The depressed among us should probably take heed of actor RK Bagatsing’s suggestion based on a scene in his latest movie with Xyriel Manabat and Charlie Dizon, Near Death. It’s the one that shows lead actress Dizon in the horror film that deals with depression, suicide and seeming possession by some spirits.

Speaking in Filipino in a media event for the movie, RK intoned that he liked that scene in which Julia (Dizon) prayed to God to save her from what has been bothering her. “It’s the film’s most powerful scene!”

People praying to God anywhere, or even in places of worship, seems to be the rarest scene in most movie and TV series these days. We’re the only Christian country in Asia, and we seem to be shy or loathsome showing our people praying to God. 

This is very sad to hear: if you go through the social media postings of people who have taken their own lives, there are no talks about relationship with God (or whatever name you call  the Creator in your Christian denomination) or even just a hint of communicating with God. Isn’t God our inspiration to go on living? Or is God the unwelcome stranger in our lives? He is not the supplier of all the blessings in our lives but our well-off, well-positioned parents in government or in private enterprises? 

Is praying to God something we are quite ashamed of so we never bother to show it onscreen even for a fleeting moment?

No one needs to take his/her life. One most likely needs to take it to God in prayer not necessarily in church but anywhere — as God, after all, is everywhere, including our bodies.