Charles Teves
Two films about Philippine history seek to enlighten Filipinos on August 3.
One is directory Darryl Yap’s “Maid in Malacañang” (MIM) and the other is Palanca awardee Vince Tañada’s “Katips.”
Tañada said he purposely wanted his project released on the same day as MIM. Tañada was also a victim of the martial law era.
“Nilabanan ko talaga yung Maid in Malacañang,” he said during a press conference.
“China-challenge ako… china-challenge tayo ng Maid in Malacañang, kaya nag-react nang ganoon si Direk Joel (Lamangan). Sabi ni Direk Joel, gagawa siya ng mga pelikula, eh ito nagawa na namin.”
When MIM trended, director Joel Lamangan announced that he’d produce a film also to challenge it.
Katips finished filming in 2021 and has received numerous Famas Awards nominations.
“Sabi ko, now is the time… kasi this is about the truth… and nobody can invalidate me, my personal experience as a victim of Martial Law.” added Tañada, who was criticized by Marcos supporters for claiming to experience the horror of the martial law era.
He said his grandfather’s imprisonment haunted him.
“Ang daming bashers kung na-experience ko raw ang Martial Law when I was born in 1974, eh di sanggol daw ako noong nakulong. Hindi lang naman po dapat makulong para ma-experience mo ang horrors of ML. I was a child when my grandfather was incarcerated.”
“Masakit po bilang bata ang maranasan ito lalo’t alam mong nakipaglaban lang si Senador Lorenzo Tañada para sa katotohanan. Paki-research na lang po ang buhay n’ya. #KATIPS,” he added.
MIM is mainly about the last days of the Marcos family in the Palace before being ousted, while Katips explores the experiences of student activists during martial law.
People see MIM as propaganda, while Katips is a movie based on organic experiences.
https://twitter.com/PinkOni0n/status/1552639474718642176?s=20&t=gwKWJGma-MSBUBhH5eQqJw
https://twitter.com/SirRenzSaavedra/status/1552501018679603200?s=20&t=gwKWJGma-MSBUBhH5eQqJw
Eto nalang panoorin sa August 3. We honestly need to admire the courage shown by the prod to actually show it on that day despite all the “free tickets” being scattered by the supporters to fill up seats #Katips https://t.co/h7n8nGy9TE
— AJ #LabanFilipinas (@AJsaysthings) July 28, 2022
Make this movie trend. Watch #KATIPS which will be shown on Aug 3, same date that trash movie from PDF file will be released. https://t.co/XiIAocvPar
— ricci (@ricci_richy) July 28, 2022
Marcos dissenters are urging their friends to watch Katips over MIM.
sabi nila based on untold truth yung movie na 'yon pero ito, ITO ANG TOTOO! this movie should be promoted (if possible pati sana sa FB para mas maraming ma-reach)
+ THE Mr. Mon Confiado is here, we all bet this will be an excellent movie BASED ON TRUE EXPERIENCE #KATIPS https://t.co/8MmDox2VPI
— Keon (@hopeandbravery) July 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/louiseeetan_/status/1552843025839456257?s=20&t=gwKWJGma-MSBUBhH5eQqJw
