FROM "MARCELINO" TO "SANTINO"

A Grand Prize Award winner at the International Cannes Film Festival and a heartwarming film, Marcelino Pan Y Vino (Miracle of Marcelino) is about a little orphan boy who causes a miracle. Left on the doorstep of a monastery as an infant, Marcelino was raised by the monks. He was well cared for but lonely and missed having a mother. One day he found a special friend in the forbidden attic…hanging on a cross. A friend that would repay Marcelino’s kindness by granting him one heart-felt wish. (Amazon)

Left- Marcelino Pan Y Vino (Miracle of Marcelino)/ 1955- Stars Pablito Calvo/ Directed by Ladislao Vajda

Right- Marcelino (1959)- Stars Danilo Jurado (as Marcelino), Oscar Keesee, Bert Olivar, Raul Belmonte, Pianing Vidal/ Directed by Roy Padilla

Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla in real life) reminded me of Spanish child actor Pablito Calvo who portayed the role of Marcelino in the 1955 Spanish version and 60s child star Danilo Jurado, who did the Tagalog version in 1959.

May Bukas Pa tells of Santino, a little orphan boy, abandoned and raised by a group of priests headed by Father Anthony (Jaime Fabregas) and Father Jose (Dominic Ochoa) in a monastery in a small town of Bagong Pag-asa. He was well taken care of and grew up to become a honest and dutiful boy. But something was missing inside him--- having a mother. One day he met a special friend in a cemetery near the monastery. He, together with the mysterious friend whom he calls ‘Bro,’ tries and manages to change and alter the lives of the people around him, including the pitiless and merciless mayor (Albert Martinez).

The successful TV series, looks like extended, continues to provide the viewers with inspiring, uplifting and moving episodes making the teleserye a big hit.

Pablito Calvo as Marcelino (1955)



Danilo Jurado as Marcelino (1959)

Zaijian Jaranilla as Santino (2009)