Several netizens and a historian have called out Darryl Yap over his depiction of the 1986 Malacañang takeover following the exit of the Marcoses from the country.
In a Facebook post on July 3, Yap posted a photo of one scene in his movie Maid in Malacañang where it depicted the people’s takeover of Malacañang in 1986 as “akyat-bahay” with people mostly holding torches while entering the Malacañang compound.
The photo immediately drew criticism from several netizens and personalities.
Filipino historian Xiao Chua in his tweet, blasted the incorrect depiction saying it is the Filipino people who were robbed by the Marcoses when they perpetuated in power and amassed billions from the country’s coffers.
“Naghahanap ba sila ng aswang? Wala namang mga sulo ang mga tao noon sa lusuban, wala sila sa bukid. Hindi puwedeng nakawin ng TAUMBAYAN ang kapangyarihan na kanila naman talaga. Ang nagpatagal sa puwesto gamit ang lahat ng paraan ang tunay na nagnakaw. Art card: TagapagMulat”
Naghahanap ba sila ng aswang? Wala namang mga sulo ang mga tao noon sa lusuban, wala sila sa bukid.
Hindi puwedeng nakawin ng TAUMBAYAN ang kapangyarihan na kanila naman talaga.
Ang nagpatagal sa puwesto gamit ang lahat ng paraan ang tunay na nagnakaw.
Art card: TagapagMulat pic.twitter.com/U8IrbSjmZ2
— Xiao Chua (@Xiao_Chua) July 4, 2022
Netizen @citizenjaneph also reacted to the photo, saying there were no torches when people stormed Malacañang in 1986 but Marian status.
“Here are pages from the book I have on “People Power”. ASAN ANG TORCHES na pinapakita ni Darryl Yap sa film niya??? WALA!!!! In fact, it was a statue of Our Lady that was carried in by devotees into Malacanang.”
Here are pages from the book I have on “People Power”. ASAN ANG TORCHES na pinapakita ni Darryl Yap sa film niya???
WALA!!!! In fact, it was a statue of Our Lady that was carried in by devotees into Malacanang. https://t.co/OPczqt1XH1 pic.twitter.com/KQYFVFoH4p
— Citizen Jane (@citizenjaneph) July 5, 2022
@docgorz, @nherzjane, and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino meanwhile shared similar reactions. Using side-by-side photos of the original “Malacanang Takeover” in 1986 and Yap’s movie depiction, they captioned “Reality vs Revision” and “History vs Tsismis.”
REVISION vs. REALITY pic.twitter.com/KXIvl02tpe
— Doc Gorz (@DocGorz) July 3, 2022
History Tsismis pic.twitter.com/Fg6fLVrX8Q
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) July 4, 2022
History: Sinugod ng taumbayan ang Malacañang nang umalis ang mga Marcos sa Pilipinas.
Tsismis: May hawak na mga sulo ang taumbayan nang sugurin nila ang Malacañang. https://t.co/uQyjJWp6y0
— Nherz Jane (@nherzjane) July 4, 2022
@altstarmagic also shared the original photo of people’s takeover with the caption “Mga Pilipino noong 1986 nang sumugod sila sa Macalañang palace. NASAAN ANG SULO NA MAY APOY DARRYL YAP?”
https://twitter.com/AltStarMagic/status/1543799966849593344
@macronikki and @sosyolohija on the other hand chastised Yap for the “akyat-bahay” tag saying Malacanang belongs to the people and they are just taking back their power which was taken from them by the dictatorship.
“Akyat bahay in Malacañang sabi ni direk? Excuse me. But Malacañang belongs to the people if you think about it. To be able to reside or work there is a privilege given by the Filipino people.”
Akyat bahay in Malacañang sabi ni direk?
Excuse me. But Malacañang belongs to the people if you think about it. To be able to reside or work there is a privilege given by the Filipino people. pic.twitter.com/fi2guUojX7
— Aling Sylvia Ster Stalong (@macronikki) July 4, 2022
“Hindi akyat-bahay ang tawag kapag pera mo ang binabawi mo.”
https://twitter.com/sosyolohija/status/1543587891460587521
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post on his Vincentiments page on July 4, content-creator and Maid in Malacanang director Darryl Yap defended the viral photo.
In the post, Yap said it was part of his artistic license to use the “sulo” since the movie is not a documentary or a biopic.
“kaya kong ipaliwanag, pero hindi ko kayang unawain para sa inyo.
However, it was contrary to the previous claim that the movie will tell the other side of history as told by “one credible source”.
