Charles Teves
Film director Joselito “Jay” Altarejos has called “Maid in Malacañang” and “Katips” posers for profiting off the public instead of being made available for free.
During a presser for his 15 years in the movie industry, Altarejos said he was disappointed to see the said films competing for the most tickets sold.
“‘Katips’ and ‘Maid in Malacañang’ are in the same mold. Look at them. They are both vying kung sino mas malaki ang kinita. Itong isa nagsasabi na malaki ang kinita namin pero joke lang daw. So that’s disinformation. You are not helping to solve the problem. You are being part of the problem,” he said.
If the films were truly made for the public, then they should have been free to be watched by anyone, said Altarejos.
“Poser ‘yang dalawang ‘yan. Magkapareho lang sila. Wala silang pinagkaiba. Sino nagpalabas ng libre sa kanila? Nagyayabangan pa kung sino mas malaking kinita. Kapitalista pala kayo e. Hindi para sa bayan ‘yan.”
He admitted that he hasn’t watched either film because he doesn’t like “garbage” and took shots at both Darryl Yap and Vincent Tañada.
Altarejos said people can’t just ignore the atrocities during the martial law era despite the positives brought by the late dictator.
“Sasabihin titignan natin kung ano ‘yung mabuti at masama. Put, kahit anong magandang nangyari sa panahon ng Marcos, alalahanin natin na may pinatay, may inabuso. Kahit anong kabutihan na ‘yon ay hindi katumbas ng buhay.”
He called out Tañada for claiming that his film isn’t anti-Marcos, which clearly it is.
“Tigilan natin na mga Kakampinks paglaban sa mga Marcos kunwari yung ‘Katips’ tapos sasabihin ng direktor ‘ay hindi po ito anti-Marcos.’ Ano ka, gumagawa ka ng pelikula tungkol sa Martial Law hindi ka anti-Marcos? Ano ka, pro-Marcos?” he added.
Altarejos is known for his award-winning films “Ang Lihim ni Antonio”, “Ang Lalake sa Parola”, “Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan”, and “Kasal.” He founded 2076 Kolektib, “a group of media practitioners that creates content aimed to arouse, organize, and mobilize people to resist any form of oppression.”
