Laurice's story of faith - STAR BYTES by Butch Francisco

Laurice Guillen. The name has always been associated with fine, even excellent work – whether on film, television or the legitimate stage.

As a filmmaker, she had already been crowned twice as best director by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for the films Salome (1981) and Kapag Langit ang Humatol (1990).

Born in Butuan City 53 years ago, Laurice began her acting career in theater in the late ’60s. She was Lika in The Promise, Nancy in The Knack, Anna in Anna Kleiber and Desdemona in Othello. Her most memorable stage performance, however, will always be as Blanche Dubois in Flores Para los Muertos (a translation of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire).

In 1971, she found her way to the movies when she was cast in Crush Ko si Sir, starring Hilda Koronel and Dante Rivero and directed by Nestor U. Torre.

Though she was cast in important roles in equally important films, Laurice didn’t become a household name until she became Janice de Belen’s stepmother, Jo Alicante, in the hit soap opera Flordeluna in 1979.

Despite the enormous popularity she gained from appearing on TV, most of Laurice’s better works are still found on film. With the late Lino Brocka alone, she did quite a number of important movies: Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang, Lunes, Martes..., Ina, Kapatid, Anak, Init and Inay. Her best screen performance, however, is that of the activist nun Sister Stella B. in the Mike de Leon masterpiece Sister Stella L. This role gave her three best supporting actress trophies – from the Urian, Star and the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

When she tried her hand at directing movies in 1980, she was just as successful. The first film she did – Kasal? – was not only well-received by the critics, it also made money at the box office.

Laurice was riding high on the crest of success when her world suddenly changed one day.

In a snap, she and long-time companion Johnny Delgado quit showbiz and started spreading the Word of the Lord from the nearest to the farthest points of the archipelago. Laurice – who is making a directorial comeback via Star Cinema’s Tanging Yaman, still remembers every single detail of their conversion.

It happened Feb. 28, 1993. Since it was a leap year, Johnny, who was born on Feb. 29, 1948, had to celebrate his birthday on that day.

To mark Johnny’s special day, the family had planned on having lunch at this fancy little restaurant in Antipolo that serves thick slices of lamb chops. While they were preparing to leave, the couple’s two daughters, Anna and Irina, asked that they be allowed to buy a gift for their father first. And what did they want to give their father for his birthday? A rosary and a scapular – said the two young girls.

Laurice and Johnny couldn’t believe what they just heard. "Hello?! A rosary and a scapular for Johnny?!" cries out Laurice. "I doubt if he even remembered the Hail Mary that time," she adds.

"Johnny wants to project a good image to his children, even if he plays a contravida in the movies," reveals Laurice.

Since Christ the King seminary on E. Rodriguez was the nearest place that sold religious items, they all agreed to drive there first before proceeding to Antipolo.

When they reached Christ the King, they found the store closed – to Johnny’s relief.

Well, Johnny’s apprehension about wearing a scapular was quite understandable. As Laurice so aptly put it: "It’s hard to imagine Johnny raping someone in the movies while wearing a scapular around his neck."

As they were about to return to the car, they heard the pealing of the church bells. It was a Sunday and a late morning mass was about to be said inside the church.

Since it was Johnny’s birthday, they all agreed to hear mass – but without any intention of finishing it.

Laurice – though she had been educated in a Catholic school (St. Theresa’s College in Cebu) – had already stopped hearing mass long before that. "We haven’t received communion for a long time. In my case, mga 27 years na. Si Johnny, I think since after his First Holy Communion."

But somehow they stayed on during the mass – with Johnny staring at the legs of female church-goers.

Something strange, however, happened during the consecration. "Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig" was how Johnny described the experience.

In the case of Laurice, an image of the Blessed Mother shedding tears of blood suddenly flashed in her mind while she was inside the church. No, it was not a vision. It was just something she saw inside her head.

After the mass, they decided to cancel their trip to Antipolo and proceeded to have lunch instead at the Spanish restaurant of Subas Herrero along E. Rodriguez. Over lunch, they talked about the strange experience they had inside Christ the King Church and tried to figure out what they were supposed to do next.(To be concluded)