Nilinaw ni Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong ang kontrobersya sa movie tickets ng Maid In Malacañang na kumalat bago pa man ipinalabas ang pelikula sa mga sinehan more than two weeks ago.
Ayon kay Dr. Henry, totoong bumili sila ng maraming ticket bilang tulong na ang buong akala pala nila ay comedy ang pelikula dahil sa title.
At totoo naman daw na ipinamigay nila ito para makatulong sa Nutribun feeding program.
Kaya nagtaka siya na ginawan ito ng isyu.
Katuwiran niya pa nang makausap namin sa Kamuning Bakery na pag-aari ni Wilson Flores, kahapon ng tanghali, lahat naman ng presidenteng umupo ay tinulungan ng kanilang grupo kaya hindi na ‘yun dapat gawan ng intriga.
“Ito naging issue ng isang eskuwelahan, kinunan pa ng litrato ‘yung mga ticket tapos nilabas sa social media na binibigyan namin sila na ‘di kadapat-dapat. Alam mo after ng nangyari na ‘yan, lalong lumakas ‘yung ticket. Maraming tumatawag sa Federation. Ubos-ubos ang ticket. Parang naging blessing in disguise din. The Federation is always apolitical. Never kaming naki-endorse (sa pulitika).
“Talagang wholeheartedly we are committed to support. At any given time, I think there will be 1 million public school students... hindi pa kasama ‘yung mga binibigyan namin, dati binibigyan namin ng relief goods, ngayon pati mga yero, mga whatever, construction materials binibigyan na namin. Kaya Federation overly… hindi lang apolitical, nasa gitna kami talaga, no political party,” diin ni Dr. Henry.
Maaalalang may mga intrigang personal na inalok ng office ni Senator Imee Marcos ang mga negosyante para bumili ng bulk tickets para sa nasabing pelikula kung saan sinasabi nilang ang significant portion ng proceeds ay mapupunta nga sa Nutribun feeding program upang makatulong sa lumalalang problema ng malnutrition sa bansa sa kalagitnaan ng pandemya.
Samantala, pinuri-puri ni Dr. Henry at ng kanyang grupo na FFCCCII si Coco Martin na endorser ng Doña Maria rice sa suporta nito sa mga magsasaka. “FFCCCII cites actor Coco Martin of the TV series FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano for his success in playing the role of crusading police Cardo Dalisay. Unknown to many, Coco Martin a few years ago had also expressed support for Philippine agriculture and Filipino rice farmers in cooperation with Department of Agriculture and SL Agritech, and we thank him,” pahayag ni Dr. Henry kung saan kasama nitong endorser ng nasabing brand ng bigas si Ivana Alawi.
Aside from Coco, bilib din ang FFCCCII sa showbiz icons na sina Jose Mari Chan and Ricky Lee.
“We also thank award-winning singer, songwriter and businessman Jose Mari Chan for his recent selfless contribution to our efforts to promote better friendship and win-win cooperation between the Philippines and our ancient trade partner and ally China. We also pay tribute to him for his numerous, inspiring musical contributions to Philippine culture. His late father Antonio Chan was also a respected business and civic leader,” pahayag ng kanilang samahan.
Tungkol naman sa bagong hirang na National Artist na si Ricky Lee : “FFCCCII congratulates the multi-awarded screenwriter, journalist, novelist, playwright and educator Ricky Lee for this year being conferred the honor as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. Apart from his numerous literary and journalistic works which have enriched Philippine culture, we also remember his late father Dy Hian Chin who was a scholar and had served as humble, respected and dedicated secretary of the Camarines Norte Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”