Nick Joaquin-Rolando Tinio film fails to make the cut at MMFF

Celeste Legaspi

Singer-actress Celeste Legaspi on the movie, “Ang Larawan,” not getting one of the four slots allotted by the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for script submissions: “We are totally in shock. I’m disappointed. It’s a work by Nick Joaquin and Rolando Tinio—two National Artists. We have a great cast, including Paulo Avelino. We have some of the best singer-actors. But I don’t know—’di nila type! Ayaw yata nila sa ’min (It’s not their type! They might not like us), so what can I do?” she said at a press conference for a coming solo concert.

“We hoped to reach young Filipinos and show the great works of our National Artists in an accessible way,” she added.

Legaspi, who’s coproducing and starring in the film, said she and her team were still unsure about resubmitting “Ang Larawan.” “We have yet to regroup after the announcement; nothing definite yet.” —ALLAN POLICARPIO