Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar defended Brillante Mendoza against some netizens who reportedly have issues over his role as director in the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the acclaimed filmmaker has been lending his talents for free.
“By the way, just to clarify, the reactions of other people in the social media have been negative about Brillante Mendoza. The great director is doing this pro bono, for free. Wala pong bayad si director Mendoza,” Andanar said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan, Sunday (July 17).
“If you have such a great talent like him who can volunteer his work at kung meron pa pong iba na gustong mag-volunteer, you are welcome at the Presidential Communications Office to contribute your inputs by making the State of Nation Address of President Duterte a meaningful one,” he added.
Mendoza, the creative force behind internationally acclaimed films such as ‘Thy Womb,’ ‘Kinatay,’ and ‘Ma Rosa,’ has been tapped by Andanar to helm the production of Duterte’s first SONA, scheduled on July 25 (Monday) at the Batasang Pambansa.
Last Thursday, Andanar and Mendoza already met alongside TV-5 comedian host Jun ‘Bayaw’ Sabayton for a brainstorming session as to how the event is going to unfold. They are expected to meet again this Monday with incoming House Speaker Pantaleon ‘Bebot’ Alvarez in tow.
Mendoza said in recent interviews he plans to showcase Duterte as his natural self devoid of any embellishment. “Ipapakita lang natin ang natural, ipapakita kung papaano siya makipagusap sa mga tao at kanilang tunay na reaksyon,” he was quoted saying in an ABS-CBN news report.
“It’s not a TV show. SONA is when you communicate directly to the people. I think that’s how he wants it. When you communicate, you interact, and that’s what he wants and I want to capture that,” the 55-year old Cannes awardee for best director added.
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