"Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero hindi ko talaga naramdaman yung pagiging persona non grata."
This is what controversial director Darryl Yap told MJ Marfori on him visiting Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in her office recently.
Note that prior, Darryl was declared persona non grata by the Quezon City Council in a resolution filed by District IV Councilor Ivy Lagman.
"Sa totoo lang I opted to have my premiere night in Quezon City so that I now have a reason to talk to Mayor Joy Belmonte because if wala namang rason e sabihin nila namumulitika ako; ako ay tumatawid ng kabilang kampo or anything. So I told Senator Imee (Marcos) and the Viva, maybe we can do it at The Block, plainly because North EDSA naman is the nearest to the people from the North," he said, relating to his upcoming film "Maid in Malacañang."
"Since they will be providing extra security and I think, it's also a gesture to give, you know, the legitimacy of President Bongbong Marcos' call for unity," Darryl maintained.
The filmmaker said when he first entered Quezon City hall, a lot of people asked him to have photos with them.
"Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero hindi ko talaga naramdaman yung pagiging persona non grata," he related. "So when I went up, yung mga siguro nakakakilala sa akin, medyo hindi nila alam kung paano yung reaksyon nila. Pero kasi nire-renovate yung totoong Office of the Mayor, so hindi kami duon. So we went to another building at pagbukas na pagbukas ng elevator nandun na, nakatayo na dun si Mayor Joy. So, honestly, ako, kinabahan ako nung una ko siyang nakita kasi nagulat ako pagbukas na pagbukas ng elevator nandun na."
Darryl shared, "Sabi ko 'Hello po, Mayor Joy.' And, I don't know, siguro parang I can't explain pero she's very jolly and said 'Hi, Darryl.' So the ice was really broken that time na; nabasag na kaagad. Tapos nagsabi na siya ka agad sa akin na 'Naku, don't tell me mag-so-sorry ka sa akin today?"'"
"I told her the premiere night is up and coming. If she could actually grace the event and she said 'Yes, I'll bring all my barangay captains.'"
The said premiere night will be happening tonight, July 29.