses open and collaborative digital tools to safeguard and provide public research access to the Cesar Hernando Collection of Philippine Cinema Memorabilia.
The collection was officially donated to the UPFI by artist and cultural entrepreneur Katya Guerrero on August 29, 2025, in the presence of Cesar Hernando’s family, friends, and colleagues, a fitting tribute to one of Philippine cinema’s most influential production designers, visual artists, and filmmakers.
A Treasure of Philippine Cinema Heritage
Carina Samaniego, College Librarian of the UPFI Film Archives & Library, conducts the initial sorting and assessment of photographs from the Cesar Hernando Collection. Photo c/o UPFI Film Archives & Library
The Cesar Hernando Collection features over 3,000 photographs, 300 film posters, various audiovisual materials, and 60 digital discs, reflecting Hernando’s unmatched legacy as a production designer, visual artist, and filmmaker whose work helped shape the visual language of modern Philippine cinema.
As a production designer, Hernando collaborated with renowned directors such as Mike De Leon (Kisapmata, 1981; Sister Stella L., 1984), Lav Diaz (Batang West Side, 2001), Raymond Red (Kamera Obskura, 2012), and Maryo J. Delos Reyes (Tagos ng Dugo, 1987). He also made his mark as a cinematographer (Clandestinos, 2007) and film director (Botika Bituka, 1987; Kagat ng Dilim, 2006; Gayuma, 2015).
“This donation is not just about preserving Cesar’s legacy – it’s about keeping alive the vibrant stories of Philippine cinema,” said Katya Guerrero, donor of the collection. “By entrusting it to the UPFI Film Archives and Library, we hope it will continue to inspire scholars, students, and cinephiles to engage with our country’s rich audiovisual heritage.”
Innovating Preservation and Access
The majority of the materials in the Cesar Hernando Collection of Philippine Cinema Memorabilia consist of photographs, particularly behind-the-scenes images of prominent showbiz personalities and film projects involving Cesar Hernando himself. Together, these materials offer a vivid window into the past. Photo courtesy of UPFI Film Archives & Library
The UPFI Film Archives and Library will implement a phased preservation program, covering archival processing, cataloging, and digitization, to ensure the collection’s long-term care and accessibility for education, research, and cultural use. The project will use open-source digital tools, software that can be freely shared and customized, to strengthen cataloging workflows, metadata creation, and research accessibility.
“These tools make archiving more inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable,” said Yason Banal, Director of the UP Film Institute. “The Cesar Hernando Collection is more than memorabilia. It’s a living archive of art, cinema, and cultural memory that remains open to learning, research, and creative engagement.”
The initiative also aims to raise public awareness of film archiving through exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations that promote the preservation and appreciation of Philippine cinema.
To bring these plans to life, the UPFI Film Archives and Library is actively seeking research funding and institutional partnerships to sustain its preservation, digitization, and access programs.
Reestablished in 2019, the UPFI Film Archives and Library, under the supervision of the Institute’s Academic Programs and Research Unit, continues to uphold its mandate as a vital resource for educators, students, filmmakers, and researchers dedicated to the preservation, study, and creative reimagining of Philippine cinema.
The UPFI Film Archives and Library will implement a phased preservation program, covering archival processing, cataloging, and digitization, to ensure the collection’s long-term care and accessibility for education, research, and cultural use. The project will use open-source digital tools,software that can be freely shared and customized, to strengthen cataloging workflows, metadata creation, and research accessibility.
“These tools make archiving more inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable,” said Yason Banal, Director of the UP Film Institute. “The Cesar Hernando Collection is more than memorabilia. It’s a living archive of art, cinema, and cultural memory that remains open to learning, research, and creative engagement.”
The initiative also aims to raise public awareness of film archiving through exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations that promote the preservation and appreciation of Philippine cinema.
To bring these plans to life, the UPFI Film Archives and Library is actively seeking research funding and institutional partnerships to sustain its preservation, digitization, and access programs.
Reestablished in 2019, the UPFI Film Archives and Library, under the supervision of the Institute’s Academic Programs and Research Unit, continues to uphold its mandate as a vital resource for educators, students, filmmakers, and researchers dedicated to the preservation, study, and creative reimagining of Philippine cinema.
