The beloved stage musical ‘Nasaan si Hesus?’, directed by Nestor Torre and composed by Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel, is making its way to the big screen after 20 years.
The production, which tackles faith and moral dilemmas, aims to premiere before the Lenten season.
The film adaptation, directed by Dennis Marasigan, was initially planned two years ago but was delayed due to the pandemic. Now, with production back on track, the film incorporates updated themes while preserving its core message about faith in challenging times.
Leading the ensemble are Rachel Alejandro, Jeffrey Hidalgo, Geneva Cruz, Janno Gibbs, Marissa Sanchez, and Rachel Gabreza. Alejandro portrays Brenda, a caring housewife, while Hidalgo plays Roger, her philandering husband. Gabreza takes on the role of their daughter, Cindy. Cruz, who plays Sister Remedios, expressed her excitement for the role. Joining them are Gianni Sarita of ‘The Voice Kids’ and other performers from the stage and music industries.
The musical was conceived in 1999, the same year Leo Echegaray became the first Filipino to be executed by lethal injection. The narrative, written by Bing Pimentel, reflects societal issues such as unplanned pregnancy, infidelity, and political corruption, all within a Filipino community.
“Nestor and I created a simple story about a family in a village, facing real-life challenges. The goal was to inspire reflection on faith without being heavy-handed,” Pimentel explained at a press conference held on February 1 at Cafe Dulcinea in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
Director Marasigan emphasized that while the film stays true to the original themes, it has been updated to resonate with today’s audience. Musical director TJ Ramos has reworked the soundtrack to give it a modern touch while preserving the essence of Pimentel’s compositions.
Since its debut, ‘Nasaan si Hesus?’ has been staged over 80 times across the Philippines, including at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and for audiences organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The film adaptation seeks to continue this legacy by presenting a story of resilience and faith. Pimentel expressed hope that audiences will be inspired to reflect on their spirituality.
“If viewers begin to ask themselves, ‘Nasaan ba si Hesus at kung anong klaseng Kristiyano ako?’, then the movie is already a success,” she said.
