Actor John Arcilla has never
shied away from any challenging role on film or television. Be it his breakout
portrayal of the brave but temperamental historical Philippine hero General
Antonio Luna in Jerrold Tarog’s “Heneral Luna,” or the monstrously vile
(former) government official and criminal mastermind Renato “Buwitre” Hipolito,
Arcilla has taken on every character with gusto, even if they happen to be
controversial. One of his upcoming projects involves him starring in a biopic
of the recently-departed “healing priest” Fr. Fernando Suarez, who is equally
admired for his healing ministries and vilified for allegations of church corruption
and sexual molestation, charges he has been cleared of by the Vatican.
The Manila Bulletin has it that John Arcilla is certain that a
movie production about the life of Fr. Suarez the healing priest, with him in
the starring role, will be one that is worth viewing by the Filipino audience.
The central character has been one that the actor has been close to in his
life, having been a frequent attendee of Fr. Suarez’ healing masses where
Arcilla has seen first-hand the faith of those hoping for a miracle through his
prayer intercession. He describes the story of Suarez as one molded by divine
intervention.
The Fr. Fernando Suarez film
project is being produced and directed by Joven Tan, and kicked into full-on
development following the death of the Healing Priest on February 4, or only a
few days short of what should have been his 52nd birthday. Arcilla
was caught by surprise at what happened, though with some introspection he has
come to believe that Fr. Suarez has already done all that was expected of him by
God in his life. He even posted a posthumous birthday greeting to the healing
priest last Friday.
“I know I’m not in the position
to say this, but it feels like his life is already complete,” says John Arcilla
of Fr. Suarez. “Even before he was exonerated, the movie was already in development.
And I’m sure, he was confident that it would tell his story truly.” The actor
was cast by Joven Tan around that time, and Arcilla only felt vindicated that
he was right in accepting the role of “The Healing Priest” when Suarez was
cleared of wrongdoing by the Pope.
0 comments:
Post a Comment