On February 21, Viva director Darryl Yap fiercely answered recent comments from award-winning director Joel Lamangan and seasoned actress Cherry Pie Picache.
During the grand media conference of Martyr or Murderer, Yap addressed comments from Lamangan and Picache. He claimed that his film was aiming to match up against their upcoming movie ‘Oras de Peligro.’
To disprove their claim, he got a video recording of Lamangan from July 2022.
Yap revealed, “Regarding po sa statements about being truthful, being takot and everything. Of course, I’m going to name it– the messages of Direk Joel Lamangan and Cherry Pie Picache. This is– kung sino ‘yung tumapat at sino ‘yung sumabay, kung sino ‘yung whatsoever. I’m just going to show you a video.”
He then emphasized how much he respected Lamangan and Picache as artists. He pointed out, “You know for the longest time, hindi talaga ako sumasagot kay Direk Joel, because I look up to this person and all, kanina nga bago ako pumunta nanood pa ako ng Bulaklak ng Maynila at Tanging Yaman para maalala ko ‘yung respeto ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Miss Cherry Pie.”
He affirmed his responsibility to refute their claims and defend the production.
He pointed out, Vic Del Rosario’s family and the Marcoses are not just his “bosses”, but also his family. Whenever he hears nasty things about them, the director feels compelled to correct them right away. It is his responsibility to do so, he explained clearly.
The video contains Lamangan’s statement expressing his intent to create a film in response to ‘Maid in Malacañang.’
He then called out Lamangan, criticizing the director for being a “liar”. Yap emphasized, “Direk Joel, huwag po natin lolokohin ang mga tao. Ang tanda-tanda mo na, sinungaling ka pa. Huwag mong– ang hindi ko pagsasalita laban sayo ay kabaitan hindi ‘yun karuwagan, huwag mong sasabihin ang mga producer ay takot na pondohan ka dahil anti-Marcos ka.”
He further drove his point, reasoning that producers were afraid to invest in Lamangan’s film because it might ‘flop.’
He then took a jab at Picache using her role in the 2000 film ‘Tanging Yaman’. Yap revealed, “Gustung-gusto ko siya doon para lang hindi ko siya pagsalitaan nang masakit. Ang kaibahan lang sa Tanging Yaman, hindi siya iniwan ni Edu [Manzano] doon. Asawa kasi siya ni Edu doon.”
Aside from the two, he called out actor Allen Dizon, calling them ‘plastic.’
He reiterated, ” Ang pa-plastic ninyo naman, ang tatanda ninyo napaka sinungaling ninyo pa, mas may dignidad kung sasabihin ninyong, ‘oo sinabayan namin kasi ito ‘yung paninindigan namin.’ Ganon ang mga gusto ng mga Filipino ngayon. Bakit ninyo sila pagsisinungalingan na tumatapat kami sa inyo, natatakot kami sa inyo.”
Asserting that he’s not yet an established director, he said he’s not scared of Lamangan and Picache. He furthered, “Naniniwala ako na mula director hanggang taga-punas ng mesa kapag nagsho-shoot, taga bitbit ng ilaw, cameraman, artista, pantay-pantay tayong manggagawa. Bakit kami matatakot sa inyo, sino ba kayo? Hindi ako malaking director para i-bully ninyo ng ganito dahil marami kayong kakamping press.”
His film, ‘Martyr or Murderer’ stars Cristine Reyes, Cesar Montano, Ruffa Gutierrez, Ella Cruz, and Diego Loyzaga.
The film features returning cast members Kyle Velino, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Beverly Salviejo.
They also added new faces starting with Isko Moreno, Marco Gumabao, Jerome Ponce, Franki Russel, Cindy Miranda, Rose Van Ginkel, Sachzna Laparan, Billy Jake, and Marlon Mance.
Directed by Yap, ‘Martyr or Murderer’ opens in cinemas on March 1, with a worldwide release set for a few weeks later.
