Films to watch this Holy Week

It’s Holy Week! It’s time to reflect on the life, death and message of Jesus.

The most sacred of the year, each blessed day of the Holy Week is special and has something unique to offer. It begins with the Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday. The Triduum (Holy or Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) is a day of sober reflection. And on Holy Saturday, that is the Easter Vigil, Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead.

Years ago, the week used to be marked in the color red on a calendar. The neighborhood was so quiet. Business establishments were closed for one week. The elders bought rice and viands good for one week. My lola and aunties warned us not to take a bath at 3 pm. on Good Friday,  monsters and demons are most powerful during Good Friday, wounds heal longer when acquired during Holy Week and traveling during Holy Week will bring accidents. (It was an effective stay at home parenting.)

People could only go to church. Lola told us to celebrate the Holy Week by fasting (menu: porridge or lugaw, binignit and puspas) and attending church services. Families prayed at the Stations of the Cross, listened to the Siete Palabras and meditated on the Word and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a must to attend the procession or libud during Good Friday to see the images of saints and Jesus on decorated carrozas.  Those who stayed at home could watch movies on TV. Since our options for Holy Week cinema were rather limited, we were gravitated toward an annual viewing of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, Marcelino Pan Y Vino and Himala.  

Time has a way of changing things. However, as we journey through Holy Week, let us draw closer to Christ in many meaningful ways.

If you decide to have Holy Week movie marathons, here are some flicks to watch in order to allow this significant season to touch your life more deeply:

Himala

Son of God-  Son of God came out in theaters this past weekend. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado portrays the role of Jesus as the film spans from his humble birth through his teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection. (Jesus Christ: We are going to change the world.)

The Ten Commandments- One of cinema’s greatest movies of all time. The Ten Commandments is iconic filmmaking. (Moses: There is a beauty beyond the senses, Nefretiri. Beauty like the quiet of green valleys and still waters. Beauty of the spirit that you cannot understand.)

The Passion of the Christ- This movie is a revealing, personal look into Jesus’ final hours on Earth. Amid much controversy involving Mel Gibson and various religious organizations, the intense nature of the film’s depiction of Christ’s sufferings is worth watching. (Jesus Christ: My heart is ready.)

Joseph King of Dreams- The Bible provides the subject matter for this story about Joseph and his brothers. From being a servant, Joseph became second in command to the pharaoh of Egypt. (Joseph: I'm your brother!)

Jesus of Nazareth- This movie by Franco Zeffirelli is a classic!

The Prince of Egypt- This epic animated feature covers all the classic story points of the story of Moses, including the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. When Moses encounters the burning bush and confronts a God who calls Himself “I Am That I Am,” it is almost as if the scene compels the audience to remove their shoes for holy ground is underfoot. (God: Who made man’s mouth? Who made the deaf, the mute, the seeing or the blind? Did not I? Now go!)

End of Days- It’s about Satan's love life. Satan has returned to Earth and is walking the streets of New York City to find a woman will bear his child (The Man: For a thousand years you've waited for my return. Behold, you have failed. And with your dying breath, you will bear witness to the End of Days.)

The Da Vinci Code- Dan Brown's controversial best-selling novel about the Church’s powerful secret that's been kept under wraps for thousands of years comes to the screen. (Silas: Lord give me strength.)

The Greatest Story Ever Told – Like The Ten Commandments, it highlights the events of Jesus’ life from birth to his death and resurrection. It also portrays the warmth and connection between Jesus and ordinary people. 

Himala-This CNN Viewers Choice Award as Asia Pacific Best Film of All Time tells the story of Elsa, a barrio lass whose visions of the Virgin Mary change her life and cause a sensation hysteria in a poor, isolated village in the midst of drought. (Elsa: Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao, nasa puso nating lahat! Tayo ang gumagawâ ng mga himala! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at ng mga diyos..)

Tanging Yaman- This heartrending drama opens our eyes to what truly makes a family.  It tells the story of family’s matriarch and her struggles to unite the family. (Loleng: Cake ko yan!)

Magnifico- It is impossible to resist watching this movie about a young boy Magnifico who wants to give

his ailing grandmother a decent funeral. The movie is a definition of sentimental overload.

GMA News reporter John Consulta reported that workers and volunteers are busy for the reconstruction of the Our Lady of Assumption Church in Dauis town. Likewise, parishioners are so excited that the church will be opened this Easter Sunday. Most of Bohol churches were destroyed by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake but not the faith of the people. “This Holy Week would be a showcase of their faith, they are going to get involved actively in this celebration of this paschal mystery of Jesus Christ,” Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog, vicar general of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, told GMA News.

Lovingly Yours, Helen (The Movie)-  Due to immense popularity of the program, Lovingly Yours, Helen was turned into an anthology movie. The first movie episode, Akin ang Walang Diyos, is our own version of the Exorcist and the Exorcism of Emily Rose.  Julie Vega starred as a girl possessed by an evil entity. (Demonyo: Akin kayo na walang Diyos!)

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

A different Princess (The Princess Analiza of Tubigon, Bohol)

Princess Analiza with daughter Batong Orange

When she appeared on TV years ago, she was an instant object of ridicule. Everyone who saw her laughed at her as, they made fun of her “fashion”—colorful gown with Biblical messages, necklaces and other stuff—even if she is not really that bad looking though—but people treated as if she is a nutcase.

And so Princess Analiza of Tubigon town, her so-called kingdom has become a byword to many of having different personas: a woman with esoteric wisdom and a person having a supernatural power.

Her kingdom is actually at the top of the Ilijan Hill in Ilijan Norte, five kilometers from the Poblacion, a protected municipal park for flora and fauna.

Her journey
We met the princess in August 2002 when we asked her to feature her for national TV networks.
Her domain Ilijan Hill was chosen to become her niche for her to practice her hermit passion.

Halilie Laylah Demeras Analiza, whose real name Lucrecia “Nene” Duterte Aplacador had an epiphany in the late 70s and started to become what she is today. She led a group known as “Subano Group catholic Holy God Spirit (SGHGS)” which had followed her to the hill and has stayed on top since. She and her followers have grown accustomed to the life on top of the hill that her group has yet to return to the lowland for 20 years now.

Ilijan Hill in Tubigon, Bohol, Philippines

Princess Analiza before she became the leader of the esoteric group married Isaac Aplacador who is with her o n top of hill. They got married before the epiphany that came to a simple lass that changed her life forever.
The couple was blessed with three children: Arcadio, Jose Baniecito and Laoro, all born on top of the hill. However, Laoro died at an early age due to unknown illness.  After the incident, Nene who was very frustrated sought God’s help, instantly a divine force helped her to overcome her sufferings in life.

Months later, she related the God Holy Spirit gave a “mission” to her and she became Princess Analiza.
Her mission: to pray while walking, inside the church, sea, cemetery and forest. She was also told to live in a small nipa hut and give birth to a baby girl.

She gave birth to the girl by herself without any aid or help of a midwife. The baby turned out to be Prinsesita Mier Ve Batong Orange Nonon Luningning or Batong Orange.

Different belief
It is not easy to enter her kingdom although they welcome other people visiting them. They said though the
Princess only entertains people with pure hearts. At least 17 families are members of the group, which includes people from all walks of life.

The group considers the hill as sacred that is why they are choosy on the kind of people they receive in their domain.

The Ilijan people speak their own language and only them could understand it. Our interpreter-member Mawin told us that the spirit taught them the language they are using.

The Princess would give out blessings good enough for two years and hand out spiritual names to her followers. A pattern though could be observed in the names of the members where the word WIN will be added to your name while the word MAR will be added if you are a female. So, if your name for example is Leo, you would be called Leowin subject to the approval of the Princess since she is the only one authorized by their group to give out spiritual names.

The group maintains they are no cult, contrary to the perception of other people unfamiliar to their ways.  The Princess said that they are not doing magic rituals, spells or use symbols that are identified with the underworld or to Satanic cults. To prove that their group adhered to the Being up above, the group adopted the catholic Church’s teachings as they are also have statues of saints and use of Catholic songs and prayer books where hey also attended mass in their chapel. The Sunday mass is officiated by an elder since the Princess does not mingle with the group during this time as she is contended by giving out instructions.

The "Holy Family" 

The history, mission and practices of the group has been edified so that their members and the next generation would be able to practice and keep their belief alive.

But what strange is the singing of the last part of the national anthem, they sing “ang MABUHAY nang dahil sa iyo,” instead of the original “ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.” They believe that their vision tends to bring in ponderous logic and believed to have mysterious healing powers. However, the Princess said, “it means to show unity.”

Princess Analiza believes every human being is completely responsible for his own actions. To her evil is a choice that is made by man and should expect punishment as a result, while blessings will come and go when you are good.

She also holds the ancient belief on reincarnation—the after-life.

Healing powers
Princess Analiza is said to have ability to bring fortune to those who believe in her, foretell calamities and heal the sick.

There were stories from the members that the Princess healed them. The late barangay captain of Ilijan Norte Rogelio Lamalinao testified that the people in the hill once cured a man who had a severe gangrenous wound. Since the man has no resources to pay for an operation, he opted to seek healing from Princess Analiza’s group. During the healing, Princess Analiza raised both her hands as if asking for a divine intercession, when witnesses attested they saw as if an expert’s hand massaging the patient.

In other instance, the village head said while he was still a policeman, he had to climb the steep hill to see for himself and examine a dead baby who was not buried because their leader told them that the dead baby will not undergo decomposition. True enough, he found the boy’s body placed inside an urn in squatting position with clear eyes opened, without any sign of decomposition, even after over a year.

There was no way they could embalm him or introduce preservatives to the body, considering the place is bereft of science and technology.

No regrets
The Princess expresses no regrets of living a life on top of the hill. Despite the supernatural power she possesses which keep people to wonder with awe and respect, she still has the heart of a mother and she is a Princess in her own rights. (March 27, 2005)

Trivia:
The Solid Rock, the Ilijan Hill in old times was known as wizard's place.  It is the Kingdom of King Antipone and Queen Fairystil. Long time ago, people borrowed things and wedding gowns from this place.

In Year 1952, people from neighboring towns were panic for they saw a wondrous Virgin at Ilijan Hill and when they came nearer nothing could be seen. They could only feel and smell the fragrance. The people from Dauis, Bohol also arrived in Ilijan Hill following a wondrous Virgin on top of the rainbow going to Ilijan Hill.


Update: Princess Analiza and Batong Orange are still at Ilijan Hill. The members are growing in numbers and in faith.