By: Noedy D. Balasa
SYNOPSIS
Mga Munting Tinig is an award-winning Philippine film about a young small-town teacher which is directed and produced by Gil Portes. It was filmed on location in Quezon Province with the Filipino actresses Alessandra de Rossi, Gina Alajar, Amy Austria, and Dexter Doria. The screenplay was also written by Gil Portes with Adolfo Alix, Jr. The film has received acclaim from critics both locally and internationally.Melinda (Alessandra del Rossi) is a new substitute teacher at the Malawig Elementary School, located in a poor remote barrio. As a young university graduate from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, her family expects her to look for work abroad, but in her idealism she takes on a challenging job in the provincial public school, which lacks resources and has corrupt personnel. The heavy monsoon rains and the nearby NPAs also add to her difficulties.
The children are indifferent to their studies, having been affected by the hopelessness around them. Melinda tries to motivate them by capitalizing on their interest and talent in singing. She takes advantage of a funding opportunity to enter them in a choral contest. She encounters some resistance, however, from the school administration and from the parents of her students. Furthermore, the death of one of the choral group’s members at the hands of the NPA casts a pall on their once joyful preparations. Melinda, however, constantly tries to rise above these challenges.
MORAL LESSONS
1. Every person has the right to dream and have their own ambition in life which they will seek to fulfill in the course of their life through the use of their talents.
2. Everyone has the right to dream and make goals in life. It cannot be hindered by anyone because we always have the power to make them come true. And you should not listen to someone that is putting you down; so that you would succeed and be able to do anything you want. We are all people living in this big world, and so, we have the right to soar high in life
3. Even though you start small, as long as you have the people you love with you, you will be successful. If, there will be trials then you must work together to pull through.
4. Teamwork is one of the best ways to accomplish a hard task. When some members in a group does not help, there could be some problems and will waste the precious time that was given to you.
5. Problems that we encounter should not hinder us from doing our task rather it should motivate us and make us stronger each and every day that we look ahead to our goals.
