Fr. Peter Malone, MSC, was back in Manila on January 11-13 as resource speaker for the seminar on “Spirituality in Asian Film.” This was held at the Communication Foundation for Asia in Sta. Mesa, Manila. There were seventy-three participants including Srs. Sylvia George, Consolata Manding, Shirley Chong, Mennen Alarcon, Praxedes Paloma, Jocelyn Kwek (Singapore) and Winifred Loh, an APC from Singapore.
On the first-two days, Fr. Malone highlighted the four focal themes for spirituality in cinema: the reality of the divine, the nature of faith, ethical and moral values, and spiritual life.
He gave concrete examples on understanding the Asian perspectives on spirituality by showing films related to the Buddhist (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring), Hindu (Water), Muslim (Barefoot in Paradise), and Catholic (Santa Santita) traditions. During the group and panel discussions, the participants exchanged lively reflections on how Asian films dramatize major Asian religions guided by the question – “What does each film portray and what does it offer in terms of information, insight, inspiration and possibilities for dialogue with that religion?”
On the third day of the seminar, Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. presented an overview of the Philippine cinema. Ed Delos Santos Cabagnot shared about religious iconography in Filipino cinema. Three film critics also made their presentations on Filipino film directors: Ronald Baylan on Ishmael Bernal; Anne Frances Sangil on Mike de Leon; and Shirley Lua on Brillante Mendoza.
Fr. Nicasio Cruz, SJ, discussed religious films in the context of Philippine cinema. Among the good examples of what a truly religious film should be, he mentioned the following: “Tanging Yaman” which dramatizes a Filipino version of the Parable of the Prodigal Son; “Magnifico” is a modern parable about a 12-year-old boy, a Christ-figure who spends his life for the salvation of many and dies in the performance of his duty; The telesine, “May Bukas Pa” is an excellent example of a truly religious film because according to Fr. Cruz, “This telesine has endeared Santino to thousands of viewers whose personal problems find answers when they turn to God in faith, and see faith and prayer as significant factors in their daily lives.” This response “is what a truly religious film should generate – the deep drive of man to know himself, his relationship with God and his fellowmen.”
