Actors!

All through the month of April we have been shooting a TV drama on the life of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., who spent his life promoting family prayer, with the battlecry: “The family that prays together, stays together!”

The camera crew were all from the Family Rosary Crusade, which Father Peyton founded here in the Philippines: Dudz Ogdoc, John Rich, Tatad Ybañez, Caloy Labiana.

 I wrote the story, and directed the shooting. Every moment of it was a joy! Because everyone in the cast and crew was filled with warmth, enthusiasm, vitality.

Cocoy Laurel played Patrick Peyton. His character fits Peyton perfectly. Cocoy is sensitive; he loves people; and he is a perfectionist. He carries the show, through every scene.

Loudette Zaragoza Banson is the Virgin Mary, the inspiration of Peyton from his earliest days on a farm, in County Mayo, Ireland. Loudette is suffering  from cancer. But in spite of all her suffering, as the Virgin Mary she is all heart, all love. When Cocoy weeps, she weeps with him, the tears welling up in her eyes, and trickling down her cheeks.

Cecile Guidote Alvarez, who founded the Philippine Educational Theater Association, fits the role of Miss Elsie Dick, the tough Jewish executive of Mutual Broadcasting in New York. Her first words to Father Patrick Peyton were: “You are coming for free air time? … You can’t get it. It can not be done.” … But gradually she changes, until she becomes Peyton’s best friend. Her portrayal of that change is so realistic!

Bernard Cañaberal comes through strong as Edgar Kobak, the prime decision maker of Mutual Broadcasting. He is now the national director of Family Rosary Crusade in the Philippines. The test of any performer is his acting when he has no lines. Bernard’s reaction shots are fascinating. He is acting at full strength, even when others are carrying the dialogue.

Vic Sison, who was Mister Football in the Philippines, starring internationally as an athlete, plays Doctor Malcom F. Lent, a specialist in lungs, who was sure that Pat Peyton, when he was a seminarian, would die of tuberculosis. His portrayal ranges from the gentle bedside manner of a compassionate doctor, to wild alarm when they find that Pat has escaped from the hospital. He says to the nurse: “Call the police! … If we don’t get him back here right now, we will find him dead in the street!”

Much of the story is told by Tom, Pat’s brother. Tom is played by Danny Deopante, now teaching media at Saint Paul University Quezon City. Like the original Tom, Danny is the old reliable of the cast, never missing a line, always dead right in his interpretation.

Ben Nuñez — who was a smash as Cardinal Sin in “Seven Decades of Sin” — is Monsignor Kelly, who helped Pat Peyton and his brother Tom to enter the seminary. He plays the role with a quiet charm, relaxed and smiling.

Aljim Bernas is Father Francis Woods, the brilliant young priest who directed Father Peyton to so many of his great achievements… Pamela Ortiz Bondoc, who is both a dentist and a choreographer, plays Nellie, Pat’s older sister. She prayed for him, promising God that she would never marry, if God gave Pat the health and strength to become a priest.

Jovie Barretto, who is a professional radio actress, is tender and touching , as the mother of Pat. She begs God, in tears, to let all Pat’s suffering come to her, so that he can go on to the priesthood…Tristan Cantre is the African who is brought to God by the Family Rosary film on the Nativity. He is moved when he sees that Baltazar, one of the three kings, is black.

Jadyn  Nasato is the little girl, Maria, who asks Father Peyton on his deathbed: “If you had your whole life to live over again, what would you do differently?” … Peyton smiles and says: “You know, Maria... if I had my whole life to live over again... I wouldn’t change a thing! … I wouldn’t change a thing!”

The grace of God fell even on the little baby who played Pat Peyton when he was born. We took a close-up and lo and behold! The baby stretched , waved both arms, yawned, and then snuggled close to Jovie Barretto, who was playing his mother. Amazing!

The cause of Father Peyton has been introduced for canonization. January 9, 2009 will be the hundredth anniversary of his birth. We are presenting this drama to make him better known. I hope it does that.

It seems to me that the grace of God is still falling on Father Patrick Peyton, even on this story that we are telling about him — 16 years after his death.