The history told in Pepe Diokno's 'GomBurZa'

MANILA, Philippines — Pepe Diokno's "GomBurZa" took home the most awards at this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal, but the movie's success goes beyond trophies and physical recognition.

Perhaps the film's greatest achievement is being a visual tribute and lesson for generations of Filipinos about what the titular priests Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora stood for — equality for Filipinos.

Diokno and co-writer Rody Vera set up the film with the introduction of Apolinario de la Cruz, the religious leader better known as Hermano Pule after he was rejected by Spaniards to become a priest simply because he was a native.

Pule would go on to co-found the Cofradía de San José which practiced Christian virtues that incorporated elements of pre-colonial beliefs.

In November 1841, hundreds of members of the cofradía were killed by Spanish soldiers, and Pule himself was tortured and executed by firing squad. His body was quartered and his remains scattered around what formerly the province of Tayabas.

Within the film, Pule's story is told by Padre Pedro Pelaez (Piolo Pascual) to mentee Padre Jose Burgos (Cedrick Juan) and colleague Padre Mariano Gomes (Dante Rivero).

Pelaez pushed for secularization in the Philippines after a movement where the country's churches would be consolidated under the Recollect and Dominican priests, his argument being the churches have long found favor with the secular priests.

The priest however would meet his untimely death a few weeks before turning 51 during the 1863 Manila earthquake when the Manila Cathedral collapsed, a scene included in "GomBurZa."

Thus begins the film's primary focus through the eyes of Burgos who begins teaching at the University of Santo Tomas. Two of his students were Felipé Buencamino (Tommy Alejandrino) and Paciano Rizal Mercado (Elijah Canlas).

Related:  'GomBurZa' review: Empowering tribute to Filipino martyrs

The two students, inspired by Burgos' views and teachings, begin a youth group for liberal minds which results in Buencamino's arrest; this even as the Philippines was under Governor-General Carlos Maria Dela Torre, viewed by many as a liberal leader.

On Jan. 20,