The wait is over: ‘Citizen Jake’ set to hit PH cinemas on May 23

Veteran film director Mike De Leon is ready to bring his much-anticipated film “Citizen Jake” to a larger audience as it will be shown in Philippine cinemas nationwide starting May 23. (Photo by Jet Leyco via Citizen Jake/Facebook)

Veteran film director Mike De Leon is ready to bring his much-anticipated film “Citizen Jake” to a larger audience as it will be shown in Philippine cinemas nationwide starting May 23.

The good news was confirmed by Mike himself following a series of meeting with Solar Pictures in the previous few weeks.

“My film may be fiction, but it is based on truths we ignore at our own risk. It should be seen by its audience in its original version, without cuts and without compromise. The film is not perfect, far from it, but it is a good honest film that is seeking an audience that I am convinced is out there. May you allow me to ask for your support?” the filmmaker said in a Facebook post, appealing support from the public.

“Citizen Jake,” which was rated R13 without cuts by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), was last screened in March at the UP Cine Adarna, University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City.

This film was also Mike’s comeback to cinema after an 18 years break. His last directorial job was “Bayaning Third World” in 2000.

The movie revolves around the story of a Baguio-based teacher and “citizen journalist” Jake Herrera (played by real-life broadcast journalist Atom Araullo), who is torn between being a member of a political family and a journalist who vowed to expose the truth to the public.

The situation then takes turn as Jake begins to dig deep into the brutal murder of a young, female student from the university he teaches in. This investigation leads him into a shocking disclosure which uncovers a Pandora’s box of secrets that could besmirch the reputation of some well-known personalities, including his father.

“The unconventional storytelling of ‘Citizen Jake’ is something we would like to offer the audience,” Wilson Tieng, president and CEO of Solar Entertainment, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The story is also relevant today and we hope this will drive moviegoers to watch this starting May 23,” he added.

“Citizen Jake” is Atom’s acting debut and has garnered praises from the public.

Aside from Atom, he is also joined by Cherie Gil, Dina Bonnevie, Nonie Buencamino, Luis Alandy, Gabby Eigenmann, Max Collins, Teroy Guzman, Lou Veloso, Richard Quan, Victor Neri, Allan Paule, Anna Luna, Elora Españo, Cholo Barretto, Raquel Villavicencio, Nanding Josef, and Ruby Ruiz.