‘Seven Sundays’ Reflection Paper

By: Meilinda Marie Malacat

The Cathy Garcia-Molina film ‘Seven Sundays’ doesn’t just float on the surface of the ups and
downs in a typical Filipino family; instead, it delves deep into the sources of these challenges
and victories, on what’s underneath them.

Manuel Bonifacio, who had been widowed, found out he was diagnosed by cancer and only had
seven weeks to live. Manuel had four children: Allan, Bryan, Cha, and Dex, who were all busy in
their own respective lives. As loneliness crept the old man, he decided to reveal the state of his
health to bind his family all together once again.

One of the many issues prevalent in the film and in real life society is the lack of communication
in the family. The four children barely had time for each other, and when they did get together,
they argue and fought a lot. Behind these squabbles and disputes were much bigger conflicts they
were all facing.

Allan, the eldest son, who was in charge of the bankrupt family business, clearly displayed
displeasure with his younger brother, Bryan, who was a successful businessman on his own. It
was later revealed that the two had been having a bad blood for years, agitated by their
indifference, especially with handling situations and decisions for the whole family.

Cha, the only daughter of Manuel, had been enduring an unhealthy marriage with a husband who
was unfaithful to her multiple times. She had children of her own whom she mostly took care by
herself. With her unlucky situation, Cha had to conceal the truth behind the state of affairs with
her spouse to her family.

Dex, the youngest child, became the black sheep of the family. He was heavily influenced by his
friends and was running away from problems of his own. It was during their family outing later
in the film that uncovered how he was seemingly neglected as a child and was always left on his
own, even during his own birthday.

Then, there is also the lack of openness and understanding in the family. In the first half, the four
children would not stop bickering and would always stick on their own perspective, even with
little things involving the food their father must eat. Manuel, who only wanted to see his children
in good terms before he passes away, was forced to pretend he was actually on the verge of
death.

Brought forth by different circumstances that required their unity and care for each other, such as
dealing with their family business’ persistent buyer, with Bryan’s reunion with his ex-wife and
biological son, with Cha’s separation from her not-so-prince-charming husband, and Dex’ course
of actions with false accusations against him.

While I was watching the film, I could not help but ponder the idea that they could have
prevented worse things if only they learned from the beginning how to properly communicate
their thoughts and feelings. By merely speaking up about their whims and grievances towards
each other and by listening thoroughly, they could have understood where the other was coming
from. They could have brought all their differences together to come up with better solutions to
their problems.

The Bonifacio family had to learn it the hard way.

What matters most is that in the end, they settled all their differences, put their guards down, and
remained faithful in their family. Love came above all, which is the ultimate vocation of all
human beings.

Looking at the bigger picture, it’s the reality most of us face with our own families. The
Bonifacio family merely mirrors the basic unit in which we experience in our day-to-day lives.
We all have our own individualities and lives apart from the people we share our blood with, yet
just like in the film, we have to choose love. By doing so, we have to be more understanding,
caring, and respectful with each other’s rights.

Most importantly, we have to put God in the center of our family because with Him and the Holy
Trinity, we are guided and motivated to nurture a society filled with LOVE.