By Manuel L. Morató
A gentleman of the old school, a writer, actor and movie producer who served his country as a public servant and was highly respected has a message.
I received his request to forward his comment to as many people I can to guide them in this coming election day on November 3.
November 1 and 2 for Christians are All Saints Day and All Souls Day when family flock to the cemeteries to visit and remember their dearly beloved departed. It is not only a tradition, but almost a devotion to our loved ones whose lives here on earth have been reclaimed by Our Lord and Creator for He alone has the right to reclaim the lives He had given us.
I will quote verbatim Clint Eastwood’s message:
Preparing to say goodbye… a message from Clint Eastwood:
“My Twilight Years at 90. If you realize each day is a gift, you may be near my age. As I enjoy my twilight years, I am often struck by the inevitability that the party must end. There will come a clear, cold morning when there isn’t any “more.” No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat. It seems to me that one of the important things to do before that morning comes, is to let everyone of your family and friends know that you care for them by finding simple ways to let them know your heartfelt beliefs and the guiding principles of your life so they can always say “He was my friend, and I know where he stood.” So, just in case I’m gone tomorrow, please know this: I voted against Biden, that incompetent, lying, flip-flopping, insincere, double-talking, radical socialist, terrorist excusing, bleeding heart, narcissistic, scientific and economic moron that spent years in the White House trying to destroy our wonderful country and turned it into Muslim loving, socialist crap hole like he came from and I don’t mean Hawaii!
Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids.
Regards, Clint
Make My Day… Pass it on!”
(NB. Kung hindi ito totoo, he would have denied it. He did not.)
* * * * *
There you are. Clint whose movies never depicted lewd scenes but fought the bad ones who violated the law. In a way, it was a mission on his part. As far as I know, he lived an uncontroversial and peaceful life in Monterey along the coastline of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco, right on the Pacific Ocean. A beautiful place to live a contemplative life.
For the undecided voters, think about it and consider what Clint Eastwood had said for he knows your politicians in America more than you do.
May you grant his request.
* * * * *
Allow me to comment on the made up “controversy” against a gentleman of the old school, Lt. General Antonio Parlade, Jr., spokesperson, NTF-ELCAC.
I heard and watched Karen Davila’s interview in the Newscenter and zoom: Lucena City.
I do not know Lt. General Parlade, Jr. but I do know many members of the Masonry of which General Parlade is a very respected member.
Before I comment herewith, I got in touch with some friends, members of the Masonry, a brotherhood that even St. Pope John Paul the Second accepted as a Christian brotherhood.
I, too, have had the occasion of helping the Masons on their mercy missions when I was Chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The most needed in their mercy mission was an ambulance and medicines needed by the Brotherhood which I accommodated, as I did the Rotary Clubs and other organizations that dedicate their time to helping the less fortunate. It was a most welcome “extra hands” to reach out to the needy.
For those who saw General Parlade’s interview, I am not being biased for I do not know the General nor met him. But I am glad he clearly cleared himself, contrary to what the so-called actresses and whatever dramatized on TV interviews.
General Parlade only wanted to caution those “movie stars” and “celebrities” to be careful. General Parlade knows his job very well and he merely cautioned the so-called “actresses” as he would his own daughters.
I don’t want to offend anyone, but people must accept that I had the longest tenure as Chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) where I was “martyred” by the so-called “Concerned Artists of the Philippines” who fought me “tooth and nail” sa media. Pero hindi sila umubra sa akin. Ako ang nagputol ng “penekulas” na bawal sa batas. Alam ninyo kung sinu-sino ang nag-rally sa akin at hindi ko na babanggitin ang mga pangalan nila at pumanaw na sila- isa-isa. May they rest in peace. I was just doing my job, as dictated on me by the law. Wala ng disenteng artista, bata at matanda, makalabas sa disenteng pelikula at “bomba films” were the name of the game. Nong tanggalin ko (it took me two years), nabuhay ang mga disenteng artista, matanda at bata; at kumita ng kuwarta muli ang mga naghihingalong industriya ng pelikula at telebisyon.
It was a difficult job. A most controversial position. Pero quiet na sila ngayon.
General Parlade, in fairness to him, was simply cautioning those so-called actresses and celebrities for what he knows happen. He cautioned these actresses used to court supporters.
My six-year term sa MTRCB taught me a lot. Yong mga humihina na artista will do anything for publicity kasi pag hindi na sila napapansin, wala ng tawag sa kanila. Napapaglipasan na. So they have to create noise para mapag-usapan; even iskandalo para mailagay lang sa frontpage.
Yong pag-iyak, that’s part of their training. Itinuturo yan sa kanila kung paano umiyak at lumuha, without feeling. It’s all for show.
Publicity is the bottomline. Mas kilala ko yata ang industriya ng pelikula. Alam ko nong aking panahon, inaaway ako ni Armida (may she rest in peace); ni Lino Brocka (may he rest in peace) kapag sila’y may pelikulang ginagawa. Ako’y inaaway, intentionally, to call attention to their upcoming movie; at alam nila, pag inaway ako, mapa-frontpage ang pelikula nila at for free ang publicity; at my expense naman.
Kaya inaaway nila ako to get free publicity sa mga peryodiko; at para hindi ko maputulan yong kabastusan at karahasan na nakasaksak sa pelikulang may bastos na eksena. Pero kinakatay ko maski murahin nila ako at bawal talaga sa batas; at pag pinayagan ko, ako ang madedemanda for approving something against the law.
Yong “The Last Temptation of Christ” was banned all over the world. U.S.A., Israel, and many other countries. Why should I allow it here? I was accused of “censoring” it without review. No, that’s not true. I did not censor it for the film never entered the country. One, I did not give it an importation permit. Two, how can I ban a film that never arrived in the country?
Now it can be told. Because of the banning of the film in many countries, I told my former classmate abroad to send me a tape of the movie. I reviewed it and I could not sign a permit for public exhibition which only the MTRCB can grant a permit for public exhibition. Not even Malacañang could tell me to grant it a permit.
The film never entered the country for it needs to be reviewed by the Board. But based on the many countries that banned it, how can it be shown here of all places, the only Christian country in Asia?
Had President Cory told me to pass it, I would have resigned immediately rather than turn against my faith. But President Cory knows me well. She never meddled with my work in the MTRCB. But those malakas daw around her were acting as backers of some lewd films. May alaga sila. Sinugod ko sila sa Malacanang at pinagsabihan ko: “Don’t call me again to pass a bomba film of your movie-producers’ friends.” Remember, hindi kayo ang naglagay sa akin sa puwesto. Si President lang ang puwedeng mag-utos sa akin. Pero alam niya na magre-resign muna ako bago ko siya sundin. She forced me to accept the position, but it’s so easy for me to get out of it in a flicker of a finger. Nobody can tell me to do something wrong.
Before I end, I did not watch the entire tape of “The Last Temptation of Christ.” A few minutes of it was enough for me to X-rate it, if submitted to the MTRCB for review. Why should I give those idiots something that can destroy the reputation of our country? Think again!
It’s simple: The film needed an importation permit from the Central Bank; and I alone can request for it as MTRCB Chairman. I did not. Nakausap ko yong representative dito ng Warner Brothers. Kilala ko siya. Basta ang sinabi ko: Hindi puwede. Pag ako’y pinilit mo, I’ll ban all your films, pati parental guidance at pang general patronage. Kay Scorcese daw yong pelikula. I told him to tell Scorcese to eat the film! I had problems with his movies. Isa na yong “Clockwork Orange.” It’s porno. Sabi sa akin nong representative, putulan ko na lang daw ng mga lewd scenes. Ang sagot ko sa representative ng pelikula dito sa Pilipinas: Pag yan ay sinanitize namin, pang trailer na lang ang matitira sa pelikula mo! Mamili ka. Nakapili na ako.
END OF STORY.
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com
