Death is one phase of life that is dreaded by most people most of the time but it is also the deepest and wildest in meaning.
This Holy Week, it is a fitting tribute to the defining moment in the passing 29 years ago of Flor Contemplacion, the native of San Pablo City who was sentenced to hanging in Singapore because of accusations of killing her fellow Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Delia Maga and a son of Singaporean couple.
Flor was the symbol of every Filipino’s dream of a better life abroad but thwarted by unwanted circumstances of oppression and indifference in a world full of hypocrites and haters.
Contemplacion was the rallying image of Filipinos who wanted to escape harsh realities of the world instead of confronting them.
On March 18, 1995, Flor Contemplacion’s death struck the whole nation to wake up from its nightmare of injustice.
Millions of Filipinos gathered in San Pablo City to pay homage to the brave soul of Flor and at the same time ignited a nation to protest the economic adversities being experienced by the citizens in the hands of exploitative and uncaring labor systems in and outside the country.
Still, the death of Flor Contemplacion was the force that broke the camel’s back to awaken the Filipinos to fight for their many rights including labor, artistic, economic, cultural, political, among others as seen in the mammoth crowd gathered in front of the Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral in the city.
Meanwhile, the audiences gathered at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to watch again the lessons imparted by Flor in the film “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995) which starred Nora Aunor, written by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee and activist Bonifacio Ilagan and directed by Joel Lamangan for Viva Films.
The retro screening of the film was part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Film, Broadcast and New Media Division’s Cine Icons project which spotlights the masterpieces created by National Artists for the Filipinos to savor and think about their importance.
At the talkback session led by panelist Beverly Wico Sy, a progressive writer, actor Julio Diaz who portrayed Efren Contemplacion, Flor’s husband and screenwriters Ricky and Boni, the audience was aghast and contemplative of what the movie was trying to say which was articulated by both Ricky Lee and Ilagan.
“Hanggat ganito ang sistema ng ating bansa, ng ating Lipunan, hanggat tayo’y mahirap at nagsasawalang-kibo sa mga tunay na nagaganap sa ating lipunan, hindi kami titigil na gumawa ng ganitong klase ng pelikula (As long as the oppressive system exists in out society, in our country, as long as we are poor and indifferent on what’s happening around, we will not stop making films like this),” said Ricky which was affirmed by Boni.
A member of the audience even likened Flor to the sacrifices of Jesus Christ who was nailed on the cross just to save mankind from sins.
The hall which was teeming with people also promised to go back to the movies to watch Filipino films because “The Flor Contemplacion Story” is the kind of film we should patronize.
Hope springs eternal here as the local movie industry is struggling to get back on its feet and running against the threats of the perennial unfair competition posed by foreign films being bolstered by colonial mentality and cyber live streaming like Netflix and other apps being encouraged by poverty because it’s cheaper and more convenient than watching movies in cinemas.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #FlorContemplacionStory #SanPabloLGU