The story of Fr. Rhoel D. Gallardo, CMF made national headlines in the early 2000s.
His kidnapping and eventual martyrdom shook the country and brought attention to the conflict in Mindanao.
For many Filipinos, it was a moment that made the situation in the region more real, seen through the life of a missionary devoted to education, service, and faith.
His death was widely mourned. But his life and the impact he left on the communities he served, raises deeper questions: What did he truly leave behind? And how were those communities shaped after him?
These questions anchor “Seeds of Peace: The Life of Fr. Rhoel D. Gallardo, CMF,” a documentary directed by Rommel Galapia Ruiz.
Rather than simply retelling a tragedy, the film pieces together memories and testimonies to better understand Fr. Gallardo’s life, work, and legacy.
At the center of the film is Ruiz’s clear and deliberate vision. He frames the story beyond its most reported chapter, focusing instead on the life that shaped Fr. Gallardo and the legacy that followed.
His direction is restrained, allowing interviews, archival footage, and personal testimonies to carry the emotional weight of the film.
“The documentary format allows real voices, testimonies, and lived experiences to take center stage, giving the film a raw emotional weight that I believe will resonate deeply with audiences,” Ruiz said.
The film builds its narrative through the accounts of Claretian missionaries, family members, close friends, survivors of the kidnapping, and members of the Christian community in Tumahunong, Sumisip, Basilan.
What emerges is a portrait that resists simplification. While the film does not avoid the circumstances of Fr. Gallardo’s martyrdom, it places stronger focus on what he left behind: communities shaped by his presence and a legacy rooted in service, faith, and peace.
“It reminds viewers that even in the darkest moments, light can emerge through acts of courage and unwavering faith,” Ruiz said.
The film is also shaped by its production setting.
Filming in Basilan allowed the team to return to places tied to Fr. Gallardo’s mission, while also reflecting on how the region has changed over time. The contrast between past conflict and present peace efforts becomes a subtle but powerful layer in the documentary.
A key creative decision is the casting of actor Zaijian Jaranilla as Fr. Rhoel Gallardo.
Known for his breakout role as Santino in “May Bukas Pa,” Jaranilla brings a long-standing association with innocence and faith for Filipino audiences. In “Seeds of Peace,” that image is reinterpreted through a real-life figure defined by missionary work and sacrifice.
The casting was a deliberate choice by Ruiz and the production team, later supported by the Claretian Missionaries and the Gallardo family. It was guided less by popularity and more by emotional fit, favoring gentleness, restraint, and quiet conviction.
Ruiz describes the film as a biographical documentary that goes beyond a single tragic event.
“This biographical documentary traces Fr. Rhoel’s journey from childhood to his martyrdom in Basilan. It goes beyond recounting his death and instead focuses on the life that shaped him into a missionary,” he said.
Ultimately, “Seeds of Peace” returns to a central idea: Fr. Gallardo’s life continues not only in memory, but in the communities and individuals shaped by his work.
The documentary positions itself as both remembrance and reflection, inviting viewers to consider how faith, service, and peace endure beyond loss.
“Seeds of Peace: The Life of Fr. Rhoel D. Gallardo,” CMF is available for block screenings nationwide.
