Excitement Over Lav Diaz's "Magellan" in the Criterion Collection

On March 17, 2026, The Criterion Collection announced the upcoming release of Lav Diaz's film Magellan in DVD and Blu-ray formats. The discs are expected to be available in June of the said year. 

For me, the date March 17 itself carries a deeper significance. Exactly 505 years earlier, on March 17, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the island of Homonhon (now part of the Philipine province of Eastern Samar).

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew was the first recorded European contact with the Philippines. 

(Although, as Yoyoy Villame humorously sings in his popular novelty tune, it was March 16—but that is another story.)

Ferdinand Magellan's name is evoked in both milestones that took place on March 17, with the events separated by five centuries.

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan's arrival signaled the beginning of the colonization of the Philippines. That event laid the foundation for the long and complex history of the nation.

In 2026, Ferdinand Magellan's name reappears, but in a different guise. This time, the explorer appears to serve as a bridge for Philippine cinema to be recognized on the global stage. 

We think the inclusion of Lav Diaz's Magellan in the Criterion Collection is big deal, considering its reputation as a prestigious archive of "important classic and contemporary films."

Lav Diaz's Magellan is set to join two films by Lino Brocka, Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Tagalog: Manila: In the Claws of Light) and Insiang, in this esteemed collection. 

March 17 is a date that once opened the door for a long social, economic, and political process that has shaped and continue to influence the Filipino identity. 

The said date now opens a new opportunity for introducing the Filipino identity to more audiences in the international arena.

We are hopeful that the announcement by The Criterion Collection marks a consequential step toward the inclusion of the more critically acclaimed and culturally important films created by Filipinos.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE

*** When the Yoyoy Villame song Magellan was released in 1972, the incumbent Philippine president was Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 

At the time when The Criterion Collection made its announcement regarding the Lav Diaz film, the Philippine president is Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Father and son are namesakes of the Portuguese explorer.

Photo Credit: The Criterion Collection