Dominicans launch film on St. Dominic to mark 40 years

MANILA, Dec. 8, 2010—Aside from the anticipated quadricentennial festivities of the University of Santo Tomas, the Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP) is also looking forward to another milestone of its existence.

The province will be celebrating its 40th year of existence next year. DPP was founded on Dec. 8, 1971.

To mark the fourth decade of DPP, the province’s media board, headed by Fr. Jeff Aytona, OP, embarked on the first full-length period film project about the life of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers.

Titled “Dominic: Light of the Church,” the film will also serve as DPP’s fitting gift to the Dominican Order for its forthcoming 800th year foundation anniversary in 2016.

“The film is much anticipated because it is the first of its kind. And for us (project staff), it was like St. Dominic was truly with us throughout the entire production,” Aytona, chairman of the Provincial Media Board, said in an interview.

Aytona also believes that in discovering St. Dominic during these times, the father for the Dominicans will still be faithful to his promise: “I will be of more use to you in death than I ever did in life.”

On Dec. 11, the first public screenings of the film will be held at the Medicine Auditorium of the University of Santo Tomas. Screenings start at 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm.

“Dominic: Light of the Church” was shot in Spain and France last July and August. The production staff for principal photography and logistics, composed of 13 Filipinos, two Spanish and three French coordinators, and six French staff for the Art and Camera Department, made it possible to graciously finish the project in a tight schedule of only 16 shooting days.

The plot of the film zeroes in the struggles of young Dominic until he finds and founds a keen congregation to bring the “light” that will pierce through the obscurities of his time—this explains the symbolic hound with the torch, which resembles the mission of the Order of Preachers.

Institute of Preaching

Preaching, being the sole pledge of the Order, can never lose its urgency to Dominicans in the country. In 2005, DPP pioneered the lone program dedicated to preaching in the country. And in this year will dawn a fresh feature to advance it.

Prior Provincial Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, Jr., OP and the Provincial Council have approved the construction of a building to house the institute inside Sto. Domingo compound, in Quezon City.

At present, the institute offers certificate and Master of Arts courses on effective preaching, which accommodates the religious, the clergy, and laymen who intend to hone their skills and strategies in religious discourse.

DPP at 39

Members of DPP will gather on December 8 to celebrate the province’s 39th anniversary at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Included in the program is the State of the Province Address at 10:30 a.m., and the Quadricentennial Living Rosary with the Thomasian Community at 4 p.m., followed by a Eucharistic Celebration at the UST Plaza Mayor in front of the Main Building. (Levine Lao)