Ded Na Si Lolo

Ded Na Si Lolo is a Filipino indie film starring four of the finest actors in Philippine cinema, Gina Alajar,
Elizabeth Oropesa, Manilyn Reynes, and Roderick Paulate. The film also stars RJ Flores as Bobet, the little
grandson who has stuffed his pockets with cotton and ammonia to help with the family’s fainting spells.
The movie title is from Bobet’s perspective, thus, ded na si lolo which means grandpa is dead. The
comedy film is directed by Soxie Topacio.

Synopsis

The movie is about the death of Lolo Juanito and the many personal issues surrounding his family. The
story is simple, the scenes are hilarious, and the theme is relevant. Family issues aside, the movie is a
showcase of Filipino superstitious beliefs, and specifically, the superstitions surrounding the dead.

When news of the old man’s death comes to Charing (Manilyn Reynes), one of the three daughters, she
bawls and faints. At her father’s house where her sister Mameng (Gina Alajar) also lives, she and her
sister also wail and faint. When the older sister Dolores (Elizabeth Oropesa) arrives and is about to faint,
she is told that the funeral parlor has not yet delivered the dead body. She has to wait until the dead
body is home before she can faint. Fainting seems to be the norm when a member of their family dies.
Several scenes in the movie show the characters joking about who faints best.

When the dead body in the casket arrives, this causes the family to start wailing and howling. The
funeral staff and the barangay captain have to use their crowd-control skills in order to get the casket up
to the house.

Then the superstitions begin.

Reaction:

The cultures of the Filipinos are unique among the other cultures in the world. This thought was
actualized when I watched the movie Ded na si Lolo. For me it was a beautiful and typical movie I’ve ever
watched. It covers all the reality of what a true Filipino was. Most of us believing in something especially
those words came from in our graeat great grandmother and grandfather tell us theirs nothing wrong to
believe just do it and nothings gonna be change. For us it's not new because we always hear and saw this
actual experiences especially catholic religion have a lot of superstitious belief even of us we don't know
where it all starts but every generation can't remove those beliefs because some of us it is part of our
beliefs in life. In this movie "Ded na si Lolo" I've seen positive and negative that could be explain what
happenings in reality of filipino people.

Positive

This movie explain how the filipino culture believe in various superstitious belief especially when Lolo's
died theirs lot of words that should be follow in order to surpass all bad lucks that have chance to
happen if they don't follow it. For me as a filipino they let them us to know what the meanings of that
beliefs that they do when Lolo's lamay. Those belief that I observed in the movie that show us and
explain us why is it we have to do this things when their has a "Lamay". First no family member of the
dead can help carry the casket. Once inside, the casket has to be positioned in such a way that the feet
of the dead do not point to the door. Second A rosary is placed around the hands of the dead, but the
rosary chain must be broken so that the perceived “death spell” in the family is broken.Third Dolores
puts some money in her father’s hand for luck. Fourth no one is allowed to wear anything red when
someone dies because it means cheerfulness that insult in the family.On the other hand, Junee sees
Bobet covered in a red blanket.They say that red blanket protects the children from being visited by the
dead. Fifth families not allowed to take a bath and not allowed to cleaned up or sweeping the floor. All
the donations must be all spent to the dead. Those are examples bring us to know something and give us
answer what really is. Also I observe how filipino citizen respect and comfort the dead they all do those
beliefs it's because they want the dead to bring to his destination without anything bad happens to him
and espcially in the family. They all gather and visit the dead to his/her final destination. Relatives and
neighbors contribute all donations to help the family of the dead. Family is our strength and weakness
we filipinos are very caring to each of our so whent it comes to them we do all things because they are
our treasure in life.

Negative

This kind of movie represent on us why is it many people believe in superstitious beliefs and bring us
how usually we act or questioning those belifes. Based on what I observe it could give us confusing and
asking where it all comes from. Why is it we need to do this kind of things even of us we don't know
what really it means and will it be come true in the future? That must be most people question who did
not believe in those beliefs. Nowadays this some superstitious belief or even tradition cultures did not
followed or reject it because they believe it's not a big deal or sometimes it forgotten. Every year peoples
change a lot of things keep changing too while the time goes by we don't have idea especially in this kind
of beliefs so that sometimes we against and wondering in something. We can't blame them if they don't
want to believe it's our own choice your only one can make you believe in something.

Conclusion

It always based on us what really Filipino is, as we can see how filipino stronger and fight for their own
family. Experiences in "Lamayan" show the true personal character of the Filipinos, it is true that our
family is the one we lean on in terms of this situation. No matter what happens they prepare to rescue
each other. Person dies in your family is the most hardest feeling that actually we can't accept quickly.
They are the most precious treasure to us that we can call our wealth in life. It bring us how family
conquer their sadness. They do and followed those superstitious beliefs because they love and so much
caring in the dead. This line always remain" just do it, nothings will happen to you". Realization is always
happening in this situation because our beloved person which he is no longer around to consule us make
us to know something and give us to become stronger and stick to each other.