International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI), a top pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, proudly announces the filming of "Pedro," the life story of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the soon-to-be canonized Filipino martyr from Cebu City.
Also based in Cebu, International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is one of the country’s largest manufacturers of high-quality pharmaceutical and personal care products like Omega pain killer, Casino ethyl alcohol, Bioderm germicidal soap, among others.
Actor-producer Niño Muhlach will co-direct this important film biography, along with advertising and computer graphics director Richard Ang.
Last Friday, March 16, the former child superstar, together with IPI president and CEO Pio Castillo, his wife Myrna Castillo, and IPI vice president and COO Dennis Wong, visited the Archdiocesan Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in Archbishop’s residence compound, Cebu City.
The group personally met Monsignor Ildebrando A. Leyson, postulator and co-chairman of the Commission on Blessed Pedro Calungsod, who was happy to give his blessing for Muhlach’s production team in doing the historical movie.
"It’s an honor for our company to produce this dream film project about Pedro Calungsod," says Castillo.
Blessed Pedro Calungsod was a young Filipino sacristan, lay catechist and martyr, who, along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in 1672.
Through Calungsod’s missionary efforts, many native Chamorros converted to Roman Catholicism. On March 5, 2000, Calungsod was beatified by Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Last February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially announced at Saint Peter’s Basilica (Rome) that Calungsod will be canonized on October 21 this year, making him the second Filipino saint after San Lorenzo Ruiz.
"This is our way of helping the Church spread about the life and martyrdom of our second saint to the Filipino audience," adds Castillo.
The young actor who will play Pedro Calungsod in "Pedro" will be announced soon.
