Why Direk Ben 'M7' Yalung Stopped Doing Action and Bold Films to Tell Stories of Faith

Veteran filmmaker Benjamin "M7" Yalung is making a return to cinema with a biopic about the Venerable Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, a Cebuano priest widely believed to be the Philippines' next saint.

- By Nathalie Tomada

Yalung has been credited as the brains behind classic movie hits either as executive producer or director or both — "Zuma," "Anak Ni Zuma," "Cain At Abel." He also got involved in ST (sex trip) films, which became a major trend in Philippine cinema in the 90s, before dedicating himself fully to faith-based projects, including the box-office hit "Kristo," the 1996 film that starred Mat Ranillo III.

Now he's set on bringing Camomot's life story to life.

"He's our next Saint. I love his story," Yalung recently told The STAR and a few other media outlets. "When I was in Cebu, we had a meeting with our partners there. Nabanggit po sa akin, meron isang storya na dapat gawan ng pelikula. We were given a book on Archbishop Camomot, and his story was like Padre Pio's... you'll be impressed."

This latest endeavor is part of Yalung's personal and professional shift due to his own conversion story.

"I was invited by the group of LT (Lorna Tolentino) and Rudy Fernandez at that time. Nauna sila maging Oasis of Love. Sabi nila, 'Direk, sama ka naman sa amin.' 'Saan?' 'Oasis of Love.' 'Ano yan?'" he recalled, asking. "I was busy doing films and other things, I didn't have time for that.

"Although these were religious communities, (at that time) medyo 'di ako naniniwala sa ganun, parang fashion lang. Pero may tumawag sa akin, gustong sumama ako and I couldn't say no. 'Subukan mo lang ito. Watch ka lang.

"Then I went... and that changed my life."

From that moment on, Yalung said he abandoned his previous works, which were primarily action and bold films.