Concerto: Davao War diary

Picture owned by concerttothefilm.blogspot.com

By: Frances O. Ponce

The movie underscores a great story of friendship, trust, humility, faith, survival and family. It had portrayed a good example of how a family thrives to survive amidst the many horrors and challenges they are facing. It had showcased the culture inherent in every Filipino family-- that is, joining together and putting God as the life of their hope for survival in times of dire conditions and misfortunes. We can see it in the very person of Julia (the mother in the family) who, by way of her religiosity, always shows to God her undying faith on Him through uniting themselves in fervent prayers. Furthermore, the movie also expressed the indiscriminate pains and horrific oppressions brought by war in the hearts of many people. It showed how war devastated humanity-- the injustices on the victims and most of all the prevalent wreckage on the dignity of human life.

Survival-- united in prayers of faith and hope

The film did not focus on actions and animated scenes of the war going on but it did showed the miserable effects of the battle. We cannot see on the movie the bombs exploding on the horizon and the soldiers firing their guns towards their opponents but we can subtly feel the misfortunes of the victims-- the cries of the children who were horrified by gun fires and bomb explosions and the constant fear that dominates the hearts of every people trapped on the paws of the battlefield. As we can see, the family of Julia (played by Sharmaine Buencamino) and Ricardo (acted by Nonoy Froilan) was forced to abandon their house and evacuate to a farm owned by their relatives wherein they set up a small shack as their shelter. Packed like sardines, they stayed together as one complete family being united by their faith and hope to survive the war. Though they had faced dire adversities, they never give up instead they joined themselves together and persevered. Their faith were being tested but they did not lose it instead strengthened it. Their hearts were made strong because of their undying faith to God.

Survival-- showing modesty and humility

The family did not only outweigh their survival with virtues but also developed attitudes and behaviors that lead them to have close ties with the Japanese soldiers. The movie, as most of us expected, did not show much how the Japanese armies treated inhumanely our Filipino countrymen during the Pacific War Period. It had showed on the other side on which the family had developed friendship to them instead of making them as their mortal enemies. Of course they had to do it in order to survive. They had to be modest as possible in order to gain favors from the Japanese authorities. They must set aside the hatred and anger they feel against them. But whatever it is-- we may think that it is not a patriotic act, it is still considered the most practical way in order to survive; the issue being involved here are their lives. If they did show off their hatred and anger against them in a very inappropriate place and time, they are just like killing themselves by their own actions. This could be possible for Nina (Meryll Soriano) who was befriended by an American pilot much the same to Ricardo who had tortured by the Japanese officials. Fortunately, they controlled their emotions.


Friendship-- love and hatred

As I had said a recently, the family showed modesty to the Japanese soldiers so much so that they had developed friendship with them. And I had also stated that the movie did not emphasize the inhumane treatment of the Japanese soldiers towards our Filipino countrymen. We can see in the movie that the family treated the soldiers in a very friendly way by offering them their dining table and constant respect; which in turn made the Japanese soldiers show their compassion towards the family. The film suggests something that is far more different than we expected. The film would urge us to examine the love and hate that had arisen amidst the friendly relationship between the family and the soldiers. Of course, we had already instilled in our minds how the Japanese soldiers destroyed our Filipino countrymen but the movie tries to portray to the viewers the good aspect that lies behind the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers during those times. In other words, it leaves us a message to be pondered upon that they are also human beings capable of love and being loved. This is very true on the movie wherein the family continues to deal with them, letting them share their house and dining table, getting to know them better, and seeing them as real people capable of kindness.
We know so much from the glimpse of our past when we are captured by the Japanese the atrocities that they had done to some of our countrymen. But we should not be blinded by our own exaggerated emotions. They are also humans who know when is an act can be considered inhumane and sinful in the eyes of God. They are not monsters who eat human beings. They are our brothers and we are the sons of God who are meant to be united in heaven. The devil here that dominated the atrocities happened during those times is war. The Japanese were not the demons, we were not also-- it is the chronic concept of warfare that is a threat to the dignity of human life.

We are all victims of war

The most important lesson of the film that is worthy to be pondered upon is the issue of warfare on which until now is very prevalent in various parts of the globe. Again, the concept of war is a threat to the dignity of human life. It had sacrificed many lives in a very inhumane way; it had brought many pains on the hearts of the people; it had destroyed the peaceful relationship between every race; it had made hatred and revenge dominate the hearts of our brothers. As we examine back the movie, there is really hatred and strong desire of vengeance that had arisen in the heart of Ricardo. He wants to avenge himself for the pain that the Japanese inflicted unto him. His soul seems restless until he could satisfy his desire. Fortunately, he did uphold his virtue and control himself. He did even develop friendship with one of the high authorities of the Japanese soldiers.

Furthermore, we can see in the movie that the Japanese soldiers had also suffered too. There is the part of the film that is considered the most dramatic and powerful wherein one of the soldiers knelt down in front of Julia and subsequently cried out “mama”. He then offered his samurai to her and cried like a little boy who misses his mother in Japan. Accordingly, this portion of the movie would make us realize the pains that had been inflicted not only to our countrymen but also to the Japanese soldiers who were obliged to carry out their duties as servants of their motherland. Therefore, we were not only the victims, not the Japanese, not the Americans, none of us-- it is war which brought devils to us.

Those principles and realizations made out of the film "Concerto" stood the test of time and it will remain forever timeless. We face adversities in every chapter of our lives but nothing could ever break the strong bond for every Filipino family. We are very blessed as Filipinos for God filled our souls with strong faith and hope that in every dark moments in our lives, there will be always light that will soon rise. This is how the movie showcased the many ways on how the family survived the war. We can see on the end that they are still intact, united and whole.

Accordingly, there is an important lesson to be learned here. We may hear news from the TV and radios the economic pressures that are happening in our country-- but by looking to this family on the movie who survived the war with just prayers, friendship and virtue-- we could also develop strengths for survival amidst the crisis that we are experiencing. I mean we are Filipinos. And long has been that many challenges had struck our way but we still stand tall.

Furthermore, the greatest gift that the movie had bestowed to us is the realization that we are all human beings, one creation of God. We may have different cultures and different perspectives-- but in times of great pressures we are still bound to be united. We may treat our foes as truly enemies but the great power that lies behind that perspective is the fact that they are capable of making friends with us.