Pride is our Downfall

Baler (2008) directed by Mark Meily is an award winning movie set in the sanctuary like municipality of Baler, Aurora. It stars Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales, two of the most promising Filipino actors of their time. A story of love in the midst of war, Baler is a true masterpiece and a Filipino movie industry pride. The cinematography is truly genius; the colours, the shots, the lights, the sceneries were extremely pleasing it will leave you breathless not to mention the beautiful faces of the main casts. Also starring Philippines’ best Joel Torre, Phillip Salvador, Rio Locsin, Carlo Aquino and many more. It is a movie full of moral and emotions.

Since it is set in the time of war, many values were illustrated in the film. First are the Filipino family ties. Filipinos tend to be very sensitive when it comes to the family that even the strongest of men like Daniel Reyes (Phillip Salvador) becomes weak and lowered down his weapon just to get back his son Gabriel (Carlo Aquino). In the end, in spite of all the hatred against each other especially the father, the Reyes family lived happily and Daniel finally learned to forgive. Second is that Filipinos tend to be every emotional when it comes to love. As popularly said, Filipinos are one of the best lovers in the world. It is deemed true in the movie. We are very romantic and expressive in love. Third and most importantly for me, is the lesson of pride. It Took the Spanish soldiers 337 days inside the church because of their undying pride. It would have been easier if they accepted their defeat earlier. Many would have been still alive and they would have suffered shorter.

In real life it always is the case. It is easy to say that we should accept things when they fall to pieces but the real deal is that it takes so much courage and humility to do so. When we work so much on things and we fail, it wouldn’t be that simple to retrieve and accept our downfall. But the truth is that pride is the real downfall in everyone. Pride makes us stranded and hard to move onwards. Pride is a curse one will fall down into if we let it eat us up.