“They want it to be a mother’s story so tumutok lang ako sa kuwento ni Edith Burgos searching for her missing son, Jonas,” he says. “You won’t see the story of Jonas here as the story focuses more on Edith kasi nandidiyan pa siya. E, si Jonas, wala na. We can’t speculate what happened to him kasi di naman natin alam.”:
Is he happy with Lorna Tolentino’s portrayal of Mrs. Burgos? “I’ve directed her before in ‘Pusong Mamon’ at ibang-iba siya rito. She really transformed into Mrs. Burgos. You won’t see Lorna here. Pati yung pagsasalita niya, the way she moves, she’s Mrs. Burgos.”
Why does he keep on making socially relevant films like “Dukot”, “Deadline”, “Sigwa”, “Migrante”, “Patikul” and now, “Burgos”?
“Films are not just for entertainment. It should also reflect the truth, what’s happening around us, lalo na about topics no one would try to touch, like ito, political abductions. We should do films that enlighten the people. They ask me kundi ako natatakot? Naku, kung takot ang paiiralin natin, walang mangyayari. Ano, puro romantic comedies na lang at melodramas ang gagawin natin? I believe Filipino viewers deserve something better and as an artist, a filmmaker has a social responsibility to our society. I’m honored and thankful na ginawa nila ang ‘Burgos’ na closing film ng Cinemalaya.”
His next projects will be on TV. He just finished shooting two telemovies: “When I Fall in Love” starring Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III, and “The Lady Next Door” with Alice Dixson and Mark Neumann. He has also started taping Sharon Cuneta’s first TV5 series, a dramedy called “Madame Chairman”. He has finished an entry in the Sineng Pambansa, “Lihis” with Lovi Poe, Jake Cuenca, Jake Cuenca and Gloria Diaz.
