CHAPTER 1 : A MOUNTAIN OF INNOCENCE AND COMPASSION
The mountain people live a simple lifestyle. Because of lack of money, many children are not able to sustain education for even a piece of paper is a struggle for them to obtain. Volunteer teachers follow their heart to teach the unfortunate young ones despite of the fact that their salary is not enough to support even their own family. This act of sacrifice is demonstrated continuously despite of the challenges they are facing. To give, without receiving anything in return makes one ask, where does this level of compassion come from?
CHAPTER 2 : JUNKS OF HAPPINESS
Horrific environment, foul smell, and degrading living condition is an everyday reality for people who are sifting garbage to survive. Many children discontinued their education and grew up helping their parents in the garbage dump. Many of them are also affected by illness. In the midst of it all, laughter will be heard all around. They move quickly and energetically in their work. Where on earth does this sparks of hapiness come from in contrast to the appearance of their environment?
CHAPTER 4 : YOUNG HOPE
Jerick is a high school student who is smart, hopeful, and determined to reach his goals. Medals and awards from school and competitions are adding up constantly, one of them being the quizzer of the year. However, he is not sure if he can study next year as his father became paralyzed and his mother who did not finish education relies on their small store that earns about 2 dollars a day. However oblivious is this child's future, he kept hoping to succeed.
CHAPTER 3 : UNIMPAIRED STRENGHT
A grandmother takes care of three disabled children. A son, who is mentally disabled. A grandson who is in a wheelchair, abandoned from childhood by his parents. A deaf/mute grandson who is also abandoned by parents. With her husband being weak, she is worried that no one will take care of the children when she grows older. Everyday struggle didn't take her strength down. A real life superwoman, that is “lola” (grandmother)
CHAPTER 5: LIFE
Life is a mystery. On Aileen's birthday, the garbage people were invited as guests. A simple act of kindness such as offering a meal and a drink easily triggered the joy and laughter among them. How these people manage to be happy despite of their condition remains a mystery for Aileen who had been a long time pessimist and is just starting to look at life positively. "Are we able to perceive the world based on what is on the surface or are we able to see the beauty even in the deepest darkness?" is the question that Aileen ask herself everyday and perhaps for anyone who would like to take the challenging journey of recognizing the beauty in all things.
SUMMARY
Beauty in Darkness Movie is a collection of four short stories portraying difficult situations that people in Gumaca are suffering from, a typical scenario of a dark reality occurring in different parts of the world. It is in the most challenging situations that the intangible is hardest to spot or recognize. However, the people in the movie demonstrate that the beautiful qualities are truly inherent in people despite of darkness. Compassion, Innocence, Strength, Hope and Life itself are the beautiful qualities that Aileen, someone who had been a long time pessimist discovered in them. The movie does not only give those who are socially invisible a voice, but serves as a reminder to focus on the positive as an advantage to recreate a beautiful world, rather than to focus on negativity that could create more problems in our reality. The cause of their suffering whether they should be blamed for their fate or be pitied as victims of a corrupt system is not tackled for it requires superhuman understanding in order to justify the present condition of mankind. There is an intelligent force running this whole show of Life in which man could only theorize, if not come close to the absolute truth. Many documentary movies on this broader subject can be found flourishing at this time of our evolution. References of this will be shared later on. Whatever the situation is, it is proven that the light within the heart of man will always shine and the inner beauty is the kind that never fades. It is upon the viewer how he chooses to perceive the world in and around him.