FRANCE has its Lourdes. Portugal has its Fatima. And the Philippines has its Manaoag.
But is the Virgin of Manaoag really miraculous?
Ben “M7” Yalung’s latest film, Birhen ng Manaoag, tackles one of the devotional centers in the local church. The film tries to reaffirm the truth about miracles through the witnesses and introduces scientific evidence to prove the phenomena.
The story revolves around Anna (Jodi Santamaria), a single mother who investigates Marian apparitions for her thesis. She meets Paul, an ex-seminarian/writer who has lost his faith because of his mother’s death. Anna scours the town of Manaoag, Pangasinan, interviewing people with accounts of alleged healing miracles and apparitions, failing at first to obtain new evidence about the truth between the tales. But, upon reaching the end of the trail, she stumbles upon a rose—given to her by a mysterious young girl—and discovers that there are images imprinted on each petal. The rose, which symbolizes the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, become the catalyst that affects the lives of the central characters.
There are certain aspects of the movie that are worth noting, such as the fitting background music of Nonoy Buencamino. But there is more to a film than just music.
Take the lead actors. Not only are they expressionless, their lines are also unnatural and their movements limited. They make you feel as if you were watching a sophomoric dramatization or reenactment. Santamaria lacks expression while the rest of the neophyte cast is on elementary creactivity.
The storyline isn’t much good either. There is no flow to the story—scenes are cut to make way for another scene. The effect is a “chopseuy” of scenes that have no relevance to each other. Perhaps one can say the idea is innovative, but it is badly executed.
The editing and cinematography are also mediocre. The movie tries to have a complex plot and characterization, but only fails in both, because of confused editing. The camera work is boring.
For a miracle movie, this movie has paltry special effects. A case of penny-pinching, perhaps.
Competent acting, story, editing, and effects—these are some of the ingredients that comprise a film worthy of recognition. Sadly, the movie fails to deliver them. The film does not do justice to the Lady of Manaoag so loved by Filipinos, however good the producers’ intentions might have been. Anne Nerissa C. Alina
