- He was also asked for his thoughts about ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal
- The director said that he worries about the thousands of employees of the network
Filmmaker Joselito “Jay” Altarejos spoke his mind about the present Philippine administration run by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Altarejos commented that politics is inseparable with personal decisions.
He told the press, “Ang pulitikal ay personal at ang personal ay pulitikal. Hindi natin pwede sabihin ‘this is my politics’,no! You politics is part of your life so it’s part of the person hindi magkahiwalay ang politics sa personal.”
Questioning the present-day government, Altarejos asked its supporters if they are pleased with current happenings in the country.
“Kahit sila tanungin din nila sarili nila. Gusto ba nila yung mga patayan? Gusto ba natin na ang daming pumapasok na may kapangyarihan? Gusto ba natin mga nababasa natin na parang di totoo? Kahit sila ang tawag doon national level of boasting. It’s a national level of gaslighting. Parang hindi totoo so yung mga tao ‘nangyari ba o hindi nangyari?’
“Hindi mawawala ang sumpa sa bayang patuloy na pinapatay ang kanyang mga anak.Tayo wala tayong ginagawa eh. Sanay na sanay na tayo na may patayan. Comfortable lang tayo hangga’t hindi tayo natatamaan. Pero once lumapit sa atin yan nagiging personal,” he argued.
The filmmaker firmly stood for his views stating that he is ready to face the anguish of the supporters of President Duterte.
“Yun lang eh noh? Yung iba naman doon di naman totoong tao, mga trolls. I know their language. Marunong din naman akong magmura, malutong din naman.”
Addressing his bashers, he said, “Tirahin niyo ako, I don’t fight back the way you do. Hindi na uso ngayon yung disente-disente dahil hindi naman disente yung ginagawa ng gobyerno.”
Altarejos is set to return to the Sinag Maynila Film Festival this 2020 with the political drama ‘Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan. The film tackles the social and political situations caused by an oppressive government. The movie is believed to be a mirror of the present Philippine government.
Though it is considered a “sensitive” movie, Altarejos shrugged off his worries in releasing the film, saying that the “indecent reality” caused by the present administration just shows that it is a must-watch film.
Meanwhile, he was also asked about the pending franchise renewal of ABS-CBN which Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block.
He said that he sympathizes with the network’s employees.
“Magandang panahon ‘to. Ang panahong ito maganda ring tingnan ang beyond pagsasara ng ABS-CBN. Kawawa din yung 11,000 na tao. Ngayon maganda rin siyang tingnan yung kalagayan ng mga empleydo.”
Though he was declined to work with ABS-CBN twice, he stressed that the freedom of the press should be recognized.
“But it’s not about me. We are fighting for one common name. It’s the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press. Tingnan natin sa mas malawak na perspective.”
Altarejos hopes that ABS-CBN would come out from this struggle.
“Sana para sa mga manggagawa.Pero yung mga oligarchs naman yung mayayaman, makakalagpas naman sila lahat.”
Recently, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order prohibiting the parties from discussing the merits of its quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc.
Malacañang has backed the petition saying that it was necessary to avoid prejudgment in the case.
