The Making of a Saint : The true to life movie story of Pedro Calungsod "Batang Martir".

My friend Mrs. Maria Luisa Tamayo-Leon invited me personally to attend and watch the the movie premiere night screening of Pedro Calungsod " Batang Martir".

The movie is all about the life of the newly beatified Filipino saint himself Pedro Calungsod. The beatification was officiated by the newly crown prince of the Church his Holy Father Pope Francis , done at St Peter and Paul Cathedral Eternal City of Rome Italy just few months ago.

The movie is also an official entry to this year 39th Metro Manila Film Festival for which the title role is played by the now young promising actor in the person of Rocco Nacino.

Momentously during this December month that is dedicated to the Spirit of the Seasons of Yuletide relative to the sacrifices of the living hero of today the "OFW" Overseas Foreign Workers.

In relation with the movie of the life of Pedro Calungsod himself is a pioneering overseas Filipino worker only with a different purpose . He is into the business of spiritual vanquest as a newly converts follower of the Spanish Friar.

Only then that Pedro Calungsod chosen the path that any one would like not to traverse. He was one of the casualties , fatalities by the very mission of spreading the good news (the living history of Jesus Christ) to the foreign land then, now known as Guam.

Yes indeed Pedro Calungsod deserves the movie , immortalizing his heroic adventurism worthy enough for emulation by the Filipino Youth of today.

A few minute before the official opening program ( in red carpet) of the premiere screening , Mrs. Maria Luisa Tamayo-Leon, caught me doing my online marketing session at Pinoy Global Cafe ( an exclusive by invitational membership Lounge Area) located at 5th level of SM Mega Mall , Mandaluyong City Philippines.

A cafe which is dedicated by the SM Shoe Mart Group of Companies to the OFW themselves and to their beneficiary. It offers free wifi , free coffee and tea, free long distance calls, and money changing facilities for the service of the OFW.

Its in the cafe that Mr. Maria Luisa Tamayo - Leon told me about her plans of attending the movie premiere night screening of Pedro Calungsod " Batang Martir". Being known as avid net worker and event enthusiast her self, and certified real estate broker of her own company RAGIN-TATIN REALTY in the Philippine social registry.

Mrs. Maria Luisa Tamayo-Leon a Global Pinoy Cafe member herself a beneficiary by her husband Mr. Raul Leon an OFW based in Dubai for over a two decades now. Suggested to interrupt my internet session to check her Face Book account. This is her way of communicating her husband and two adult daughter now also working as OFW in Dubai.

Then Mrs. Maria Luisa Tamayo-Leon opened her Facebook account allowing me to view her recent travel pictures from Dubai. She just been there a week ago for a short visit with her husband and attending to the ceremonial wedding of her daughter.

Mr. Leon herself is a recipient of the many blessings of her family unfathomable sacrifices for working abroad .

Her husband is a manager of a Dubai multinational company. Through her Face Book account that I was able to be introduced to her husband. A very handsome Castilian look alike of Tom Cruise. Her one week stint in Dubai produces a lot of vivid memories attested by the pictures. She had the pictures of whole landscape of Dubai all on its splendor of grandest ever. Everything is world class. From the sailing type architecture of Al burj hotel a shopping destination as was told by Mrs . Leon. To the palm villages by the sea. To the desserts , palms and camels is beyond an unimaginable picturesque scene only Dubai can offer to the world. The long winding road , the finest beach sea side boulevards and everything in between , modern landscape of buildings.

Her major event in Dubai was the wedding ceremony of her daughter that was officiated at St. Francis Dubai Cathedral celebrated by a Sri Lankan priest assigned in the church.

Her daughter got married to the Philippine prominent family known for its business in agriculture. The Abalos and sons Agro Farms and Industries. The firm known for having an annual presence (booth) in the Philippine International Agricultural Expo ,known as " Agri-Link" always held at World Trade Center Manila. The company is also known for being the breeder of high grade foreign specie of cows and pigs, livestock and poultry.

Mrs. Luisa Tamayo_Leon despite of her age realizes the advantage of the modern means of communication the social media like Facebook in communicating her love one's abroad.

The most striking pictures that Mrs. Luisa Tamayo -Leon showed me on her face book account is her photo taken after the wedding reception . The photo together with her loving husband were seated together in the swing, for which my self title poem " swing is especially dedicated to the couple:

SWING:

A solemn night
In a chain of arms
Rythmic creaking
Childhood dream of playing
Heart giggling
Up from below voices floating
Window glowed lights flickering
Champagne of happiness overflowing
True experience exhilarating
Be ready for tomorrow's night swing.

After short seconds of facebook scanning , chats and likes Mrs. Luisa Tamayo -Leon finally stood up , decided to attend the ceremonial (red carpet) premiere night screening of Pedro Calungsod " Batang Martir" that was held at Cinema 7 of SM Shoe Mart Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City Philippines.

The Movie:

I love the entire cinematography of the movie. It pictures the panoramic beauty of an islands a representation of the Guam and the Philippines in those era.

One noticeable scenery of the community casted in the movie , is the lack of passable road if there is ,only a travails of pathways. The director is commendable for showing the sense of truth for these particular aspect. In relation to the movie and based on world history one of the unique legacy ,tangible heritage brought in by the Roman Empire to the world is their idea of buildings roads and bridges.

Back to the movie, though the business of the Spanish Friars for which Pedro Calungsod is serving as novice (native new convert) is asphalting the roads of the spiritual pathways of each native inhabitants of the islands. To form a body of the community which is Christ centered and god fearing. To sow the seeds of Spanish Friars to build the real church (nipa /stone0 a pueblo , then road and bridges .

To spread the culture of spiritual awakening for which the culture of civilization ultimately follows.

The movie is beautifully rendered and edited with respect to the historical relevance. The director is careful enough , very astute for exposing the very critical topics leaving the audience to sum up on their conclusion for themselves. For these a commendation deserved to the people behind the scenes and to the whole cast of the movie who done their role perfectly .

The whole islands , the community is facing the crossroads of civilization brought by the swords and bible (teaching of Jesus Christ).The Spanish conquistadores is also facing the challenges for which path to choose . Applying the mighty blade of swords or the mighty blade of the words to minimized the casualties and fatalities out of fear , mistrust and ignorance.

Both camps is facing the daunting challenges of the time. The very intentions of planting the faith for which is totally in different from the traditional cultures of the aborigines bring in miscalculations that sometimes causes bloodbath.

And so both camps decided what is right to be done, according to each own camps belief.

So this starts with the clash.

The movie cast includes Mr. Jestoni Alarcon, Christian Bautista, Kuya Manzano et all.
Mr. Francis Villacorta directed the movie.

The aborigines must choose the road of salvations which bring forth the real road of development because both camps needed so to have a better passage way necessary for the coming and going of people engaged on the culture of faith, trade , customs, in harmony and at peace with each other.

Henry Estipona
Investment Consultant
www.onlineexpress.blogspot.com
c/o 892 32 68 local 7214



A rigular attendee of the Annual Pacific Regionl Investment Conference:

Organized by : APAFS
Asia Pacific Association of Fiduciary Studies based in GUAM.
Founded and chaired by Gerard Cruz
Online Express
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