“xxx Thy Womb (Sinapupunan, 2012) tells the story of a midwife, Shaleha (Nora Aunor), who cannot have children. The film follows her and her husband Bangas An (Bembol Rocco) on their search for a second wife to provide them with the family they crave.
“Set in the seaweed-producing island province of Tawi-Tawi, Thy Womb juxtaposes the great poverty of its inhabitants, many of whom live in shacks perching perilously on stilts above the sea, with the breathtakingly beautiful seascape. The poverty of the island dwellers is also countered by their immense capacity for generosity. Lavish wedding celebrations are organised, money is readily given or lent and hospitality is part of the culture.
(video-trailer produced by Centerstage Productions, uploaded by pinoymovies in YouTube, used here non-commercially for review purposes)
“This is not to say that Mendoza paints an idyllic picture of these people. Pirates steal boats and belongings, whilst soldiers and gunfire are so ubiquitous as to be humdrum. When Shaleha is knocked down by a group of soldiers in the market, she doesn’t even think to mention it to her husband. Yet Mendoza chooses not to dwell on the political and social aspects of the Philippines.
“There is no need for hyperbole when the poverty and potential for violence is so apparent. Instead, the director focuses on the relationship between husband and wife. Other than being childless, Shaleha and Bangas An seem to have the perfect marriage: love, respect, humour and mutual understanding. Yet this lack of a child is viewed as a lack of divine grace and they need a child to make their marriage whole. Thus begins the quest from island to island, down the Indonesian archipelago.
“Eventually, they find a suitable girl at a decent price and the couple are relieved and happy. But there’s a catch: the girl wants Shaleha out of the picture once the first child is born. Bangas An is left with a choice: the child he so desperately craves versus the woman he has created a life with. Thy Womb is a moving and visually captivating movie with two commanding yet understated central performances. Mendoza’s film deserves an accolade at Venezia 69.xxx”
The CBCP* said tonight that it was disgusted with the Reproductive Health Bill vote rejecting the Garcia amendment and the amendment itself.
Addressing anti-RH bill solons, its spokesperson said, “Aren’t you aware of the latest pronouncement of the CBCP? The proposed amendment that reproductive health services be made available
“to all married persons” , from the original “to all persons” is incomplete, and betrays an infantile understanding of the latest expression of Catholic doctrine. We have just endorsed “Breaking Dawn 2” of the “Twilight” series. Please read our favourable review and endorsement of the movie published in our website and reported by the news media. Don’t you read the newspapers and look at the internet? That proposed amendment should have read: “to all married persons andvampires, ghouls, zombies, incubus, banshees, aswangs without prejudice to the inclusion of werewolves, elves, dwarves, and mummies”.
The CBCP* spokesperson added, “Henceforth, all who refer to said creatures as the undead shall be excommunicated. It is a form of prejudice which the CBCP shall not countenance. The undead from now on shall be referred to as “differently alive” , “living impaired” , “ or “living challenged” , in keeping with our sensitivity to their condition. Why should they continue to bear the yoke of 500 years oppression of vampires? Equal rights for the differently alive.”
The CBCP* said it will issue a new set of instructions this week.
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* CBCP: Catholics for Bampira Conference of the Philippines
