National Commission on Muslim Filipinos endorses “Thy Womb”

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 7): National Commission on Muslim Filipinos endorses “Thy Womb”

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is encouraging the Muslim communities in Soccksargen Region to watch “Thy Womb,”. “I am highly endorsing the Filipino movie, Thy Womb, to our Muslim communities,” Atty. Guialil R. Kanda, NCMF provincial director in General Santos City wrote in his letter of endorsement dated January 4.  “(Thy Womb is) "a good vehicle in communicating interfaith and ecumenical spirit of respect and understanding for other people's beliefs, " he said.

Directed by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, Thy Womb tackles the struggles of Shalela Sarail (Aunor), a Badjao midwife, and her husband Bangas-An of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi. Shalela agonizes over her own infertility and failure to bear her a child. To fulfil her husband’s only wish of having a child -- anchored on the belief that a child is a tangible proof of Divine grace – Shalela resolved to find an appropriate woman who would agree to their proposal to become Bangas-An’s second wife and bear him a child as well as try to find money to pay for the dowry. The movie also stars Lovi Poe and Mercedes Cabral.

The movie, which tells the couple’s story “against the backdrop of misleadingly projected war-torn Tawi-Tawi…shows the exact opposite of what most people perceived Mindanao to be,” Kanda said. “While the movie revolves around the story of a Badjao couple, it generally handles not only the issue on religion but of being a Filipino. It fosters an appreciation of our culture that is part of our heritage as a nation.”  It also tackles the life of the communities in Tawi-Tawi, their joys and struggles, and the colourful rituals and ceremonies as well as their problems with pirates and the military.

Thy Womb is an entry of the Metro Manila Film Festival where it garnered several awards including Best Director for Mendoza, Best Actress for Aunor, Best Story, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award, and Most Gender Sensitive Film. Earlier, the film competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice Internatinal Film Festival. It won three special prizes in the festival: La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award, the P. Nazareno Taddei Award - Special Mention, and the Bisato d' Oro Award for Best Actress for Aunor. “By all means, let us support and watch this movie more so as it positively depicts Mindanao culture and traditions,” Kanda said.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1611357527056