PASCUA, ABIGAIL N.

REFLECTION PAPER

The Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), by the support of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Film Development Council of the
Philippines (FDCP), encourages students, teachers, and parents to the screening of the
film Sine Panitik in schools and in theaters nationwide. The goal of this film is not only to
provide the viewers with various Filipino literature such as short stories, plays, novels,
poetry, folk tales and short films but also to generate better understanding and deeper
appreciation for literature-based film with moral lessons essential for the young people.
Tres Sine Panitik, a Trilogy that includes three short stories, is the first in a series of
films which are translated into film classic literary masterpieces written by our Filipino
writers.
One of the short stories in the Tres Sine Patik is Faith, Love, Time, and Dr.
Lazaro written by Gregorio Brilliantes and directed by Jose N. Carreon. With the
reflection of oneself, this short film proves that by nature, man is inherently weak.
The story started when Dr. Lazaro was called by Esteban through the phone at
the hour of the night to seek help for his new born child suffering in a terrible condition
due to high fever. Part of his profession and duty to respond to this kind of emergency
situation, Dr. Lazaro with his son Ben who wanted to become a priest, decided to go
and meet Esteban at the station. When they reached their destination, Dr. Lazaro began
to rescue the baby who is barely breathing. Unfortunately, the bluish color of the baby
turns gray and Dr.Lazaro gave up. Ben immediately baptized the baby on purpose
believing and hoping that it may able to see God. On the other hand, Dr. Lazaro
questioned what his son did and ceased to believe in the teachings of the church
because of the past events that happened in his life. The story ended up with Dr. Lazaro
making his son an inspiration to turn back to God with renewed faith and trust.
We all know that trouble is a part of life and it should not surprise us anymore.
Life is like a golf course with hazards as a part of the game. Golfers even speak of the
courses with the most hazards as the most challenging because of the 18 holes that
tests their skills and abilities. Sometimes it seems as if God is lounging. When we do
not see Him at work, we conclude that He is not doing anything. We began to believe
PASCUA, ABIGAIL N.

when we hear people mock and deny His existence resulting us to live in doubt
wondering why He does not even defend Himself. Sometimes it is also hard to see how
God is working. His mysteries do not always reveal their secrets to us, and our journey
is often redirected by uncontrollable detours like when Dr. Lazaro loses his first son.
Wrist slashed, his son committed suicide in a boarding house. He felt that his title of
being a doctor is useless because he did nothing to save his son’s life. These
experiences of him as a father and a doctor led him to question both his faith and
profession.
In life, I have always thought that I could get through just about anything if the
Lord would tell me what the outcome would be. But God usually does not show us
where He is taking us. He just asks us to trust Him. It is like driving a car at night with
headlights that never operates to shine all the way but keeps us from moving forward.
God’s word is like headlights in dark times. He provides us with His unfailing promises
that guide us from driving into the way of bitterness and despair.