Enteng as best pic shocks Romero

National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Eddie Romero was shocked to find out that the Best Picture award of the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) went to Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes On And On And On. It would be a shock, considering that he served as vice chairman of the MMFF Board of Jurors in the recently concluded MMFF. And back in 1976, the picture he directed — Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? — got the same award. Many others in the industry, like Cesar Montano and Celia Rodriguez, were also disappointed at the decision since Enteng Kabisote 3 did not win any other award, technical or artistic. In fact, Star Cinema even sent a letter of appeal to the MMFF Execom to protest the choice. Edu Manzano, host of the Gabi ng Parangal last December 29, announced that the MMFF jurors decided that 40 percent of the criteria for choosing the Best Picture winner would be commercial viability, which is based on box-office returns. The other criteria were for artistry, creativity, technical excellence, innovativeness, thematic values, and global appeal (40 percent) and Filipino historical and/or cultural values (20 percent). The criterion for commercial viability apparently gave a big boost to Enteng Kabisote 3, something which, Romero pointed out, did not influence the judging in past festivals. In an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last January 4 at the veteran director's house in Quezon City, Romero talked about Enteng Kabisote 3 and the purpose of the MMFF. What do you think about the criteria for judging the Best Picture? Before nandoon na yung 40 percent na criteria, noong araw pa. But it did not influence the judging. This time, I think it was the only consideration. I was co-chairman of the jury. I was very disheartened by it. First opportunity I get, I wanted to get in touch with Chairman [Bayani] Fernando and say 'What are we up to?' Gawin na lang nating Box Office King. Hindi na Best Picture. I was shocked. In fact, I left early because I never stay until the end. So when I saw it on TV: 'Paano nangyari yun? Sino bang bumoto niyan?' Apparently, nasulsulan nila na yung 40 percent you have to consider. Nanalo na yung Enteng Kabisote 3 eh. They make all the money. The idea is to help the industry — not help the industry cheapen its standards — but to make it better, a more effective medium of communication. So I must take that up. Kung ganyan din lang, I don't want to have anything to do with it. What do you mean by "sulsulan"? Marami kaming jurors and we are all appointed by the Metro Manila Development Authority in cooperation with the committee that comes from the Academy [Film Academy of the Philippines]. I don't know what happened there." Which film was your personal choice for Best Picture Never mind that. It certainly was not Enteng Kabisote 3. I was considering Cesar Montano's Ligalig, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, and, for that matter, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. Those were serious contenders. Frankly, I would not have voted for Enteng Kabisote 3. Although I wish them well. They are all friends of mine: the Sottos and Joey [de Leon]. It's their own decision to make commercial films that appeal to a broad audience. Was this provision in effect during previous MMFF awards? Noong araw pa yun. But that did not interfere with the judging. Aparently, you cannot say now that it did not interfere. Because the biggest box-office hit won the award. What do you think is the purpose for the MMFF Awards? If you're talking to somebody who doesn't know anything about the situation, then it's helping the movie industry. You want to help the movie industry do what? Make more money? I think, for me, it's to improve its potential to be able to express more relevant things about contemporary life. Not necessarily to preach about patriotism because that's bullshit. But to make people more aware of themselves. So that they can say, ‘Hey, that's me!' Pero kung ganyan din lang, why not make it a commercial festival?" Do you think that profitability is what they're looking for in a film? Well, apparently. Yun ang pinanalo nila eh. So that's what they were looking for. But yun na nga, yung provision of 40 percent has become too dominant. Kasi dati hindi naman eh, in the times when I was winning those awards, I was the kulelat sa box office. And yet they considered it. What do you think about this change in standards for the Best Picture Award? My feeling is that the festival is not fulfilling the purpose that it was created for in the first place. I have no objections to the selection committee choosing some pictures with strong commercial appeal. You cannot discount profitability from the objectives of the festival. What good is the festival to the movie industry if it doesn't make money? On the other hand, we should maintain the objective of elevating the standards of the movie industry. Did Enteng Kabisote 3 deserve to win the award? That's not a fair question. Because they did not intend Enteng Kabisote 3 to be an artistic film. If the Sottos wanted to do an artistic film, they could do one. But they wanted one that was sure to be popular, of proven popularity. And I don't take that away from them. I wish I had movies that made that much money. But you don't give artistic awards to films on the strength of their box-office appeal. They already have awards. The money and popularity among the people are the awards. - Philippine Entertainment Portal