MAGING AKIN MULI

a film analysis by
Paolo Enrino Pascual 1-k
as required by
Dom Pedro

The story of the movie revolves around the journey of Christopher “Junjun” Santos Jr., a young
deacon on his probationary period before his ordination. He is a cool, humorous person yet simple.
He tries his best to be the best person he could be to fulfil and follow his vocation the best way he
could, he also tries his best for his family and the community he belongs to. There is also the Father
Doy, Salvador Bautista, an old priest trained in the old ways. He is smart and wise, and keeps the
church away from any controversy and tries to be righteous in all things he do. He also has a love
for his bonzais, in which he is able to show his artistic side.
As Junjun tries his best to help everyone in his community and finally get ordained as a full pledged
priest of the Catholic Church, Father Doy makes sure that he is able to guide the young deacon
and keep the church in harmony and away from any scandalous controversies brought on by nay-
sayers. However, both of them are simply motivated by their faith in God and their choice of
vocation to do what is right and guide those around them to the path that is in accordance to the
teachings of the church.
But not everything goes well for Junjun. He meets an old flame of his and encounters a problem
that would bring controversy to the church. His ex, Dolly, becomes pregnant with another guy and
committed abortion. When she comes to Junjun, the townsfolk started a rumour that the child was
of the young deacon. This does not help Junjun at all because he has been on a slump in his
responsibilities given to him by Father Doy. These circumstances made Junjun doubt his
worthiness of the vocation and questions if it was the right decision for him to become a priest.
Father Doy all the while, due to his old age, has health issues he has to deal with while holding the
fort and not let controversies taint the image of the parish and still guide Junjun who is thinking
about leaving the parish.
Father Doy chooses to believe in his deacon above all the controversies and mistakes of Junjun.
And to find an answer, Junjun goes back to the seminary where he grew up and made his home.
He talks his mentor who told him to not just rely on himself but believe in the grace of God. For
its exactly for not feeling worthy that he is made worthy to serve God and the vocation. Junjun
ponders upon this and decides to confront everything head-on, and in a mass, he addresses the
community and ask for their guidance and prayers as well as their understanding.
As a consequence of everything, Father Doy is successful in guiding Junjun and keeping the trust
of the people as well as the image of parish intact. For Junjun, he starts taking his responsibilities
seriously and listens to Father Doy better to becomes wiser. He was able to reconcile his feelings
and calm the situation. In the end, everything ends well as Junjun resolves his internal issues and
help guide those within his reach and finally becomes a full pledged priest.