Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (YTT) has been disqualified from competing in four categories of the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival.
Produced by Regal Films, YTT is a family drama starring a strong cast led by Maricel Soriano and Gabby Concepcion.
Others in the film are respected actors Dennis Trillo, Jericho Rosales, Ronaldo Valdez, and Agot Isidro, increasingly laudable actresses Carla Abellana and Lovi Poe, and attractive newcomers Solenn Heussaff and Paulo Avelino.
YTT no longer has a chance at winning the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and the Gatpuno Antonio Villegas awards when the Gabi ng Parangal takes place tonight, December 28, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.
However, the stars and crew of the movie can still compete in the MMFF's acting and technical categories.
Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Metro Manila Film Fest executive committee, explained why the MMFF execom decided to disqualify Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow from competing in the major awards.
"Ang violation po ay they deviated [from the script].
"Under the rule, kung ano ang approved, hindi na po dapat palitan," he was quoted as saying in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Earlier today, Mother Lily Monteverde of Regal Films was accompanied by the film's director, Jun Lana, when she appealed to the MMFF Execom to reconsider its decision.
PEP's Scoopbox reported earlier that Mother Lily's reaction to this was: "Baka sign na 'yon na hindi na ako mag-join sa film fest!"
In a phone interview with MMFF execom member Ric Camaligan, he said that Regal presented them with a letter saying sorry for the "oversight."
"Regal said it was an 'oversight' that the changes in the script and storyline were not communicated properly.
"They feel bad, but we, at the Execom, had to fulfill our responsibility and exercise our authority for non-compliance with policies.
"The policy naman is very clear: the script [can be modified] as long as they inform us.
"They formally informed us that the casting was to be changed or revised, but that was all.
