NEWSFLASH

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"MOTHER IGNACIA, ANG ULIRAN" PREMIERES TONIGHT

San Juan, Metro Manila, Oct. 20, 1998 - The inspirational movie ''Mother Ignacia: Ang Uliran'' will premiere tonight at the Greenhills Theater. The film stars Sandy Andolong as Mother Ignacia, with Nida Blanca, Mona Lisa, Gina Alajar, Jacklyn Jose and Angie Ferro playing major roles.

Produced by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) in cooperation with the Mowelfund Film Institute, it depicts the life of RVM founder Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo and the growth of her congregation from its founding in the late 17th century to the present.

Proceeds will be used for the RVM's Mother Ignacia Development Foundation Inc. Project for Women.

Mother Ignacia was born in the 17th century in Binondo, Manila of a Chinese father and Filipino mother. At the age of 21, her parents wished to marry her off to a promising young man but she had other plans for herself.

Showing an assertiveness rare for young women of the period, she gathered a group of native women (yndias) in 1684 to establish a religious community, known as a beaterio, where they taught reading and writing and catechism to children and adults.

The community flourished through wars, revolution and suppression, finally taking the form of today's RVM whose almost 700 sisters are involved in ministries such as retreat, education and catechises, dormitory work, social ministry and special ministry.

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