MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya actor Enchong Dee believed that the injustices that happened in the time of Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos and Padre Jacinto Zamora, also known as Gomburza, are still happening in the present time.
After the special screening of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry "Gomburza" held in Gateway last Monday, Enchong said that he wished that justice will prevail all the time.
“It is still happening to this day. Kanina ina-analyze ko 'yung pelikula, nakakalungkot. Sa lahat ng tao na naaakusahan, ilan lang ang nabibigyan ng ganitong magandang kwento... Imagine 151 years after, doon natin na-realize na wow, I wish may hustisya nang panahon na 'yun,” Enchong said.
“Ang sakit ng nangyari sa kanila. 'Yung injustices na nangyari 151 years ago, nangyayari pa rin. Imagine those people without proper justice or due process, ano nararamdaman,” he added.
The film's director Pepe Diokno said Filipinos really don't know the story about the martyr priests and he learned so much from doing the film.
“It made me realize in the same way na hindi kilala ng maraming Pilipino 'yung Gomburza. Kami, madaming natuklasan na hindi alam. I learned so much from their story na nilagay namin dito. Watch this film to learn and experience what happened,” he said.
“Para ma-inspire po ulit lahat. Na-inspire ako if mabuti ba ako na Pilipino. Kung itong tatlong pari binigyang buhay, ano magagawa pa natin? Their life helped shape the country. The way na-inspire si Jose Rizal sa kanila, sana ma-inspire tayo sa lahat,” he added.
“Gomburza” is a historical film that will move and inspire today’s Filipinos. It tells the story of three martyr priests — Mariano Gomes (Dante Rivero), Jose Burgos (Cedrick Juan), and Jacinto Zamora (Enchong Dee) — who were executed by garrote in 1872 after being falsely accused of sedition and treason.
The film chronicles the struggle that began with the secularization movement led by Padre Pedro Pelaez (Piolo Pascual). From this movement, the advocacy for Filipinization of the Church was continued and championed by priests.
They inspired the educated middle class, liberal intellectuals and students, including Jose Rizal's brother Paciano Mercado (Elijah Canlas). The martyrdom of Gomburza never silenced the enlightened. Their deaths influenced others to continue the struggle, eventually inspiring our national hero, Jose Rizal, who dedicated his novel “El Filibusterismo” to the three priests. A heroic drama laden with intrigue, battle scenes and love of country, GomBurZa is an epic tribute to the people behind the birth of our Filipino consciousness.
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