Controlling our Beliefs: "Maid in Malacanang" is Now Showing

By Menelito Mansueto 

In a matter of days, Darryl Yap's “Maid in Malacañang” will be officially released to the public. Prior to the official launching, the film already captured the public's attention because of a response by one of its actors, Ella Cruz, to an innocent question. First, take note that she did not say, “History is gossip". What she said was, "History is like gossip." 

It implies that while history is about facts gathered and recorded, the same also involves interpretation and biases. But critics have trained their sight in the way the film might "distort" history. Mr. Yap, a Palanca awardee, has urged people to watch it first before making their judgement. He has since assured the public that there is no attempt to revise nor deny history. The film, he says, is fully backed by field research. Nevertheless, expect the same vitriol from people who see themselves as the public defenders of the truth as if the truth needs defending. 

The treatment is never fair when it comes to the way the protectors of morality interpret modern culture and its representations. De La Salle University history Professor Xiao Chua was quoted as saying not too long ago that we should never take the broad narrative of any historical film “as history but as the filmmaker’s interpretation of the past.” But I wonder why Professor Chua did not feel the same when he sugar-coated the movie “Quezon’s Game.” Prof. Xiao Chua even toured universities and TV shows with actor Raymond Bagatsing to promote the film. 

Those who oppose President Bongbong Marcos can be categorized into three: the elite (including those in academia) , the oligarchy, and those in civil society. Elitism and activism are present in the upper echelon of some schools in Metro Manila where student protests and civil society groups are strong. Meanwhile, the oligarchy will continue to control the corporate media. Expect them to overreact to the cliché “history is written by the victors.” 

To be honest, one of the reasons why I applauded Rodrigo Duterte’s candidacy way back in 2016 is not only because he was against the elite — he is a “Bisaya.” At that moment, I felt that it is time for someone from Mindanao to be in Malacanang. Indeed, his presidency was historic. Mindanao, of course, has so many things to be proud of. For instance, MSU-IIT has topped the QS World University Rankings at some point. This speaks tons as to the wealth of the Filipino mind outside the capital. 

Still, I am annoyed by several Duterte critics because of their fear-mongering on what might happen to the country. They continually recycle bad arguments, including worn-out themes. They take us for a fool as they continue to sabotage other people because of their failure to find relevance in this world.  They forget that they are mere pawns in their own network of associations. The evangelist Matthew’s words best apply to them: “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

Discussing philosophy is a mere detour. We do not understand each other because we could not control our reasons. There is a distinction between belief and action. Some do not seem to get it as they continue to be ruled by their emotions. They are irked that they could be wrong, that sometimes they criticize because of what they lack, the power to tame their beliefs included. 

The conservative view from Plato’s cave still speaking of Truth in the dogmatic chambers of the intelligible world could not match with our unique but complicated true-to-life situation here in Mindanao—scenic sacred mountains, falls, rivers, and lakes which are managed by indigenous communities, delicious Maranao-inspired dish, and the holy water on our forehead.