MLQU Launches
Gen-Talks: The General Education Program Lecture Series

Celebrating Film History and Preservation with National Film Authority Prof. Nick Deocampo

Manuel L. Quezon University proudly inaugurated the Gen-Talks: The MLQU General Education Program Lecture Series on February 28, 2026, at the VS Sports Cinema, a new platform designed to enrich the academic and cultural life of the MLQU community through thought-provoking lectures and expert insights on topics of national and global relevance.

The first lecture in the series was entitled “From Loss to Recovery: The Importance of Film Preservation and the Case of Diwata ng Karagatan (1936)”, delivered by Prof. Nicolas Francisco “Nick” A. Deocampo, one of the Philippines’ most respected voices in cinema history, preservation, and literacy.

Prof. Deocampo, an acclaimed filmmaker, author, and film historian, has dedicated decades to documenting and safeguarding Philippine cinema heritage. He is widely recognized for his work in uncovering, researching, and restoring early Filipino films, including the rediscovery of Diwata ng Karagatan — a 1936 production directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa and produced by pioneer filmmaker José Nepomuceno — now considered the oldest known surviving Filipino film prior to World War II.

In his lecture, Prof. Deocampo guided the audience through the historical and cultural significance of film preservation, emphasizing how cinema serves not only as entertainment but as an invaluable record of collective memory, national identity, and artistic evolution. He highlighted the challenges faced in preserving early Filipino films — many of which were lost to neglect, war, and deterioration — and shared insights on the ongoing efforts to recover and restore these cultural treasures for future generations.

The event provided students, faculty, and guests a rare opportunity to engage with a scholar whose work intersects film, history, culture, and archival practice. It underscored the importance of protecting audiovisual heritage and the role of informed advocacy in ensuring that significant works like Diwata ng Karagatan remain accessible as windows to the Filipino experience.

The Gen-Talks Lecture Series exemplifies MLQU’s commitment to holistic education, expanding learning beyond the classroom and fostering intellectual curiosity across disciplines. Through initiatives such as this, the University offers spaces where global perspectives, expert scholarship, and cultural consciousness become part of the educational journey.

MLQU looks forward to upcoming Gen-Talks sessions that continue to inspire critical thinking, broaden understanding, and deepen appreciation for the arts, sciences, and humanities.