Today’s generation of Filipinos stands to learn volumes from the past to inspire the present while watching GOMBURZA, one of 10 entries to the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival, opening on Dec. 25.

Love of country is the first lesson shared by this historical drama by Pepe Diokno, a screening of which we caught on Nov. 27 at Gateway Theatre in Cubao. It was valid then, in the late 18th century, as it remains even more valid in this day and age as our people suffer from corruption, disinformation and lack of direction.

GOMBURZA is a pleasant, if also ugly, reminder of how Spain maltreated Filipinos, showing disrespect for our rights and depriving us of even basic common courtesy and access to the Spanish language. We have known this all along, yet the film reopens old wounds, prompting the film’s marketing pitch thus: Buhayin ang alab sa puso mo.

GOMBURZA, the film is teeming with intrigue, controversy, shades of historical gossip, and fierce battle scenes. Over and above all these infotainment values, there’s love of country, an epic tribute to the heroism of Filipino religious who blazed the trail for our freedom.

Cinematography is dark for the most part, setting the tone for an even darker story, creating a melancholic mood. The story of martyrdom by the three priests is told against this dreary, bleak backdrop.

Facing trumped-up charges of rebellion, sedition, and treason by abusive Spanish authorities, the priests were executed, garrote-style, in 1872 in front of an aghast crowd at what was then known as Lumang Bayan.

Jose Rizal is shown here as a child, witnessing the gruesome execution accompanied by his older brother Paciano.

It was this first encounter with Spain’s atrocities on Filipinos that lit the fire of nationalism in the heart of young Jose. 

Cedrick Juan as Jose Burgos makes a very good impression as Padre Burgos in this his first major film role. That’s not to say that Enchong Dee (Jacinto Zamora) or the more veteran Dante Rivero (Mariano Gomes), lagged behind.

Far from it. Enchong provides a low-key performance but shines in his breakdown moment while Dante is forever dependable in whatever role he plays.

Notable too is Piolo Pascual, in a not-so-brief role as the Spanish-speaking priest-teacher (how fluent!) who inspired fellow Filipino priests to love their country.

Piolo plays Padre Pedro Pelaez, whose teachings began the secularization movement. From this movement, the advocacy for the Filipinization of the Church was continued and championed by priests.

They inspired the educated middle class, liberal intellectuals, and students, including Jose Rizal's brother Paciano Mercado (Elijah Canlas).

The martyrdom of GOMBURZA never silenced the enlightened. Their deaths influenced others to continue the struggle, eventually inspiring Jose Rizal (played as an adult by Khalil Ramos), who dedicated his novel “El Filibusterismo” to the three fallen priests.