FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center), film director Paul Soriano (left), and wife Toni Gonzaga. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Film Director Paul Soriano will not be part of the “PR machine.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday elaborated Soriano’s tasks as he justified the latter’s appointment as presidential adviser for creative communications.
“People have misunderstood. He’s not there to be part of the PR machine. He’s there to find ways to promote the creative industry kasi doon siya galing eh (because that’s where he is from),” Marcos said in a chance interview on the sidelines of the National Information and Communications Technology Summit 2022 at the Manila Hotel.
“Kasama ‘yan sa (That includes) tourism. Pinagmamalaki natin (We take pride of it). Ang gagaling kumanta ng Pilipino (Filipinos sing very well). Ang gagaling umarte (Good actors). Ang gagaling gumawa ng sine (Good movie producers), etc. We have to project that to the rest of the world. ‘Yan ang trabaho ni (That’s the work of) Paul,” he added.
Soriano, who took his oath of office before Marcos last week, reportedly accepted the job with an annual salary of only P1.
Soriano, and his wife Toni Gonzaga, supported Marcos’ presidential bid. Soriano also directed Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address and was consulted for the President’s inaugural at the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Marcos and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, stood as principal sponsors at the wedding of Gonzaga and Soriano.
The First Lady is also Soriano’s aunt.
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