Actress-host Giselle Sanchez has publicly expressed regret for accepting the role of the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino in the controversial 2022 film ‘Maid in Malacañang’, admitting she failed to consider the deeper implications of the role.
In a preview of her interview for the One News program ‘Long Conversation: The Men’s Room’, Giselle said, “Pinagsisihan ko ‘yan. Kasi sabi nila, ‘Giselle, UP ka. Ba’t mo ginawa ‘yon?’ Hindi ko inisip, e. Sana inisip ko nga naman taga-UP ako. Sana inisip ko ‘yong bansa ko bago ko tinanggap ‘yon. Kasi inisip ko lang, artista ako.”
The ‘Maid in Malacañang’ film, written and directed by Darryl Yap, tackled the last 72 hours of the Marcos family inside Malacañang Palace before they were ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution. Giselle portrayed President Cory Aquino in one of the movie’s most controversial scenes—playing mahjong with nuns—an image heavily criticized by historians and the public.
Giselle revealed that she broke down in tears over the backlash she received for her participation in the film. In 2022, she had even taken to Instagram to ask the public not to bash her, saying she was merely doing her job.
Despite her regrets, not everyone welcomed her change of heart. Among those who responded was the film’s director, Darryl Yap, who acknowledged Giselle’s emotional struggles but took issue with her framing of the experience.
“Si Giselle ang talagang nabasag at naapektuhan,” Yap said in a Facebook post, adding that the production had prepared all cast and crew members for both praise and criticism. “Pinaghanda ko ang mga bubuo ng pelikula—hindi lamang dahil sa Maid in Malacañang ito kundi dahil sa ‘ako’ ito.”
While Yap extended understanding toward Giselle’s sentiments, he questioned her mention of being a University of the Philippines graduate in justifying her regret. “Ang hindi ko lang gets ay yung, ‘Taga-UP ka pa naman, bakit tinanggap mo yan?’ Bakit? Iba ba ang hangin sa UP?”
“Yung pag-inhale mo ay pwede kang maging maingay at makasakit sa mga opinyon mo pero pag nakarinig ka ng makakasakit sa iyo ay hahagulgol ka? Yan ang di ko gets,” he wrote.
Despite the tension, Yap ended his statement by maintaining his respect for artistic differences: “Mananatili ang aking paggalang sa sining ng bawat isa… kahit anong listahan pa yan… nasa listahan ka.”
Meanwhile, critics like playwright Floy Quintos have long argued that ‘Maid in Malacañang’ is not a work of art but an act of provocation disguised as cinema. The film remains divisive, continuing to stir discourse on historical revisionism and the responsibilities of artists in politically charged narratives.
