Lea Salonga and Rio Locsin remain objective about the Rafa Santos issue, PETA demands televised public apology

BY MAUREEN MARIE BELMONTE

Jun 30, 2011 03:58 PM

Lea Salonga and Rio Locsin aren't joining the lynch mob

MANILA, Philippines – As the backlash against indie director Rafael 'Rafa' Santos gains ground—with criticisms from theater people and others condemning his remark, as well as the call to boycott his Cinemalaya 2011 entry "Samarito"—actresses Lea Salonga and Rio Locsin express their wish that individuals would see some sense in the situation by treating the film and the filmmaker separately.

While Salonga considers the director's "sky flakes and cat food" comment belittling, she believes that Santos’ Cinemalaya entry “Samarito” should be shielded from the fallout.

"Clamor for a public apology to the community of actors that he's inadvertently offended is a good idea, but please, no collateral damage—to boycott his movie is to also boycott the actors that put their hearts and souls into the film they worked on," Salonga posted in the Theater Actors’ Guild Facebook Page, as quoted by Spot on June 29.

Pertaining to theater actor Joel Trinidad of Upstart Productions’ recent appeal to the Cinemalaya board to have Santos’ film removed from the festival, the Tony Award-winning actress instead suggested that the film be kept in the line-up if only for the sake of its actors, their artistry and sense of professionalism.

"We may not like this Rafa Santos fellow, but the actors in his movie deserve the kudos for their hard work, professionalism, character study and understanding, and for willingly wearing their hearts on their sleeves in order to tell a story, and tell it well," Salonga said.

Locsin, on the other hand, chose not to dwell on the issue. In an interview with abscbnnews.com, June 29, the veteran actress instead stressed the importance of work, and being in films that impart good values.

“Pareho lang ang working relationship, pareho lang ang working conditions. It doesn’t matter kung ano ang kakainin. Ang importante may trabaho at makaka-impart ka ng values, kapupulutan ng aral [ang pelikula mo],” Locsin told abscbnnews.com.

Meanwhile, regardless of the indie director’s public apology through an email sent Cinemalaya Directors E-group posted on Facebook, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) has aired its own demand.

“PETA is aware of Santos’ open letter of apology sent today [June 29] via Cinemalaya’s group email but demands him to have a public apology on television addressed directly to the theater community.

“PETA in its 44 years of theater practice has worked with hundreds of artists who have shaped and re-shaped the theater industry. PETA is witness to the professionalism and artistry of theater practitionersdespite minimal support and recognizes that they are a major force in contributing in the evolving art and culture tradition in our country, and for this alone – they must be given due respect,” a part of theorganization’s official statement released yesterday on their Facebook Fan Page read.

Santos made his controversial comment via an episode of ANC’s “Cityscape,” where he appeared to discuss the Cinemalaya film festival, June 24.

When asked by show host Lexi Schulze why he employs theater actors for his short films, Santos deadpanned, “Ah well, personally I find that theater actors are better to work with because they don’t complain. You can feed them Skyflakes three meals a day and pay them in cat food, basically.”

A video of this interview went viral online and following widespread criticism from various actors and even some participants in this year's Cinemalaya, the director apologized for the comment via an email he sent to the Cinemalaya Directors E-group saying, "It is with a clear mind and heavy heart that I extend my heartfelt apology. I have offended any of you, I am sorry. If I've offended anyone you love, I take the blame. If any of you feel sorry for me, please don't. I built my own coffin of words and nailed it shut with insolence."

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