From the book review by Roland B. Tolentino:
"The tandem that brought us the two coffee-table books of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Nicanor Tiongson’s writing and editing and Cesar Hernando’s photo research, returns to fill in the gap of an earlier film era.

"Folklorist and trickster filmmaker Manuel Conde’s life and work is the subject of the latest book on Philippine cinema. Conde was a director with a lot of firsts on his hand: first to use color in movies, first to compete in the Venice Film Festival, and first to combine international and local, independent and studio funding for his films, among others.

"It is an opportune time that the book on Conde is launched at the 4th Cinemalaya Film Festival. An auteur filmmaker who writes, directs, stars, production designs, and executive produces his films, Conde’s multi-faceted life provide lessons and is an inspiration to the younger generation of independent filmmakers. Conde was also a precursor to Kidlat Tahimik’s naïf indigene figure.

"He is as relevant to the younger filmmakers as his films are to the nation. Conde knew film and the stories he wanted to tell for a Filipino audience. He drew inspiration from folk tradition and anxieties over social values of the times."

Read the rest at http://rolandotolentino.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/review-of-the-cinema-of-manuel-conde/