ONE of the most anticipated films of the year is the “Felix Manalo” movie which will have its regular showing on Oct. 7, Wednesday. This is a sprawling historical biopic film that shows the history and life of a 101- year old church that is known by many as the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Iglesia Ni Cristo is a church that was registered in the Philippines by its first Executive Minister Felix Ysagun Manalo, believed to be the last messenger of God in these last days.
The “Felix Manalo” movie was produced by Viva Films in close coordination with the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
The biopic film, which portrayed the life of Felix Manalo, was directed by veteran and award-winning Director Joel C. Lamangan.
In an exclusive interview in the program Taumbahay in Net25, Director Lamangan said that he was overwhelmed with the project, and admitted that the movie “Felix Manalo” was one of a kind.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala dahil napakalaking proyekto. Isang malaking karangalan na ibigay sa iyo ang isang ganoong kalaking proyekto lalo na sa panahon ngayon walang gumagawa ng kagaya nito. Kaya ang napakalaking proyekto at pagkakataong ito ay ipinagpapasalamat ko. Sabi ko maraming salamat Ama at binigay sa akin syempre na-surprise muna ako nung nag-settle down I thanked the Lord, I thanked everybody connected with the film sa pagkakataong binigay,” Lamangan said.
When asked about the preparation of the film, Lamangan said that it took a while and he had to do a lot of immersion to fully understand the life and sacrifice of Ka Felix and the history of the church.
“Matagal po. Matagal po dahil maraming research na kailangan dyan dahil ito’y nangyari noong 1800 hanggang 1963. Hindi po madaling makagawa ng pelikula na nakabatay sa buhay ng isang totoong tao at isang dakilang Pilipino pa man din. So, marami pa pong research, ginagawa pa pong script, maraming bini-verify na facts at historical data bago po ito’y nagawa siguro po pagkaraan ng walong buwan, siyam na buwan bago naming naumpisahan.”
To give justice to the historical bio-epic film, Lamangan said that he and other members of the cast of “Felix Manalo” attended church worship services.
“Masusing pagaaral po dahil hindi naman po ako baguhan dahil ang kapatid ko naman po ay kapatid (member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo). Diakono po siya, so na-exposed po ako nang mas maaga pero dahil nung nag-aral po ako sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas medyo nahiwalay po ako nang kaunti at hindi po ako bago. Mas masusing pag-a-aral po ang ginawa ko kasama po nung iba pang mga artista na involved sa production at hindi pa kasapi sa Iglesia. Inalam namin ang mga bagay-bagay na dapat naming malaman upang makabuo ng pelikulang mailalatag namin sa lahat ng taong makakanuod,” he said.
Lamangan explained that all scenes in the film were memorable.
“Wala pong isang eksenang mapipili lahat po ay kaabang-abang dahil lahat po ay malalaki ang eksena at lahat po ay period, wala naman pong nag-e-exist na 1800 at 1963 lahat po ay ginawa upang mabigyang katuturan ang mga eksena na hinihingi nung script. Ito po ay kolaborasyon ng maraming tao upang mabuo ang isang magandang pelikula.”
“Maasahan ang isang kasaysayan na ginawa ng isang dakilang Pilipino na bumuo ng talagang Pilipinong pananampalataya. Maasahan ang isang mahusay na pagganap ng mga taong gumanap ng iba’t ibang role, “ Lamangan added.
(Eagle News Service Written by Mary Rose Faith I. Bonalos, Edited by DCY)
