A dishonor to the movie ‘Honor Thy Father’

This December we saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens after a 32-year absence and this was one major topic of discussion during our Christmas parties, which thankfully, put all that talk about politics in the backburner. But now there is bigger news, something right on my alley, but I rarely write about. Yes, I’m talking about the news report we got that the movie by Reality Films entitled “Honor Thy Father” was disqualified from the Metro Manila Film Festival’s Best Picture Category for MMFF’s 2015 Awards. In my book, this is a dishonor to “Honor Thy Father!”

As movie producer Stephen Monteverde clearly pointed out they did not violate MMFF rules because this movie was not commercially exhibited as it was only shown in a special screening where no tickets were sold. But then Atty. Emerson Carlos, MMFF overall chairman, disqualified this movie for such a flimsy reason. If you ask me, MMFF has become just another bureaucracy disqualifying well-made films for technical reasons. I strongly urge that MMFF restore “Honor Thy Father” immediately so we would have confidence with the MMFF in future festivals.

* * *

It was a long four-day “Staycation” for my family and me, after all Christmas day means quality time with the family. Then last Sunday, which was the Sunday after Christmas Day was dubbed as the Feast of the Holy Family and more than anything else, during this Christmas season we saw many families inside the churches, the restaurants or in the shopping malls, which gives us an idea that Filipinos still give importance to the family unit.

This month, Cebu City saw the opening of two super malls, first was the opening of the SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties (SRP), which we already wrote in length. Then last Dec. 10 the Robinsons Galleria opened its doors to the public. That’s two major shopping malls opening in areas which are far apart from each other, thus separating traffic away from motorists going north and those motorist going to the south.

Last Christmas day we went to the SM Seaside City and it was jam-packed with people, the skating rink was full of people watching outside the glass walls, while the skaters also filled the ice skating rink. But the negative was that, as we left the parking area, it took us 45 minutes to get to Natalio Bacalso Ave. even if the traffic enforcers were all on duty. But we also went to the Ayala Center Mall and it was jam-packed with shoppers as well.

Then last Sunday we went to the Robinson’s Galleria and it was also full of shoppers. This is located at the end of Gen. Maxilom Ave. (Mango Ave.) and Sen. Serging Osmeña Jr. Ave. at the north end of the North Reclamation in Cebu (with SM City at the South end of the North Reclamation) and in one of the less commercially viable area of the North Reclamation right across the old White Gold Superstore, which was destroyed by fire decades ago and has remained abandoned. With the Robinson’s Galleria, the value of properties in this area will certainly increase to new highs.

But while the opening of two super shopping malls is a welcome sight to shoppers, it is sad to see that even in Cebu poverty is still very much around. In fact late evening last Sunday, I saw so many poor families huddled around the Redemptorists Church grounds even after church services were over. What is the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) doing to help those poor people huh?

I submit that there was no work last Sunday, however the poor and the hungry need the services of the DSWD even on Sunday because they have to eat. Alas DSWD were nowhere. On our way home we passed by the DSWD office along Mango Ave. and I took a photo of their poster with these words emblazoned “Sana Po Ituloy ang Pagbabago” with a picture of a girl. It just makes you wonder what DSWD was trying to tell us?

My understanding here is the hope of the poor that the DSWD would continue with their programs. Sounds to me that DSWD is rooting for former DILG Sec. Manuel “Mar” Roxas in that poster, as he is the only presidential candidate with a promise to continue with Daang Matuwid, which is why he is ranking so low in the surveys. Incidentally just a few weeks from now Cebu plays host to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) and I heard that DSWD will also do what they did to the poor street urchins in Manila when Pope Francis came for a visit nearly a year ago.

What is DSWD trying to do? Try to show to our foreign guests that we do not have poor people begging in our streets? Well, unless the officers of DSWD are blind, they should go around Cebu City and see for themselves that so many of the poor are begging in our streets no matter how they sell their propaganda of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT).

* * *

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]