“DISRESPECTFUL.”
That was how Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon described Thursday, August 11, 2022, the scene from the movie "Maid in Malacañang" showing the Carmelite sisters of Cebu and the late president Corazon Aquino playing mahjong.
“They spent most of their time praying because it was difficult during that period,” Buzon said, adding that it was frivolous of them to do that.
“I did not watch it (the movie) but I have read a number of (negative) reviews which I think speaks for itself,” he said at the sidelights of the signing of a partnership agreement between the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental Provincial and the diocese for environmental initiative collaboration.
Asked if he thinks the nuns were put in a bad light, the bishop said “it's obvious.”
A week ago, Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza described the film as
“shameless,” as he said that the “producer, scriptwriter, director and those promoting the movie should publicly apologize to the Carmelite nuns, to President Cory Aquino’s family and to the Filipino people.”
Alminaza was also calling for the boycott of the film.
Produced by Senator Imee Marcos in cooperation with Viva Films, the movie tells the story of the Marcoses’ last days in Malacañang palace before they were ousted through the People Power revolution in 1986.
The film’s director, Daryl Yap, in a statement said he had nothing to apologize despite some people taking offense at that particular scene in his movie.
Yap urged those who criticize the film to watch it before calling for a boycott.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) earlier defended the controversial film amid criticisms of its supposed attempt to distort historical facts.
Amid the controversy hounding the movie, Viva Films claimed that it has already earned P140 million.