This film titled Moral was made in 1982 a Filipino film directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The whole story is focusing on four women who were bff’s portray by 4 great actresses in the Philippines. First is Ana Marin as Maritess, next is Gina Alajar as Kathy the third one is Sandy Andlong as Sylivia and last is Lorna Tolentino as Joey.
The whole story possesses the reality of what woman dealing in their lives in this society as a woman. From the start of the story the scene tells that the four-woman was close to each other like a sisterhood and as a friend. They are both student in same University. Sylvia is the most matured in the group her characters was brave and trustworthy despite of being single mother her attributes as a woman can’t be deny the next is Maritess in the first part of the story the setting of the scene was focus on her wedding day and even she’s pregnant Maritess still continuing her college life with her friends the characteristics that I saw to this woman is a Daydreamer her poems were amazing and interpret her truly desire. The third one is Sandy the most talented and passionate women in the group her talent was singing she’s on fire on her desire to be on top and have solo album. The last one is Joey her attitude and character embodied the mean of black sheep in the group even thou her contribution is essential to fulfil the missing part of the group.
Like what I said this film revolves to all women reflecting their point of view in this kind of society. We all know the unheard struggle they are experiencing and embracing every day from stereo type system and because of this I become enlighten from some small glimpses that I overlook from them, and this is all kinds of women I encounter while watching this film:
The traditional women: This title I given was referring to the head of the home where Maritess where living and this is the mother of her husband. This kind of mother-in-law is typical mother-in-law that I know here at the Philippines were even their sprout have own family they still have grudge of possession between a mother to their son. This line gave me the reason to emphasize this insight. “Kagaya nang sabi ng nanay, ano ang silbi ng babae kung hindi to manganganak, ang babae pinanganak para manganak. Ang sabi pa ng nanay ko ang babaeng baog daw parang balong walang tubig, salok ng salok ang lalaki wala paring mangyayari” The whole mean of this qoute is the reason why women exist in this world is just to produce other lives and if she can’t do this her existent is useless. Yes, this is harsh word that you may receive from older human and this kind of mindset still exist and pass from different generation. From the first word this mother-in-law telling the story that her mother told to her before, so it means. This kind of mindset was occurred before when some women accept the stereo fact that they are just child bearer. If we reflect this in 2021 I can say that this kind of mindset is off to our new society and the minimal person who follow this close minded.
Daydreamer yet oppress: This woman I telling is Maritess, Maritess was a fond of poetry and this kind of talent reflects her characteristics as an innocent and optimistic woman. She wrote poems base on what she feels and interpret it proudly. However, despite of being candidate from lot of opportunities she was lock up as a wife to her husband. Maritess was graduate on bachelor degree but not like others student who pursue a career her life revolves on mother duties. “Bakit hindi ba yung lalaki yung nanganganak? Bakit tayo yung nahihirapan nang ganito? Every day I feel used I feel abused. Buong araw ako nag ttrabaho sa bahay, buong araw din ako ginagamit ng baby ko, pag dating ng gabi ang asawa ko naman yung aasikasuhin ko. Siya naman yung gagamit sakin...... Parang wala na kong Personalidad ngayon parang nalang akong Makina” Maritess say this quote after she realize that she doesn’t want to stay as a mother, wife and son-in-law forever. There’s a lot Maritess right now a woman who stop being herself because of responsibilities that turns into burden they think that bearing a sibling can flip your life into constant duties and everything revolving for your family. Good thing at the end of the story Maritess didn’t stay as a prisoner but she lifts her identity as women far from what society Identify her.
Passionate heart yet opportunist: If you ask me who’s the most focus and consistent in the group that was Kathy because of her talent she become passionate and straight forward through life maybe she’s not the bravest but her attitude to find ways makes her eyes blind from fears and distraction. Her turning point in this story is when she realizes after everything, she did is meaningless because the process she pursue are not meant into her desire success
“Sagutin moko, satingin moba magiging magaling akong singer?.......... Siguro medyo late na,pero narealize ko. I don't want to sing anymore if I can't be very good” she asks this to her friend sylvia and after that she decide to left her build name at singing career and after that she decide to herself to train hard as a singer. Kathy is a kind of women who passionate and self-driven she doesn’t let others makes her life into material but she’s the one who did that to other.
Matured women yet masochist: Sylvia is the most brave and matured women in the group there’s no such things in this world that makes she back off. sylvia is the most brave and matured women in the group there’s no such things in this world that makes she back off. She teaching at catholic school for all women student despite of having old tradition implemented to that school her character and identity remain. She also a single mother and base on how she raising her son she is a modern mother, parenting while studying is one of kind she did however there’s one only conflict in her life and that’s the issue between her ex-husband,
“Mahal mo ako, mahal ko yung asawa ko yung asawa ko mahal si celso, si celso pinamimigay yung sarili sa ibang lalaki. Pede na tayong mag tayo ng TEAM!
At first when sylvia knows that the other partner of her husband was also a man she cried a lot and ask herself what she done and why she’s not enough but after the first meeting between her and Celso her husband partner they become friends and pursue polyamorous relationship, a kind of relationship who ware open for more than two people while other man in love to Sylvia, Sylvia was in love to her husband and her husband was in love to his partner but celso also entertain others. A s you see this is not a typical kind of relationship but Sylvia overcome this for the sake of love. Do you think she’s wrong is this immoral? For me it’s not, because she did things what other people only think, she sacrifices far greater behind others who thinks they are in love.
Free Spirit yet not Satisfied: “Malalaman mo daw ang personality ng lalaki kapag tinitignan mo ang brief niya, Kapag ang lalaki gust ng brief na masikip ibigsabihin insecure siya,Kapag maluwag ibigsabihin tamad siya. Kapag gusto naman iisa lang kulay lalo na puti ibigsabihin mahilig sila sa birhen..... Sa dami ng nakita ko pede nako mag patayo ng DEPARTMENT STORE”This last character was the most awful story for me. Joey was a drug and sex addict in her group of friends she’s the living black sheep despite of being little sister. Even though she identity man like just a material that destine to use Joey once become in love into men and he was activist in their school his character was a brave man and not afraid in responsibility however this man has relationship with other women that’s the reason even Joey tempts him he resists and reject her. Because of being broken hearted she become more worst to the point she confines into hospital and doctor said that she can bear a life into her womb. Despite of being dark everything has a reason Joey didn’t do that just because she wants it. Her life was become miserable since she was a child when her parent split apart that’s the reason why Joey really hates men. Based on what Psychiatrist said to her that she was stop growing since when her parents move away to each other and that’s the reason why she did those things. Joey is a kind of women who experience unfortunate events that makes her life accept and embrace everything just to live.
The whole story tells a lot on what we overlook in society that each woman in this world was also a main character in their own stories. They work and receive unexpected experience more than on what we think of they are just not a piece of material or a bridge to produce lives they are living god, and that’s the think that we must accept in this kind of generation.