Erik Matti attends first congressional hearing for 'Honor Thy Father'

Erik Matti attended the first congressional hearing for Honor Thy Father last January 11, 2016, Monday at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The hearing tackled the disqualification of the film from the Best Picture category and the other alleged irregularities during the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival. The hearing was attended by various members of the MMFF Executive Committee, MMFF Selection Committee, and MMFF Board of Jurors; representatives and producers from Honor Thy Father; theater owners; and numerous members of the Congress.

In an interview with the press, Erik Matti felt satisfied with the outcome of the first hearing. He admitted that he was initially anxious when he came to the hearing but he was thankful that the congress was able to establish a good discussion.

'So far hindi pa naman tapos 'yung hearing, I'm sure magpapatawag pa ulit 'yan in the succeeding days to inquire about all the things na gusto pa nai-bring up namin. So far it looks like na dahan-dahang kinaklaro 'yung nangyari. We've heard statements from jury members. We heard statements from other MMFF executive committee members. We've heard statements straight from the MMDA chairman and it seems like parang nakaklaro na kung saan talaga naging magulo.

'Coming in parang ninyerbyos nga kami if there's anything that's going to come out with this kasi isipin mo hindi naman madali na magreklamo di ba? Malalaki ang kinukwestyon mo. Matataas ang posisyon nila sa gobyerno so takot kami na baka wala ring mapuntahan 'to. Nagpapasalamat kami sa congress with the congressmen present na they followed through and asked the right questions. Maganda so far and sana magtuloy-tuloy 'to na okay 'yung mga discussions,' he stated.

During the hearing, it was brought up that there was allegedly a resolution about the disqualification of Honor Thy Father on December 14, 2015 which the producers of the film was not made aware of. Honor Thy Father was informed about its disqualification on December 26, 2015, one day before the awards night.

''Yun na nga kung December 14 pa 'yung resolution that could... hindi ko alam kung mabibilang ko ba kung ten working days pa ba 'yun at least may oras para mag-raise ng appeal or mag-question kung dinasqualify man kami December 14 or 15 at siyempre gusto ko rin makita saan na 'yung resolution na 'yun kasi madaling magsabi may resolution kami ng December 14 pero nasaan na 'yun? Sino ang nakapirma don? Kasi para mag-pass ka ng resolution may nakapirma diyan eh di ba? Sino 'yung member na bumoto? So sa 25 hindi pa niya (referring to MMFF Overall Chairman Atty Emerson Carlos) alam tinawagan lang siya para mag-meeting, 26 pa lang niya nalaman ang buong issue parang medyo may iniipit doon sa pagtawag ng meeting na 'yun kasi wala talaga kaming time para mag react eh kasi 26 is a Saturday walang opisina, Sunday walang opisina 'yun na 'yung awards night,' he said.

The director was also glad that one of the jurors, Carmen Musngi, spoke out about what allegedly transpired during the nomination process for the Best Picture category last December 21, 2015.

'Malaking bagay diyan na hindi namin ini-expect, hindi namin alam na may jury na aattend and I'm happy that [Mrs.] Musngi voiced out voluntarily from where she was sitting kung ano talaga 'yung nangyari sa loob and it was echoed by two other jury members that were seating beside her so maganda 'yun kasi at least we were able to see what were really transpired inside the jury chambers. And it was only through two people Marichu Maceda and Dominic Du (members of the MMFF Executive Committee), and it didn't come from us, hindi namin sinabi ang mga pangalan na 'yun, mismo the jury members who named them as the ones who said not to vote for Honor Thy Father because disqualified na sa Best Picture.'

Direk Erik also spoke up about the alleged conflict of interest that may have transpired during the film festival which was also brought up during the congressional hearing. 'We felt that there was something fishy that was going on why Best Picture of all awards? When we all know in the past pag may award ka sa Best Picture, may award ka sa Best Director, 'yung malalaking awards it equals a good show in the box office, it could help the film make money. Kami second day pa lang ang dami ng natanggal na sine sa amin kasi nga mabigat 'yung pelikula, seryoso. By the award of Best Picture malaking bagay 'yun, magiging interesado 'yung mga tao na manood and pumunta. Buti na lang congress did their own research na na-connect nila na baka, hindi pa naman proven 'yan, allegedly may conflict in interest between an MMFF member and a producer of a film and of course na connect-connect na lang ng congressmen 'yun nong na disqualify 'yung Honor Thy Father. 'Yung Best Picture and second Best Picture galing don sa allegedly connected sa MMFF exe-com member so medyo 'yan medyo may kulay so let's see in the succeeding days if may merit ba 'yun if mapro-prove ba 'yun,' he stated.