The producers of Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story have agreed to remove the name of Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI from this period film, which earlier credited him as the director.
At the same time, the Metro Manila Development Authority, the government agency in charge of the Metro Manila Film Festival, has made clear that the showing of the controversial film will push through this Sunday, December 25, the official opening day for all festival entries.
Asiong Salonga is one of seven entries competing in the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival, which begins on Christmas Day and lasts till January 7 of next year.
During this period, the metro's movie houses show only Filipino films, making this a veritable bonanza for Filipino filmmakers, particularly producers.
Asiong Salonga is set in the 1950s and depicts the true-to-life story of the infamous Tondo gangster Asiong Salonga. It stars Laguna Governor ER Ejercito.
Produced by Scenema Concept International, the film has been graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino was quoted by TV Patrol yesterday, December 23, as saying, "Hindi na po ito mapipigil siguro...kung anuman ang legal complications between Asiong Salonga and Mr. Aguiluz, sila po ang magte-thresh out niyan."
Last December 20, Tikoy filed a "complaint for damages with prayer for mandatory injunction" against the producers of Asiong Salonga.
The director was incensed that the film he had directed was subjected to changes of which he knew nothing, including re-edits and re-shoots, at the instigation of the producers and the star of the movie.
The latter said everyone he asked agreed with him that the movie's pacing was "mabagal," and "di maganda talaga," prompting him to hire teams to re-do the flow and the music of the entire movie.
Governor ER went on to say that Direk Tikoy was excellent only with visuals, but that the man should leave the editing and the music to the experts that had been hired to fix the film.
Yesterday, December 23, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) issued a 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order to stop the producers from using Tikoy's name in both the promotional materials and film credits of the movie.
(CLICK HERE to read related article.)
The TRO "restrains the respondent from using the name of the complainant [Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI] in the film credits, billboards, posters and other documents and promotional materials in relation to the film Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story."
When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interviewed Direk Tikoy yesterday at Robinsons Galleria, he said:
"The director is the chief creative force of the film, not the producer.
"Tanggalin nila ang name ko, yun lang naman ang request ko.
"Respect the rights of the director.
"I want respect, not just for myself, but for all other directors, for the young filmmakers.
"Nine months kong pinaghirapan ang pelikula. Parang anak ko na 'yan.
"In other countries, the director even has paternal rights to the film.
"The director is the father of the film. Meron pang economic rights, merong moral rights."
Will Direk Tikoy join the MMFF Parade of Stars this Saturday, December 24?
"Ang gusto ko nga, sumakay ng float, e. Naghihintay lang ako ng invitation.
"Napakasimple lang naman ng hinihingi ko."
Direk Tikoy ended the interview by saying: "Mahal ko si Gov [Governor ER] kaya ayokong magsalita against him...maliit ang industriya."
PRODUCERS AGREE TO REMOVE TIKOY'S NAME. In line with this development, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) got in touch with Jobert Sucaldito, the movie's publicist, to get the producers' side on the issue.
In a phone interview, Jobert informed PEP that the producers have begun removing the name of Direk Tikoy from the prints of the movie as well as the movie's promotional materials.
"We have removed ang name niya sa prints," the publicist said, "and we are mobilizing the billboards, kasi yung iba nakatayo na kasi.
"Sa mga prints, sa mga trailers, tinanggal na.
"Tinanggal na rin siya sa music video ni Gloc9 and the Ely Buendia [music video]."
Will the screening of Asiong Salonga push through this Sunday, December 25?
"Tuloy ang screening namin. Wala kaming advice from MMDA [otherwise].
"Somebody told me na ipinalabas sa TV kanina, sabi raw ng MMDA na hindi nila matanggap ang TRO because it is an internal problem between the producer and the director.
"Kumbaga, sa kanila, tuloy ang screening."
The publicist also expressed his opinion regarding the ownership of the finished product.
"As far as movies for exhibition are concerned, the producers have the last say.
"Nakasaad yun sa batas. I-contést na lang niya," he said, referring to Direk Tikoy.
Where the film credits and promotional materials are concerned, Jobert reiterated, the director's name no longer appears.
"As for his name, tinanggal na ang name niya in the best of the capacity of the producers."