Regal Films producer and matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde is probably John "Sweet" Lapus's biggest guest, so far, to be strapped to a lie detector in an attempt to keep a perfect score on Showbiz Central's "Don't Lie to Me" segment.
Accompanying Mother Lily, though seated more comfortably, are some of her young Regal Babies: Mart Escudero, Kris Bernal, TJ Trinidad and Dennis Trillo.
Without much ado, John asked Mother Lily the juicy questions. The first question: Rio Locsin, Dina Bonnevie, and Snooky Serna have all worn a "magic kamison." Many people are asking now if Mother Lily owns the iconic kamison that her leading ladies wear in her movies.
"No," Mother Lily smiled. And the machine churned out "Truth." John couldn't help but ask why Mother Lily always lets her actresses wear a chemise.
"It's very lucky, that kamison," Mother Lily said. When asked if she has her own magic kamison, she laughed and answered, "Yes!"
The next question came from one of Mother Lily's Regal Babies, William Martinez. He asked through video feed, "Totoo nga ba na kami raw ni Maricel Soriano ang favorite mo noon as a love team?"
"No," Mother Lily quickly answered. The machine showed a "Lie," John exclaimed and danced while Mother laughed, clearly enjoying John's dance moves. When asked to explain her side, Mother simply admitted that she lied on purpose, probably just to see John dance. The Maricel-William love team was, in fact, her favorite.
Turning to the moderate-level portion, John gave Mother Lily a rather sensitive yet funny question. "Mother," John said, "tuwing nag-aaway daw kayo ni Alfie Lorenzo ay nagbabatuhan daw kayo ng sandok. At kapag nagagalit ka daw ay mahilig ka na magbato naman ng cell phone. Mahilig ka ba mangbato ng gamit tuwing magagalit ka?"
"No," Mother Liliy answered.
The lie detector seemed to trace a wee bit of pressure on Mother Lily's part as it gave out a "Lie." Mother could only laugh as John once again danced to the beat. This time, Mother didn't look as amused as before. When asked what thing she had thrown so far, Mother just said, "I'm very sweet, wala."
"Sa mga Regal babies," John asked, looking in Dennis's direction, "kayo ba ay nabato na ni Mother?"
"Ako, hindi pa ako nakakakita ng ganoon," Dennis said. "May naririnig ako pero ayoko maniwala hangga't di ko nakikita, siyempre."
Mart agreed. "Sa akin, wala pa. Sa tagal ng pinagsamahan namin, e, wala pa."
"Wala rin. Mabait si Mother," Kris added. "'Pag sa taping namin, patient si Mother."
Since John got good feedback from the Regal Babies, he turned to Mother Lily and asked if she threw stuff on her staff. "No," answered Mother Lily.
The next question was quite an easy one for Mother Lily. John asked, "Was there ever a time na naging sakit ng ulo mo si Snooky Serna?"
"Yes," Mother promptly replied. The machine agreed. When asked why, she explained that Snooky had many problems during her time. When asked if she would still cast Snooky on future films, again without hesitating she answered, "Yes."
Moving on to the difficult part of the interrogation, John asked, "Mother, binabayaran mo daw sina Tito Alfie Lorenzo at Manay Lolit Solis ng 100 pesos noong araw para sundan ang iyong mister at tignan kung nangbababae ito. Don't lie to me, yes or no?"
There was short pause before Mother could give out a "No." That short pause may have given her away as the lie detector once again gave out a "Lie." Mother could only smile and laugh as John once again danced to Mother's "lie." John asked, did Lolit and Alfie find out anything during their "investigation", Mother again slipped by saying, "Wala naman."
The next question came from Judy Ann Santos via video feed. She asked, "Mother, mayroon na po ba kayong nakasamaan ng loob na talent manager?"
"Yes," Mother calmly answered.
As the lie detector gave out "Truth," Mother identified the manager—Becky Aguila.
Why was she mad at Becky?
"I got hurt," Mother explained. "She lied. I am inviting her to have this lie detector."
Next hard question: "Totoo ba na laging postdated or delayed ang binabayad mong tseke sa artista mo?"
"Yes," the honest Mother Lily said. As the machine agreed, Mother explained that the times are hard. "I try to move the industry alive. That is the reason why after the shooting, that's the time I pay them."
The Now or Never question came from Alfie Lorenzo. He asked, "Mother, mas galante ka daw sa mga artista kaysa sa mga anak mo? Yes or no?"
"Yes," a teary-eyed Mother said. When the machine agreed, she added, "Of course, when I produce a movie, I have to sacrifice my family. The priority is the stars."
Overcome with emotion, she paused for a few moments to regain her composure. After sensing that she was ready again to speak, John asked, "Na-explain mo na sa kanila kung bakit kailangang mas maging galante sa artista kaysa sa kanila?"
"Of course, now they realize that I give the stars priority," Mother said. As it turned out, her children grew up to be producers as well. "I am proud of them because they followed my footsteps. I always teach them to be honest and accept things."
HURT OVER BECKY AGUILA. After the segment was done, Mother Lily wished to give some advice to managers out there. She said, "Well in my entire life, for the past 48 years that I have experienced so many things in my life. Na-feel ko na sometimes I get hurt and sometimes I also have differences with others but my stars are with me. It's not forever because I want them to grow far, far, farther like Angel Locsin."
As she mentioned the name Angel Locsin, silence followed. Everyone, including John, waited for Mother's next words.
"I don't want to sue her anymore," Mother calmly said. "Because she is very innocent in this issue. But the only thing I advise to all managers is to be honest."
But Mother again became emotional. "Honesty is the best policy in life. Ever since in my life, I am seventy, I've been working very hard. But one thing I really get hurt is a manager who tells a lie. Even the lawyer tells a lie because she was with me talking about the schedule with Angel. All of the sudden she [Becky] turned her back and said that she is not exclusive with me."
As John moved in to politely cut off Mother Lily's words with praise, Mother gave a metaphorical last message. She said, "Deep in my heart, the father of Gabby [Concepcion] gave me a diamond ring."
"And he said to me, ‘Diamonds are forever.'"