Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista was recently invited to the congressional committee hearing regarding the house resolution that was submitted by Cong. Dan Fernandez about the disqualification of the movie “Honor Thy Father” for the best picture category at the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.
This has been an ongoing issue in the movie industry where Mayor Herbert has to deal with being part of the committee.
“I’m the vice chairman. Pero hindi ako uma-attend ng miting kasi nga I belong to the entertainment industry. Tapos, ’yung talagang working group naman diyan ay sina Manay Ichu, Tito Jessee Ejercito at taga-industriya rin. I’d like to believe that because of their experience, smooth sailing naman ang takbo niyan. Now, as far as the congressional hearing is concerned tungkol doon sa Honor Thy Father, siyempre, masama ang loob ni Dondon (Monteverde). Hindi nasama sa best picture,” said Mayor Bautista in Jun Nardo’s column at Journal Online.
{Translation- I’m the vice chairman but I don’t attend meetings since I belong to the entertainment industry. There’s a working group that includes Manay Ichu and Tito Jesse Ejercito with others who are also part of the same industry. I’d like to believe that because of their experience it will be smooth sailing. Now, as far as the congressional hearing is concerned regarding to the “Honor Thy Father” disqualificaton, its granted that Dondon will feel bad that their movie was not accepted as best picture entry.}
Herbert Bautista clearly gives high regards to the disqualification issue which affected Regal Films movie entry for the 2015 MMFF. And went further in stating- “So parang…Ang tingin ko, ang gusto ni Dondon is for future purposes. Magkaroon nang malinaw na rules ’yung MMFF. So okey na rin itong congressional hearing but it has to be forward looking at hindi pinpointing.” {Translation- From what I can sense what Dondon (Monteverde) wants is to have clear set of rules for the 2015 MMFF for future purposes. The congressional hearing is just right but it has to be looking forward and should not resort to pinpointing.}
Herbert Bautista is looking forward on means to improve the guidelines and rules of MMFF basing on the recent issues. This is his clear explanation when he hosted a birthday treat for showbiz press people who will be celebrating their birthdays on the months of January to March of this year.
When asked about the big issue of 2015 MMFF not exposing the figures referring to gross sales for each of the eight movie entries which is a usual thing in the previous years of the festival. This is what he said- “Well ’yung figures hindi ko alam. Minsan baka request na rin ng companies. Baka request na rin ng iba. Para lang hindi lumaki ang gulo.” {Translation- I have no knowledge about the figures. It could upon the request of the companies or others. So that things will not be blown out of proportion.}
“Pero siyempre, we’re in the advocate of transparency, ilabas ninyo. Ano ba talaga ang ranking? If it’s true na P1B, ano ang breakdown nu’n? Ganoon lang ang hinihingi ng mga tao!” {Translation- But of course we’re in the advocate of transparency, better to be open about it. What is the real ranking? If the reported 1 billion amount is true then what is the breakdown? That is what people are asking.} Mayor Bautista added.
This gathering also served as a mini-press conference since Mayor Herbert Bautista was not able to attend the actual presscon for his upcoming movie with Maricel Soriano which was produced by Viva Films and Heaven’s Best Entertainment entitled “Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin”.
The funny tandem of Maria and Bistek will be featured in the “Shake, Shaker, Shakest” episode of the said co-produced movie project. “Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin” opens on January 13.
