- FDCP Chair Liza Diño-Seguerra was accused of credit grabbing by MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago
- It happened after Liza posted about Bong Go’s plan on her Facebook account which she allegedly took credit for
- Liza finally gave her statement about this issue
Former beauty pageant winner and incumbent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Liza Diño-Seguerra was accused of being a “credit-grabber” and an “epal” by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Spokesperson Celine Pialago.
This happened after Liza posted on her Facebook account about Bong Go’s plan to hold the Metro Manila Film Festival twice a year.
She wrote quoting Bong Go’s statements: “’Marami po akong kaibigan na artista at marami po silang hinaing na gustong iparating sa akin. Sabi nila, kapag maging senador ako, tulungan ko sila makapagpasa ng mga batas na makatutulong sa proteksyon ng mga manggagawa ng pelikulang Pilipino,’ he said.
“Senator BONG GO has expressed his full support to FDCP’s film policy initiatives. As we speak, his legislative team is in touch with our policy team to draft the possible bills that he can sponsor to support our film industry.
“Cong. Dan Fernandez, one of our champions from the lower house has already filed on July 1 the LOCAL MOVIE INDUSTRY ACT to support our local movie industry.”
However, MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago was not pleased by Liza’s social media post. She took to Facebook and slammed the FDCP Chair for allegedly taking credit for Bong Go’s plan as part of FDCP’s film policy.
“Hi Madam Liza Diño-Seguerra, I think this is too much, we all know how you always pre-empt the activities of MMDA-MMFF, what’s worse you now want to make it appear that Sen. Go’s suggestion of holding MMFF twice a year is part of your FDCP’s film policy. Can we give credit to whom it is due? #notocreditgrabber #notosobrangepal,” Celine stated.
Liza addressed this issue and denied that she was taking credit of Bong Go’s plan and explained that she was just supporting the idea of the Senator.
“I didn’t say that FDCP is going to handle it (although it is well within our powers and functions to undertake such task) but I said I do support the Senator’s idea of having another one in April or May,” Liza said in an interview of Pep.ph thru Messenger.
She continued: “I just mentioned I talked to Senator Bong Go and siya ang nagsabi sa akin about wanting to do more than one MMFF.
“Currently, siya ang counterpart namin sa Senate para mag-file ng ‘local movies act’ to support the local film industry.
“Sa Lower House, si Congressman Dan Fernandez ang sponsor ng bill.”
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She also said that credit grabbing unnecessary for her and the FDCP is too busy to undertake the activity.
“I don’t need to ‘credit grab.’ As it is, ang daming ginagawa ng FDCP and I always say it’s not possible kung wala kaming support. We can’t do this alone,” Liza said.
In an interview for a radio program on DZRH, Celine explained why she messaged Liza that way, reasoning that she just wanted Bong Go’s plan to be acknowledged.
“Gusto lang ho natin na talagang mabigyan pugay po ang efforts ni Sen. Bong Go sa pag-recommend na magkaroon tayo ng summer festival kung tatawagin.
“Ang recommendation ho kasi ni Sen. Go was accepted by the Execom. Ang dating lang po sa akin, hindi na-acknowledge yung dapat na ma-acknowledge, yun lang naman po,” Celine shared.
For now, FDCP Chair Liza is focusing on the third Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) event as part of the celebration of Sandaan: One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema.
Liza also revealed that the Department of Tourism will also be a sponsor of the big and costly event that will be held this September 12.
She revealed the details of the upcoming event in a mediacon held on July 11, Thursday, at Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City.
“Sine Sandaan is the history of Philippine Cinema in one big show na a-attend-an ng halos—sana, kung kaya naming pagkasyahin sa New Frontier—2,000 industry people will attend that and will celebrate our 100 Years.
“So, talagang pinaghahandaan namin para maging bongga ‘to. Lahat ng era ng Philippine Cinema, iko-cover namin! Sa September 12 ito, iyong mismong araw ng 100 Years.”
She enumerated the activities to be held by FDCP for the PPP.
“September 8, our homage to our living legends. So, meron tayong tribute sa kanila, May grand fans day tayo. Para siyang meet-and-greet, interactive. Andoon lahat ng mga artista. May mga booth sila. August 31 sa SMX.
“Tapos, may awards night for the first time, September 15 sa One Esplanade.
“September 12 is New Frontier, Sine Sandaan.
“Tapos, September 13 to 15 iyong Film Industry Conference naman.”
The PPP 2019 will take place from September 13 until September 19 with the theme “Pamilya, Pagkakaibigan, Pag-ibig.”
