MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City mayor Francis Zamora on Monday said he will distribute free tickets to the controversial movie “Maid in Malacañang” to the employees of the local government unit.
He announced this during the San Juan City Hall flag ceremony, asking department heads to submit a list of employees interested in getting a free ticket.
“Kung narinig niyo na po ang pelikulang Maid in Malacanang, gusto ko sanang magbigay ng ticket sa bawat isang empleyado natin. This will be free, sponsor ko na ‘yan para sa inyo,” Zamora said in his speech.
(If you’ve heard of the film ‘Maid in Malacañang’, I would like to give each employee a ticket to it. This will be free, I will sponsor it for you.)
Zamora said all local government employees, including its police, other law enforcement authorities, and even school teachers, may avail of the free tickets.
The said film supposedly depicts the last 72 hours of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his family in the presidential palace before they fled the country in disgrace in 1986.
Chinese-Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang-See disclosed on Saturday that some business groups were called upon by Sen. Imee Marcos, the late ousted dictator’s daughter, to purchase millions of pesos worth of movie tickets for distribution to various schools.
Ang-See, an academician and social activist, said “many schools” had been given the tickets. She said she knew of one business group that was allegedly tapped by the senator to buy 5,000 tickets worth P1.5 million.
READ: Ang-See: I can’t just watch historical distortion
The movie will be shown on Aug. 3 and another film to counter it, “Katips,” will also open on the same day.
“Katips” by multi-awarded director Vince Tañada tells the story of students and activists during the Marcos martial law regime.
It is based on the 2016 stage musical of the same title and has earned 17 nominations from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas).