Jesuit Communications (JesCom) executive director and GomBurZa executive producer Fr. Emmanuel “Nono” L. Alfonso, SJ shared the possibility of showing the critically acclaimed historical film GomBurZa in the upcoming 10th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE).
Fr. Alfonso said the film’s message suits the theme for PCNE X which is ‘Salya: Let us cross to the other side’ taken from Mark 4:35.
“There has been a request for the film showing of GomBurZa for the PCNE delegates. As part of the executive board of the PCNE, I feel that the theme for this year which is Synodality is similar to the cause being pursued by the three priests which is equality,” said Fr. Alfonso over Radio Veritas.
The 10th PCNE will be held on Jan. 19 to 21 at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, PCNE chairman, will celebrate the opening mass on the first day at 8:30 a.m. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown will deliver the opening remarks.
GomBurZa refers to three Filipino Catholic priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora who were executed by a garrote on Feb. 17, 1872 by Spanish colonial authorities on charges of subversion arising from the 1872 Cavite mutiny.
The film was produced by Jesuit Communications (JesCom) and MQuest Ventures in cooperation with CMB Film Services.
The movie won the most number of awards during the 49th MMFF Gabi ng Parangal including Best Sound Design, Best in Production Design, Best in Cinematography, Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Award, and Second Best Picture while Paul Cedrick Juan was named as Best Actor for his role as Padre Burgos and Jose Pepe Diokno as Best Director.
The narrative of the story was based on research done by Jesuit priest Fr. John Schumacher with the help of other Filipino historians.