Harry is showbiz-friendly

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said it is “more than ready” to hear out and help address problems plaguing the entertainment industry.

In his first presscon with the entertainment media recently, presidential spokesperson Sec. Harry Roque said that he has already been approached by Imelda Papin, the president of the Actors Guild or the Kapisanan Ng Mga Artista Sa Pelikulang Pilipino, and promised to prioritize a meeting to discuss industry-related issues and concerns. The entertainment business (motion pictures, music, performing arts, etc.) is part of the country’s “creative industry,” which has been acknowledged as a driver for economic growth.  

“Entertainment is very important. I feel calm in the same way that political media has to inform and to put it in public opinion,” he told the movie press. According to him, he is aware that problems in the entertainment industry are many. “Napaka dami po. Marami tayong di tinuturing na empleyado, maraming mga endo at yung mga make-up artists daw po, pati sa mga studios, di naman daw binibigyan man lang ng SSS. Tinuturing na for job basis lang sila, samantalang taon-taon silang nag-re-render ng service, araw-araw, gabi-gabi na ginawa ng Diyos, parang di naman tama yan. Na parang di ni-rerespeto ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa sa entertainment industry.”

“Yes, the government is more than ready to assist the movie industry because this is a source of livelihood not only for the artists, but also for the cameramen, extras, make-up artists, (production) crew, writers,” he added.

Roque believes that movie tourism is also worth prioritizing after someone from the movie press raised the South Korean model — how the Asian country has been exporting to the world K-Dramas and K-Pop in what has been famously called as the Korean Wave or Hallyu, which in turn helped its (inbound) tourism sector.

“Of course, we have prospects to promote movie tourism. Marami po tayong magagandang lugar sa Pilipinas na dapat ipakita sa pamamagitan ng pelikula. It’s being (done) in other countries, and maybe, it’s one thing that we should push in Congress, the incentives, (so that) foreign film companies will be encouraged to shoot their films here.”

The spox is not a stranger to entertainment, mentioning showbiz neighbors, former clients and friends like Martin Nievera, who graced one of his daily press briefings last July for his own show. “Claudine (Barretto) was a neighbor before in Greenhills, Piolo is a Christian (churchmate), Richard Gutierrez and family are residents of the same village, the late Rico Yan was a former neighbor. Bea Alonzo lives in the same village as I do. There’s also Annabelle Rama. Mga naging client ko like Ricardo Cepeda, and then of course, Robin Padilla na laging kasama ko kasi supporter ni President Duterte. Of course, I used to see a lot (resigned tourism board chief) Cesar Montano although not anymore. Kasama ko sa Congress si Ate Vi (Vilma Santos) and Yul Servo. Then my idol is Nora (Aunor), I’m a Noranian,” he added.

Sec. Harry with his wife Mylah and good friend Martin Nievera

Since it was his first meeting with the movie press, Roque was queried about what it’s like being in the frontlines of defending President Duterte. When he was appointed last year to the position, he recalled asking, “Bakit ako? Why me? I wasn’t a journalist. My predecessors were journalists so I thought the primary qualification was to be a journalist. But hindi pala (it’s not actually). Apparently, you really need to (know the) law, especially when you are speaking for a lawyer. So, it came very handy that I knew the law somehow. It came in handy that I knew international law because many of the issues that we face now involve international law. So, I guess, (if) maghahanap ng kapalit ko, it’s an asset to be a lawyer. It’s an asset to have a background in constitutional law and international law because those are the most important issues of today.”

Prior to serving in the present administration, this son of a pastor and schoolteacher (who was educated both here and abroad, namely University of Michigan Ann Arbor, UP Diliman and London School of Economics) was a congressman, UP professor and human rights lawyer, whose previous cases included defending the victims of the Ampatuan Maguindanao Massacre and the 2014 murder of Filipina trans-woman Jennifer Laude by an American soldier.

It’s a given that his job is deemed difficult, especially when he has to explain controversial statements of the president. What about the “fun” part of being spox — if any? “Of course, it’s fun because you’re always with the President. The President is so funny. He never runs out of jokes and laughs. He’s so much fun to be with, in real life! He doesn’t drink, pareho kami. We just drink diet coke. And we just laugh and laugh in all conversations ha.”

Does the president read showbiz news? “Mahilig siya sa Sharon Cuneta. Mukha naman siyang updated sa mga batang artista kasi may mga apo.”

In showbiz, there’s a saying often thrown around that there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Does the same ring true in politics, a field that many showbiz denizens have also waded into? “Well, in politics it’s really like that kaya nga an enemy yesterday could be your best friend now. That’s why I’m very careful to keep a group of people as my friends kasi yan yung they will really be my friends. I’m very conscious who my real friends are, who my political allies are, who my supporters are. I don’t deceive myself. ”

He also said, “Well, the true friends, those who have never hit me, I’m talking about Florin Hilbay (ex-solicitor general and Duterte critic), Florin Hilbay and I are good friends, not a word na below the belt. Yung mga dati kong nakaaway, yun yung maraming sinasabi… They’re, what do you call them? Mga di naman talaga great in their field... Those I had fought with, I can’t do anything about it, they will always be my enemies. Ayaw ko sila pasikatin, so I won’t mention their names.” 

Is he running for senator in the midterm elections in 2019? “Well, the President and (Davao City) Mayor Sara Duterte have both endorsed (me), but it’s the challenge of finances and time is running out. Feeling ko kasi if I’m not able to harness enough resources, it’s useless, because if you can’t afford commercials, you’re hopeless. Parang naging political merchandising ang election ngayon. Deadline (of my decision)? Of course, the last day of filing is Oct. 5.”