Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) recently launched the book “Spirituality and the Filipino Film” during the three-day seminar on Film and Faith held in its compound in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The main objective of the book is to start a critical practice that will look at Philippine cinema in terms of faith and spirituality. It is edited by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr, a multi-awarded Filipino film writer and director. His famous works include Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Kakabakaba ka ba?, Bayaning Third World and Markova: Comfort Gay. In his Introduction, del Mundo writes:

The question of spirituality in Filipino films, quite surprisingly, is one that is not explored in critical essays, much less in book-length studies. The influence of the Catholic tradition has been suggested in an essay or two that deal with melodrama, particularly with the characterization of the woman/martyr and other stock characters in Filipino films, but there is not much else as far as a consistent treatment of spirituality in local films has been done. This collection of essays which we entitle Spirituality and the Filipino Film is an attempt to fill that obvious gap and is envisioned as a step towards a serious study of this subject.

“Spirituality and the Filipino Film” features no less than eleven authors. Coming from different professional fields, these authors provide fresh and unique perspectives on spirituality in Filipino films. The following is a complete list of the authors and the title of their respective essays.

1. Peter Malone, MSC – Asian Cinema and Spirituality
2. Nicasio Cruz, S.J.- What Is a Religious Film?
3. Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. – Being Human: Spirituality in Three Filipino Films
4. Shirley O. Lua – Portraits of the Believer, Acts of Faith, and the Ironic Imagination in Philippine Cinema
5. Ronald Baytan – Looking for the Divine: The City of Si and Bernal’s Manila by Night
6. Anne Frances N. Sangil – Satire and Social Activism as Subversion in Mike de Leon’s Kakabakaba Ka Ba? and Sister Stella L.
7. Noel Vera – Without God: Mario O’Hara and the Question of Faith
8. Edward de los Santos Cabagnot – Two Mama Marys, One Santo Niño, plus All the Twelve Apostles: Adventures in Religious Iconography in Philippine Cinema
9. Stephen Cuyos, MSC – Imaging God: Magnifico as Christ-Figure
10. Vicente Nebrida – Cavite and Santa Santita: Mayhem and Miracles at Quiapo Church
11. Rolando B. Tolentino – Beyond Spirituality: Women, Nation, and Brocka’s Melodrama

To order copies of the book “Spirituality and the Filipino Film”, please email sales@cfamedia.org or call CFA Sales at (02) 7132981 to 86 local 163.