On February 21, Senator Imee Marcos associated the events in Martyr or Murderer with the saddest years of her life.
At the grand media conference of the film, Marcos said she was apprehensive about telling the story of their family.
“Ayaw ko ng ikwento itong mga nangyari. Sa totoo lang they were among the saddest years of my life and I have no desire to relive them.”
However, due to the response of moviegoers, she felt obligated to continue the movie.
“But doon sa nangyari sa pagiging patok ng Maid in Malacañang, na-obliga kami na ipagpatuloy ‘yung kwento, kasi sabi ng lahat, anong nangyari pagkatapos noon, noong umalis kayo. Anong nangyari.”
She then correlated the experience of her family’s exile to the struggles of Overseas Filipino Workers.
“So na-obliga akong mag-isip at magmuni-muni, at ikwento na nga ang nangyari. Napakalungkot, kasi ang tawag sa exile sa Pilipinas, ay ‘yung mga taong tinapon. Ganon ang pakiramdam, nadistyero ka sa ibang bansa na hindi mo naman alam, na sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari, nag-landing ka sa ibang mundo
“I think it’s an experience that many OFWs and many Filipinos also undergo, nasa utos ng pangangailangan, ay natatapon din kung saan-saan. At napakahirap na sitwasyon noon, kasi siyempre, ang pangarap ay bumalik at maka-uwi, pero sa kabia noon, natatakot ka rin umuwi dahil sa mga nangyari.”
\Marcos said she learned humility with her experience during their family’s exile.
“The reality is, exile gives you 20/20 vision. You suddenly acquire perspective allowing you to realize that you are not the center of the universe. But on the other hand, it’s also not all your fault, with that you learn humility and understand that other people have other feelings too.”
Martyr or Murderer stars Cristine Reyes, Cesar Montano, Ruffa Gutierrez, Ella Cruz, and Diego Loyzaga.
Kyle Velino, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Beverly Salviejo also reprise their role in the sequel.
The film also features new faces such as Isko Moreno, Marco Gumabao, Jerome Ponce, Franki Russel, Cindy Miranda, Rose Van Ginkel, Billy Jake, Sachzna Laparan, and Marlon Mance.
Directed by Darryl Yap, Martyr or Murderer opens in cinemas on March 1, with a scheduled international release in the following weeks.
