Rough Groove

Santa Santita - Laurice Guillen

A wonderful movie. And it has touched me.

Santa Santita by Laurice Guillen and screenplay by Jerry Gracio is one film by the renowned woman director/actress that has generated a lot of buzz lately. Not just that it has waited for almost 4 years for it to be filmed and shown but first, the screenplay is an award winner in the scriptwriting contest done by the Film Development Board a few years ago. Second, it has a stable of good actors in its roster like Cherry Pie Picache, Johnny Delgado, Hilda Coronel, and revealing talent by Jericho Rosales and Angelica Panganiban. And third, its a Guillen film. It has traces of Himala by Ishmael Bernal and is rich in a religious smorgasbord that finds its focus on the devotion to the Black Nazarene, revolving around the Filipino’s deep religious beliefs that sometimes borders on the animistic.

On a personal level, its a moving movie that made me think about my own convictions and religious beliefs. It has reminded me that when I was younger, I had a strong faith. I used to accompany my grandmother in her church activities and even dreamed of becoming a priest someday that my classmates sometimes call me “Father” and was expected to proceed to a seminary. Chuckle. Attended an exclusive catholic school for boys that is known for producing successful and god-fearing graduates. Just think of the weekly masses, confessions, retreats including different activities celebrating feastdays. Attending the obligatory Sunday mass and other special holy days of obligation. Praying the rosary from time to time. And so on and so forth.

Now, the only time I get to hear mass is when there is a wedding or burial where I am invited. I get to pray when I badly need one, but not to converse with a personal god but just to ease my mind. No wonder, my mother used to say “What happened to you? Before, you were… blah blah blah blah…” Or have I just become desensitized?

But times have changed. The world, or the universe, is too big, too wide to limit one’s ideas to a set parameter.