C. Abe "Santa Santita"

The theme of the film “Santa Santita” is redemption. Each of the major characters played a part in redeeming themselves or others.
The film is based on the story of Chayong and her daughter Malen. Chayong, a devout Catholic, works as a prayer woman for her church. In other words, she prays for people, expecting money in return. Every day, people seek the prayers of Chayong and the other prayer women, asking for God’s guidance and blessing upon their family, health, future, and other personal areas of their lives. However, as spiritual as Chayong is, Malen is quite the opposite. Rebellious and disrespectful, Malen constantly talks back to her mother, causing her much grief. Furthermore, she insists on dressing inappropriately, seductively while working at the church selling rosaries and scapulars. In the end, it is Malen who becomes the prayer woman after her mother passes away. The people who Malen prays for start experiencing miracles, and credit Malen as the one who made it possible.
The film explores the Catholic faith in the Philippines, and what it means to commit to that faith. Like the majority of the Philippine population, each character in “Santa Santita” at least believes in God, if they do not also attend weekly church services as well. This shows how much religion is a part of the Philippine culture. After Spanish colonization, the Roman Catholic faith has been ingrained in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos.
Overall I enjoyed the movie, but there were a few parts I disagreed with. First of all, I believe that everyone can go directly to God in prayer, that we do not need a “prayer person” to ask God in our behalf. Furthermore, it upsets me that these people had to pay to be prayed for, that there is a whole business made out of God’s holy work. On the contrary, that is not to say that we cannot ask others to join with us in prayer, but that we should not rely on others as if we do not have that same power.
To Malen’s credit, I appreciated the complete turn-around she made in her life. After her mom passed away, she radically changed her priorities and the way she lived. It took humility on her part to accept the job as a prayer woman, when all her life she had resentment toward the church. Though the other prayer women disapproved, Malen continued and eventually enjoyed her work.
Mike also redeemed himself in the end, as he found his faith in God while in jail. This movie presented negative circumstances and the choice each character had to turn it around for better or to feel sorry for themselves and allow the bad to stay bad. I enjoyed seeing the main characters Malen and Mike being “redeemed” in the end.