Manila (AsiaNews) - Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has endorsed Idol Pag-asa ng Bayan, a film about looks at cheating. The bishop has decided to urge young people to go and watch the film. “This is a powerful film. It hits us all at the core because the values and issues it tackles are realities and concerns that we face today, Bishop Baylon said.

According to a report published on March 13 by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Council, the Philippines have the most corrupt system in the Asian continent. On May 14, the country held national and local elections that were marked by sporadic cheating, fraud, violence and killings in the country, despite calls by Catholic bishops to have credible, clean, peaceful and honest elections.

“I highly recommend this film not only for students but also for teachers and parents,” noted Fr. Nick Cruz, film professor and member of the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University.

The film presents a disturbing analysis of the culture of corruption in Philippine society. At the outset, the film appears to be a simple, even entertainingly funny coming-of-age story about friendship, youth and high school life. In the unfolding however, it reveals a serious story about honesty, honour and integrity.

“Timely, relevant, brave! A gritty eye-opener for today's youth,” commented Nonoy Lauzon of the State-run University of Philippines (UP) Film Institute.

The film has just concluded a campus tour and has made a strong impact on students. Among those who saw the film, many described it as thought-provoking yet entertaining, touching and suspenseful.

Idol Pag-asa ng Bayan was the final project in a workshop organised by ‘The Garage’, part of Jesuit Communications Creative Technologies. Ninety-eight percent of the film's cast and crew were new to film-making, which truly makes it a movie by and for students.