Mat Ranillo III, the Pork Barrel Scam and His Religious Movies

Anyone who follows local news have heard about the alleged involvement of actor Mat Ranillo III in the 10-billion-peso pork barrel scam. For instance, ABS-CBN News has reported about documents showing that Ranillo earned millions of pesos in commissions from mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Ranillo, however, has apparently sent feelers indicating his intention to cooperate with the investigation and clear his name.

The news might come as a surprise considering that Ranillo's good looks and charisma cannot be associated with such corrupt acts. Moreover, he is famous for portraying religious movies in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country. Those who recall this film roles of his movies might be left in disbelief.

In 1988, he played the title role in Lorenzo Ruiz: The Saint ... A Filipino. This movie was released in the aftermath of Pope John Paul II's canonization of the first Filipino saint. Reruns of Lorenzo Ruiz can be seen on television. Interestingly, I recall that the actors who performed as Ruiz's Japanese persecutors spoke in Tagalog but with Japanese accent.  

Image Credit: Video48 blog

Eight years later Ranillo portrayed Jesus Christ in Kristo, which is also an adaptation of a stage presentation that were performed every Lenten season during the late '80s and early '90s. Although the dialogue is spoken in Tagalog, the movie has the very appropriate tagline "The Man behind Mankind's redemption." In view of the thickening plot of the pork barrel scam, Ranillo should prove his innocence and gain redemption in the eyes of the public.

From the 1990s: Two Movies with Religious Themes

Philippine film company Cine Suerte Inc. was known for producing religious-themed movies during the Lenten Season. In observance of Holy Week, we will be sharing posters of two of Cine Suerte's religious-themed movies during the 1990s: Divine Mercy sa Buhay ni Sister Faustina (Divine Mercy in the Life of Sister Faustina) and Kristo (Christ). Ben "M-7" Yalung directed both movies, which were also produced in cooperation with the Oasis of Love Community.

Divine Mercy sa Buhay ni Sister Faustina opened in theaters on March 24, 1993. It chronicles the life of Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska of Poland, to whom the Divine Mercy devotion is attributed. Interestingly, Filipino-American actress Donita Rose was cast in the role of the Polish saint.

According to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices, the Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the "merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it." In the Philippines, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is a major church dedicated to this devotion. It is located in the town of Marilao in Bulacan province.

Kristo, which stars Matt Ranillo III in the title role received general release on March 27, 1996. It details the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Big names in Philippine entertainment industry lent support to the ensemble cast.