ShareThisAlthough more than 80 years old and admittedly slower and sickly, Dolphy, the country’s comedy king, is back in the spotlight, this time as “Father Jejemon” in the movie with the same title.
Dolphy’s latest film is his movie outfit’s entry to the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival which opens on Christmas day.
Dolphy
Although competing with bigger productions which stars box office actors like his heir apparent, Vic Sotto, and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., presidential sister Kris Aquino and Ai-ai delas Alas, Dolphy and “Father Jejemon, are hugging also the headlines.
The reason: Father Jejemon’s comedy acts have attracted the attention of healing priest Fernando Suarez and other Catholics for allegedly mocking the holy communion.
The alleged mockery is shown in the scenes where Dolphy, as Catholic priest Jejemon, accidentally drops a Communion host onto the cleavage of a female worshiper, and then drops another sacred host that gets stuck in the dentures of a fumbling senior citizen.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairperson Grace Poe Llamanzares has ordered a second review of “Father Jejemon” in light of complaints that some of its scenes are allegedly offensive to the Catholic Church.
“Due to the feedback received we received regarding the trailer of ‘Father Jejemon,’ I have ordered a second review of the scene in the movie being questioned. Please note that the MTRCB board is given the autonomy to decide what rating to prescribe. As chairman, I’m bound to respect the independent view of the majority of the members in a committee review…” she said.
“Father Jejemon” also stars Cherrie Gil, Maja Salvador, Efren Reyes Jr., Roy Alvarez and more. Directed by Frank Gray Jr., the film introduces Ejay Falcon, Rhap Salazar, Moymoy Palaboy and Roadfill.
Father Suarez’s congregation in Oratory of MonteMaria in Tagaytay—which was funded by a substantial donation from Gretchen Cojuangco, wife of San Miguel chairman Eduardo Cojuangco— triggered a text brigade, quoting the popular priest as saying, “Let’s not allow the ‘King of Comedy’ to make a comedy of the ‘King of Kings’.”
“We find these scenes most offensive to the highest form of worship in the Catholic faith, where we reenact the ultimate oblation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” marketing consultant and Church volunteer Willy Arcilla said.
Arcilla added: “While we do not have anything against humor or comedy when done tastefully, we cannot tolerate a depiction meant to be a mockery of the Blessed Sacrament.”
Dolphy’s partner Zsa Zsa Padilla, now the producer of RVQ Productions, said she was not aware of the supposedly offending scenes since she came on board on the last leg of the shooting of the movie.
“We have a spiritual adviser and we will consult with him regarding the concerns,” Padilla said.
She added: “If our adviser should tell us to delete the scenes, that’s not going to be an issue. Dolphy is a devout Catholic and will respect the decision.”