Doc-hero in Star Movies short

MANILA, Philippines - Star Movies is now airing its first locally produced short film called Super, a five-minute docudrama about the heroic tale of a cardiologist faced with the challenge of saving a toddler afflicted with congenital heart disease (CHD). It premiered last July 22, with ongoing replays up until Aug. 15.

The short cinematically delivers the true-to-life heroism of Dr. Jonas del Rosario who co-founded the Braveheart Camp annual activity for kids with CHD. He actually saved the baby boy nephew of one Kathrina Mangahas who submitted his heartwarming story to the My Champion Hero contest launched by detergent bar and powder brand Champion.

It was adjudged standout among the 40 entries.

“The story is simple and straightforward, yet unique,” said Justine Denosa, assistant brand manager for the Champion brand.

The Champion-Star Movies partnership searched for a story featuring “unsung heroes of our generation” and picked the one best exemplifying the brand’s core value, Katapatan, which in essence is “being true to one’s calling.” The winning story won cash prize and became the subject of the short film featuring theater actors. 

According to Mangahas, Dr. Del Rosario has “chosen to practice here in the country despite offers to work abroad.” 

The cardiologist graduated from UP Medicine in 1991 and trained in the U.S. for interventional pediatric cardiology. Apart from putting up the Braveheart Camp, he also supports CHILD (Child Health In Life and Development) Foundation which gives assistance to kids with CHD under the PGH. He also treated typhoon survivor “Yolanda Baby” Princess Barca who also suffers from CHD.

Mangahas shared, “Luckily, our little warrior was referred to Dr. Jonas. We knew that our own ‘braveheart’ would be in good hands; he never treated his patients just ‘patients;’ he treated them like family.”

The winning entry began by stating that “one in 100 babies born each day is diagnosed with Congenital Heart Defect (CHD), and that “it is the No. 1 birth defect worldwide.”

The short’s synopsis describes Evan the kid as “a child with a huge imagination and lives a life of fantasies.” Doc Jonas needs to choose between “professional growth and staying true to his calling.” In a nutshell, it is a story of how a boy reminds a man to make a difference and elevates himself from a being a normal person to practically a superman.

The Champion executive pointed out, “It’s nice to highlight that the stories submitted were mostly relatable kasi nangyayari sila sa totoong buhay. Super goes deeper from just being a dramatic story.”

Last September, Dr. Del Rosario posted a message on his Facebook page, saying, “I hope to meet someone who can invest and build a children’s hospital with a cardiac catheterization laboratory and operating room in a strategic location in the Philippines that will be the center of pediatric heart disease management in our country catering to all.”

He called on some of the richest men in town, “Hear me out Henry Sy, MVP, Enrique Razon, John Gokongwei, Manny Pacquiao, Lucio Tan, Ramon Ang, Roberto Ongpin, Tony Tan-Caktiong, Andrew Tan, Jaime Zobel de Ayala and other well-meaning individuals who may share the same vision.”

The Super premiere was held at My Cinema, Greenbelt 3, Makati City. 

Remaining replays on Star Movies will air on the following dates: Aug. 8, 8:55 p.m.; Aug. 9, 3:10 p.m.; Aug. 12, 8:55 p.m.; and Aug. 15, 8:55 p.m.

(Star Movies is seen on SkyCable Channel 55, Cable Link 47, Dream Satellite 18, Cignal Digital TV 73, GSat 109 and over 300 cable systems nationwide.)