Thirty-six years later, Senator Imee Marcos opened up about going back to Malacanang and felt the obligation to tell her family's side of the story.
"Malacanang is only a place. Doon na kami galing eh. Hindi big deal ang makabalik. Hindi sa minamaliit ko pero hindi yun ang mahalaga. Ang mahalaga ay yung legacy ng tatay ko at yung apelyido at pamilya namin ay maahon at makabangon," said Imee, eldest daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., during a press conference for the upcoming movie "Maid In Malacanang" held at the Manila Hotel last Sunday.
The controversial movie - which tackles the last 72 hours of the Marcoses in 1986 - is directed by Darryl Yap under Viva Films. It will be shown in cinemas beginning Aug. 3.
Looking back, Imee admitted that it was really painful to leave the country.
"I was actually somewhat mystified by Darryl's choice na dapat daw yung huling tatlong araw sa Malacanang at sa tutoo lang, I've been through it already. It was quite painful and traumatic. So I actually told Darryl ayoko ng balikan puwede ba? Noong iniisa-isa yung by the hour kung ano yung nangyayari, naintidihan ko na kung bakit may kuwento yun talaga. It was also a difficult process for me because so much a part of it was painful not only to my family but for many, many people who are close to us and I think they don't want to relive that again.
"At the same time, I felt an obligation after all these years to tell our side of the story. Ang iba't ibang kuwento tungkol sa panahong yun, e sa iba't ibang sector. So dapat ikuwento rin namin para may kabuluhan ang ating kasaysayan," said Imee.
Now that the Marcoses are back, Darryl is hopeful that Imee will help revive the Philippine movie industry.
"Ngayong nakabalik na ang mga Marcoses, naniniwala ako na gaya noon, mabibigyan ng pansin ni Senator Imee Marcos ang industriya at talagang yun ang pinaniniwalaan ko. Kapag ang gobyerno ay willing sumuporta gaya ng nangyayari ngayon sa South Korea, nagiging mas mabilis ang pagpoproduce, ang paggawa ng mga pelikula, hindi po gaya sa atin noong mga nakaraang taon," he said.
Darryl also cited local government units (LGUs) that give freebies to film productions. "Sa Ilocos Norte po, kapag mag-su-shoot ka, hindi ka po magbabayad ng location. Libre yun at nagbibigay pa po sila ng accomodation. Ang kanilang tourism industry ay gustong tulungan ang pelikula. Para sa akin yun dapat muna ang atupagin ng ating industriya. Dapat bago ka magbigay ng kolorete o palamuti, kailangan malusog muna ang industriya. At yun po ang aking paniniwala," the young director said.
In the final cut of the movie, there were three scenes that were deleted, according to Darryl.
"Meron po akong tatlong eksena na hindi ko na sinama dahil mabigat sa dibdib. Meron akong isang tinanggal dahil masyado naman nakakatawa. Yung isa naman tinanggal ko dahil masyadong nakakaiyak. Yung isa naman po, baka may mangyari sa amin na hindi maganda pag nilabas po. Okay lang naman ako na pinagagalitan walang lang demanda. Siguro pagdating ng panahon, puwede ko na rin ilagay sa director's cut at sa palagay ko magugustuhan din ng tao yun."
Imee, sister of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., narrated how the movie came about.
"Nagumpisa talaga ito sa kalokohan at biruan. Sabi ko pagkatapos ng LenLen sa online, wala na akong career. Ano ang gagawin natin. So sabi ko tara, gawa tayo ng sine. Sabi nya tungkol sa last 72 hours in Malacanang. Sabi ko hindi naman nakakatuwa yun. Nguni't nung nilabas sa online, patumpik tumpik lang, na may gagawing sine tungkol dun sa Malakanyang, ovewhelming ang response. Ngayon naman kabado na ako at high ang expectations," she recounted.
Darryl said that it's time for the Marcoses to share the history and their story, which is not rumors.
“Kalagitnaan ng election, nag-offer ako na gumawa ng film. Akala ni senator nagjo-joke lang ako. Tapos na pitch ko na sa Viva. Sa tingin ko yung pagmamahal ng tao nitong nakaraang election ang nagprovoke naman sa akin para bigyan ng pagkakataon ng tatlong dekada na mapakinggan at mapanood naman ang nangyari sa Malakanyang dahil ako, noong pinanganak noong 1987, ang version na nalaman ko ay yung nasa libro, yung masyadong popular na version. So ‘yun ang nagtrigger sa akin na gawin ito. Sobrang hindi tutoo ang mga sinabi po nila sa mga taong ito. Lalo na kay Senator Imee. I can only speak for Senator Imee dahil sya ang madalas kong kasama,” he said.
- For the critics
Darryl wants to dedicate his controversial film “Maid In Malacanang” to all his critics.
“This movie is for them talaga. I’ve always been vocal na lahat ng ginagawa ko ay para sa mga hindi naniniwala. Mula sa aking unang pelikula, naniniwala pa rin ako na ang tunay na kritiko ay yung mga nagsasabing hindi nila panonoorin nguni’t panonoorin pa rin nila,” he said.
Darryl continued: “Masayang masaya ako sa atensyon, panahon at higit sa lahat, sa suporta ng nagtatago sa gitna ng criticisms. Dahil ang tagumpay ng pelikula ay hindi lamang sa papuri kundi sa maga masustanya at kapaki-pakinabang na puna na maaaring galing sa mga kakampi at kalaban nguni’t ang mahalaga, sabi nga ni Boss Vic, nanood yung kalaban. So ‘yun pa lang masaya na ako.
“If this film has a sequel? Ang alam ko, baka pagalitan ako, ang alam ko talaga trilogy ito. So naghihintay pa lang ako. Alam n’yo naman na napalka supportive ng Viva! Ngayon pa lang, yung pag papahayag ng publiko sa ‘Maid In Malacanang’ hindi malabong mangyari.
“So baka mahilot-hilot pa namin si Boss at si Senator. So nakasalalay, ang sequel sa suporta ng sambayanang Pilipino,” Darryl added.
At first, Darryl was quite hesitant to give his message to the critics of the film, during the grand media conference.
“Naku sabi ko behave pa naman ako dahil nandito ang mga boss ko (referring to Vic Del Rosario of Viva Films),” he said.
Imee, in reference to Darryl’s yellow tops, rubber shoes, and eyeglasses, commented and told the youthful director: “Behave pero nakadilaw naman.”
Then the crowd laughed. Yellow is the political color of the opposition.
Darryl answered: “Hindi ko po talaga alam na naka-dilaw ako.”
Produced by VIVA Films, "Maid in Malacañang" is a dramedy film that gives us a glimpse of the last 72 hours of the Marcoses inside the Palace before fleeing to Hawaii during the 1986 People Power Revolution – a story shared through the eyes of a “reliable source.”
The film will show us the lighter and more carefree side of the First Family, that until now has never been shared with anyone. It will also introduce characters and storylines that make the First Family more relatable and normal, like other Filipino households with close family ties. It is the quintessential Filipino family sticking together, braving all odds, according to a statement by Viva.
"Maid In Malacanang" stars two of the country’s most awarded and talented actors, Cesar Montano and Ruffa Gutierrez, who will portray the roles of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and First Lady Imelda Marcos, respectively. Viva’s premiere stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga, and Ella Cruz will portray the couple’s children – Imee, Bongbong, and Irene. Also joining this cast are Karla Estrada, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Beverly Salviejo.