MANILA – An epic film shot in Spain has been made about the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. The author of the Spritual Exercises, the basis for the foundation of the Jesuit order, Ignacio de Loyola’s life has been captured in a film that is now set for screening in Philippine cinemas. The said movie shows the transformation of a hotheaded young soldier into a man of God, a leader of men, and the embodiment of the Jesuit credo, “For the greater glory of God.” An all-Filipino production team and an all-Spanish cast show the tale of the beginnings of the first Jesuit for a new generation.
The movie entitled Ignacio de Loyola is a production of the Jesuit Communications Foundation (JesCom), the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, and the JesCom was involved in the production of audiovisual materials for evangelization and education.
“St. Ignatius tells us that the Jesuit goes where there’s a greater need. That applies to this project and every project that JesCom does,” Fr. Emmanuel “Nono” Alfonso, head of JesCom and executive producer of the film, stated.
The film’s director, Paolo Dy, has done over a hundred commercials in the region, including spots for Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, SC Johnson, Kraft Foods, Ajinomoto, Monde Nissin, Wyeth, Sun Cellular, San Miguel, Asia Brewery, Pizza Hut, and Kenny Rogers Roasters. Dy’s work has aired in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, and the United States, and he directed the first stereo 3D commercial to air in the Philippines.
St. Ignatius is played by Andreas Muñoz, a 26-year-old Spanish actor. “I auditioned for the character yet I didn’t know anything about Ignacio,” he stated. “All I know is that he is a soldier and my friend sent me a message and he was like ‘Andreas! I think that you are this character,’ so I want to audition for that but I couldn’t because I was in the UK. So I sent my brother to audition and I said please talk about me because I want that character,” Muñoz stated.
No less than Ryan Cayabyab composed the musical score performed by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and Ateneo Chamber Singers.
Ignacio de Loyola had a special screening on July 23, 2016 at The Theater at Solaire Resort and Casino, a fund-raising dinner organized by alumni of the Ateneo de Manila University. This was for the benefit of the Jesuit Infirmary and Jesuit Scholastics in the Philippines and the film will be released on July 27, 2016 in selected cinemas.
