One of the most highly anticipated films in competition for the online edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival this holiday season is "Father Suarez, The Healing Priest." Joven Tan directs, screenplay by Bernard Canabral with Saranggola Media Productions as its producers.

The film focuses on the life of Fernando Suarez, particularly the struggles
and triumphs as a young man and when he became a priest, compassion
for the people’s welfare, trust and faith to God’s Divine plans and wisdom
and the legacy of kindness, healing and love which was experienced by
those whose lives were touched by God’s grace through him.

Says Director Joven: “I have heard a lot of things about Father
Suarez from way back, so when I got to read the script, I was intrigued and
wanted to work on this material. During our meets, prior and during the
filming I remember him to be kind, straightforward, and sincere.”

Seasoned actor John Arcilla portrays Father Suarez on-screen. Arcilla
relates: “Whatever apprehensions I had before filming, when I met, saw
and conversed with him personally during the initial story conference, he is
a simple normal person telling stories, not the Priest using his magical
words and charisma. The film is about his TOTAL trust in God that He will
not be forsaken.”

He carries on: “The sincerity that i have witnessed was enough to embrace
the project completely. Then i just found out that he’s a fan of Heneral Luna
and he personally handpicked me to play the role. While filming, I decided
not try to mimic or copy him. I just took his essence and some of his
demeanor but what I totally embraced was his unwavering TRUST in the
Almighty.”

“In my lines as his character, which mostly personally came from him, he
had surrendered his life to his vocation with Totality,” adds the actor. “He
totally surrendered all to his belief and vocation.”

Arcilla avers: “His vocation and the responsibility attached to his priesthood
is the most precious gift God have given Him. He is aware of His
Charismatic and Healing ability- but He believes these abilities came from
God. He said to me, ‘this healing power does not belong to me. He can
take it away from me, anytime God wants to take this healing power, His
will be done. I am not afraid. My priestly duties and my responsibilities as a
healer comes with great responsibility.

"This is a grace that cannot be measured. This is His manifestation of His love to all of us. My mission in life to bring back the flock to Him, for those who are weary and needs rest seek Him for comfort and strength, for everyone to feel that He has not abandoned and forsaken us because He is in all of us. It is God’s unconditional love for all of us that heals/ I am His humble servant.”

Why must people watch the film? Arcilla replies: "People are
getting anxious and sick - people are getting sad and loosing hopes.
Majority are getting disoriented and some people are not even aware that
they are. It is time to introspect and listen to the stillness in our core as
humans. We can find God in our stillness in that center, in our core…and
our faith can give us the answers where and how we should and can start
from where we are now as people of the world- as humans- we should start
healing each other’s anger, each other’s selfishness and greed.

"We are the highest form of God’s creation on Earth - we can speak and we can think of reasons. We can pray, choose and decide to make every one’s life an advantage to one another- we can heal each other from all our hatred and heart aches - we just need to choose faith as our guidance and
strength if were about to lose it. That’s what makes us above among
the beings. This film will remind us of all these that is why people must
embrace, support and watch it.”

Also part of the film are Dante Rivero, Troy Montero, Mario Mortel, Alice
Dixon, Rosanna Roces, Jairus Aquino, Rita Avila, Richard Quan, Ms. Gina
Pareno and Jin Macapagal as the young Fr. Suarez.

"Fr. Suarez The Healing Priest" is available for viewing on December 25
onwards on Upstream.ph.