Brillante Mendoza draws cheers, jeers in Duterte’s 2nd SONA

ABS-CBN News

<p>Internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza’s unconventional use of shots and camera angles once again received mixed reviews from viewers of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).</p><p>In Monday&#x27;s SONA, Mendoza again made use of creative shots, switching between extreme close-ups and eye-level shots.</p><p>Film critic Philbert Dy took to Twitter, saying it was as if Mendoza was shooting a &quot;horror movie.&quot;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brillante Mendoza is shooting a horror movie.</p>— Phil Dy (@philbertdy) <a href="https://twitter.com/philbertdy/status/889403931347918848">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar last July 15 said Mendoza would be adjusting some shots that were heavily criticized the previous year. </p><p>Mendoza previously vowed to offer a greater variety of shots, with a reported total of 18 cameras installed in the House of Representatives&#x27; Session Hall. </p><p>The wide variety of artistic shots featured on the national live broadcast of the SONA included lens flares, slow camera panning, and close-ups, which drew the attention of numerous viewers. </p><p>Netizens took to Twitter to express their sentiments: </p><p>Some were appalled by the extreme nature of some shots:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">BRILLANTE MENDOZA PAKI EXPLAIN DIS SHOT <a href="https://t.co/z6BDHBwiqr">pic.twitter.com/z6BDHBwiqr</a></p>— Dorothy Camille (@hidors) <a href="https://twitter.com/hidors/status/889403745418715136">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brillante Mendoza, what&#x27;s with the extreme close up? it is extremely distracting. 😡😡😡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SONA2017?src=hash">#SONA2017</a></p>— King Naive (@itsrainbowking) <a href="https://twitter.com/itsrainbowking/status/889404227348447232">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anyare Brillante Mendoza? <a href="https://t.co/E5IaeQ6X1J">pic.twitter.com/E5IaeQ6X1J</a></p>— Jhon Louie B Sabal (@JLBSabal) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBSabal/status/889424604120236032">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I cannot help but see Brillante Mendoza&#x27;s uncomfortable camera shots and angles. HAHAHAHA <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SorryNotSorry?src=hash">#SorryNotSorry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SONA2017?src=hash">#SONA2017</a></p>— Jc Brosas (@dyeysibrosas) <a href="https://twitter.com/dyeysibrosas/status/889406330707902464">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brillante Mendoza, 2016: low angles pa more<br/>Brillante Mendoza, 2017: Z O O M 👃🏾👀</p>— edward macasadia (@eddiemacads) <a href="https://twitter.com/eddiemacads/status/889405613695942657">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Others gave Mendoza and his choice of camera angles and shots their stamp of approval:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">I salute Brillante Mendoza.. ang galing mag-direk! Alam na alam niya kung sino yung iko-closeup shot. Hahaha <a href="https://t.co/cZ1bsym7Yq">https://t.co/cZ1bsym7Yq</a></p>— Nadzkie Ville (@nadzkie27) <a href="https://twitter.com/nadzkie27/status/889413619410251776">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brillante Mendoza never fails! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SONA2017?src=hash">#SONA2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ahrt?src=hash">#ahrt</a></p>— Hans Marin (@HANSsolo_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HANSsolo_/status/889404904342601728">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yas Brillante Mendoza shots for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SONA2017?src=hash">#SONA2017</a></p>— dass (@dasshliin) <a href="https://twitter.com/dasshliin/status/889409498611200000">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">s/o to brillante mendoza love the close ups</p>— Jay (@tuesjays) <a href="https://twitter.com/tuesjays/status/889410217783377920">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">the only takeaway from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SONA2017?src=hash">#SONA2017</a> is the fact that Brillante Mendoza is TRULY excellent at cinematography, no matter what/who the subject is</p>— abbie; on hiatus ! ! (@flawsgap) <a href="https://twitter.com/flawsgap/status/889428094573879297">July 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>

<p>Internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza’s unconventional use of shots and camera angles once again received mixed reviews from viewers of President Rodrigo Duterte's second State of the Nation Address (SONA).</p>

Internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza’s unconventional use of shots and camera angles once again received mixed reviews from viewers of President Rodrigo Duterte's second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Brillante Mendoza draws cheers, jeers in Duterte’s 2nd SONA | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Focus

Brillante Mendoza draws cheers, jeers in Duterte’s 2nd SONA

Brillante Mendoza draws cheers, jeers in Duterte’s 2nd SONA

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 24, 2017 10:24 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 24, 2017 10:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Brillante Mendoza

SONA2017

Rodrigo Duterte

director

State of the Nation Address

social media

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.