CRISTINE REYES is tasked to play Imee Marcos in “Maid in Malacanang” and she feels so nervous about it.
“Ang laki ng pressure for me,” she says. “Parang this is one of the projects given to me na sobrang bigat.
"When I was told about it, talagang minamadali ko ‘yung handler ko. Sabi ko, ‘please, please ibigay n’yo na agad sa akin ang script para mapag-aralan ko’, kasi hindi biro itong gagawin ko, e.”
She wanted to meet Sen. Imee in person and her wish was granted.
“When I finally met si Sen. Imee, talagang tahimik lang ako. I was just watching her, observing ang bawa’t kilos niya, bawa’t salita niya.
"I want to see kung paano ba siya mag-move. I noticed ‘yung rolling ng eyes niya, and I said, ay meron din pala siyang ganun, so okay gagawin ko ‘yun.
"It’s really very challenging for me to do this role kasi totoong tao yung gagampanan ko and she’s still very much around.”
Also, Sen. Imee as the eldest child of Pres. Marcos and former First Lady Imelda is being used in the screenplay to act as the narrator of the last few days in Malacanang of their family before they left for Hawaii in 1986.
Darryl Yap, who’s writing and directing the movie, says he’s been meeting with Sen. Imee for four months now.
“Every week, we meet and we are like talking and talking about the project,” he shares.
“So, ang kabuuan ng ‘Maid in Malacañang’ actually is an amalgamation of all the questions and answers between me and Senator Imee, questions like,
"Senator ano bang nangyari no’n? Hindi ba sumama ang loob n’yo? Hindi ba kayo nagalit? O tinraydor ba kayo ni ganito o anong reaksyon ng pamilya mo?”
He wants the movie to be as realistic as possible.
“Ang nakikita lang kasi natin is the choreographed disciplined reaction of the first family Marcos.
"So, pinapakita ro’n sa mga interview nila na may nagkukudeta sa kanila, or may naga-attempt to get the position of the presidency, of course, pagharap niyan sa kamera, laging sukat ang mga reaksyon nila.
"So having Senator Imee who is very authentic sa pag nagkukuwento, we will get a more accurate picture of what really happened.”
