Manila Mayor Isko Moreno was handpicked by filmmaker Eric Matti for the role of Andres Bonifacio in his new biopic movie “May Pag-asa.” As the announcement broke on the Internet, a majority of people criticized Moreno’s acceptance to act in the film.
They questioned the timing of the announcement as it seemed that it was coinciding with campaign season for the upcoming 2022 polls.
Read about Erik Matti’s Andres Bonifacio movie starring Isko Moreno. I am a HUGE Erik Matti fan! But this feels distasteful. Kadiri na lang for more impact. Huhuhuhu.
— siriusdan (@siriusdan) June 13, 2021
Instant campaign material. Galing talaga ng mga epaliticos dito sa Pinas. Maparaan. https://t.co/RASOt2OQRZ
— ricci (@ricci_richy) June 13, 2021
Reminds us of 1965 when opposing contenders for presidential elections, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal & Sen. Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, have had their own films released.
The distasteful part is how politicians woo & condescend the electorate.
Sana hindi tayo magpa-uto. https://t.co/zpXyQmPsp0 pic.twitter.com/klaaWZcazA
— Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) June 12, 2021
umay, ang aga para sa political campaign https://t.co/G2N0dn6rK1
— elle.ɔ_o (@imellerosia) June 12, 2021
Still, others also questioned whether working as a politician and at the same time as an actor is legally acceptable.
Meanwhile, other people were excited for the mayor because they could watch the actor-turned-politician on the television anew.
@IskoMoreno ☝️ https://t.co/a8MJonL0t0
— Earvin Vincent Tobilla (@earvintobilla) June 12, 2021
Ohmygee, under @RegalFilms 😮😍❤️ Congrats Papa Yorme @IskoMoreno 🙌💯 https://t.co/1bnpApros3
— Charinah Madlangbayan (@ChaMadlangbayan) June 12, 2021
On the other hand, Matti said that “from our end, we just want to do a movie and if he runs for higher office I’m there for him.”
“There are a lot of parallels to Bonifacio and Yorme. They both come from Tondo, they are both theater actors and they all profess a love for Manila. I think that kind of identification together could actually be perfect for portraying the role of Bonifacio,” the director added.
“May Pag-asa”
A film about “failed revolution.”
It is tentatively entitled “May Pag-asa,” a pen name used by Bonifacio. It tells a story about how an uprising against the Spaniards failed because of Filipinos themselves.
“We wanted to tell a story that could be relevant for 2021…Upon looking at it, I think the divisiveness that we are having right now in the country is really what made us think that the Bonifacio movie which also was rife with divisiveness during that time they wanted to win over the Spaniards,” Matti explained when asked why he wanted to start this movie.
They are scheduled to start filming the movie three to four weeks from now, and they hope to show it on the big screen as soon as it is finished.
Moreno has yet to confirm whether or not he will run for an office in 2022. So it’s still early to say if this upcoming movie should be seen as an electoral vehicle or not.
It is up to audiences whether our votes would be affected by the biopic film, or we would see the movie for entertainment and educational purposes only.
Our vote is in our own hands, let us not let something as trivial as a movie or anything else affect it. Regardless, we have our own judgement, our own minds, our own decision-making capacity— let us use it for the country and for the Filipinos.
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