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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider 'Siglo ng Kalinga' movie depicts harsh realities of nursing

'Siglo ng Kalinga' movie depicts harsh realities of nursing

Published Apr 28, 2023 12:04 am

Siglo ng Kalinga's all-nurse cast at the red carpet event



Mention an extended Filipino family, and there will surely be one of them who's a nurse. This profession has always been synonymous with working abroad, a trend that started as early as when the United States colonized the Philippines. Fast-forward to 2023: the exodus of Pinoy nurses to find greener pastures continues.  "Alam nyo ba na maraming nurses dito ngayon ay job order lang? Kapag ganito, contractual ka lang at walang security of tenure. Tapos inofferan ka ng UK or America, kasama pamilya mo, tatanggi ka ba? Yan po ang realidad ngayon," revealed Dr. Carl Balita, an entrepreneur who is the producer behind the groundbreaking advocacy movie about nurses entitled "Siglo ng Kalinga." (Did you know that nurses working in the country now are being hired through a job order? They are contractual and thus have no security of tenure. How can they refuse job offers from the UK and the US where they can even bring their families with them? That's the reality now.)

Pop diva Kuh Ledesma (left)  was a special guest during the premiere night. Both Kuh and Dr. Carl Balita (right) are registered nurses in real life.


In the worst-case scenario, the Philippines could run out of nurses to take care of its own aging population, Dr. Balita said. He noted the importance of the film in "mirroring the present dire situation of nurses, to communicate to the public what nursing is all about and the extreme sacrifices these front liners make." "Siglo ng Kalinga" held its red carpet premiere night last April 24. Leading figures from the healthcare community trooped to SM Megamall Cinema 3, particularly the officers of the Philippine Nurses Association who worked with Dr. Balita in the movie. The film will be shown in regular theaters on May 31, with an advance screening on May 12 in Megamall - just in time for International Nurses Day.

'Siglo ng Kalinga' all-nurse cast in a press conference after the movie's premiere night


It is worth noting that there was nobody from showbusiness in the cast. All the actors were nurses with little experience or took acting workshops before (such as the female lead Joy Ras). Yet it was observed that everyone's acting was realistic and up to par, under the expert direction of Lemuel Lorca. Nursing luminaries who convincingly acted in the film include Dr. Remedios Fernandez, Dr. Lydia Palaypay and Dr. irma Bustamante. "Siglo ng Kalinga" dramatically blends fictional characterization with  facts about the history of nursing in the Philippines, led by PNA founder Anastacia Giron-Tupas. Of interest in the movie was the depiction of the important role of nurses in caring for the sick during the war and in the most recent COVID pandemic. The fictional part centers on a group of friends who first bonded together as nursing students. There's Anna Formantes (played by Ras), Tony (Tads Obach) and Rita (Bambi Rojas). The main character Anna is a leader-activist fighting for better conditions for nurses in her rural community. The need to improve the life of her family forces her to work in the UK, where she eventually meets her husband. But he complains about her workaholic ways, and Anna ends up being a single mother. She goes back home to the Philippines, where she picks up the pieces of her career, being the head nurse of a hospital and an educator. Pretty much like a modern-day Anastacia Tupas.

Prominent leaders from the nursing field attend the premiere night


Dr. Balita bared that the movie is scheduled to be shown in schools, hospitals, and even abroad where there is a strong Filipino community of nurses. But he also wants the public and prospective nursing students to see the film to dispel some misconceptions about the profession. For example, it's hard to maintain a normal life with the rigid work hours and the demands of the job. "You don't want to go into nursing just because you want to work abroad. Students have to go through community immersion, and strict clinical instructors, and face risks. Our movie strips the realities of nursing for everyone to see. It's hard work," Dr. Balita stated.
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