"MISLEADING, unfair and baseless" are the charges that four of the eight films to be shown in the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival are produced by Regal Entertainment, according to the Regal matriarch herself.
In a letter sent to the Metro Manila Development Authority last week, Regal president Lily Monteverde argued that for one corporation to be considered connected to another, "there must be a showing that there are common shareholders between the two corporations, or that one corporation is a stockholder of the other.
"This is not the case here," "Mother" Lily said in the letter.
Of the festival's eight movies, four are said to be Monteverde's productions: "Mano Po 3," "Ai$hite Imasu 1941," "Que Sera Sera," and "Sigaw."
In the festival's list of official entries, "Que Sera Sera" was identified as a production of Regal Entertainment, "Sigaw" of MegaVision and "Ai$hite Imasu 1941" of BasFilm Productions Inc. "Mano Po 3" is from MAQ Productions, known to be a sister company of Regal.
"BasFilms and MegaVision are bona fide companies that Regal Entertainment Inc. has nothing to do with," Monteverde said. "At no time has Regal Entertainment or any member of the Monteverde family been a stockholder of these companies."
She pointed out that "a simple verification" with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would confirm the ownership of the two corporations and disprove that they are connected to Regal.
Monteverde also noted that festival rules and regulations "clearly allow the entry of a film of one sister company," referring to MAQ Productions Inc.
'No legal personality'
The MLR Films producer, lawyer Joji Alonso, on Aug. 4 filed a complaint with overall festival chair Bayani Fernando, who is also the chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority. Alonso had said the film fest's executive committee "appears" to have adjusted rules and regulations to favor certain producers.
In another letter to Fernando dated Aug. 19, Alonso said SEC documents revealed that MAQ's registration had been revoked on Nov. 3, 2003. "As such, it has absolutely no legal personality to act as a corporation, nor could it have validly participated in the 2004 MMFF," she said.
Alonso said that in the case of MegaVision, SEC documents showed that the outfit committed a "major delinquency" when it did not submit its stock and transfer book.
Not registered
A check with the SEC showed that BasFilms Production is not at all registered with the commission, said Alonso. "How could (BasFilms) have validly participated in the 2004 MMFF when it does not even possess any juridical personality?" she said.
Inquirer Entertainment obtained copies of the SEC documents, as well as letters from Regal, MegaVision and BasFilms that were sent to the MMDA.
In its letter to the MMDA, BasFilms vice president for production John S. Suarez said the company was registered with the SEC "way back in the late 70s."
Suarez's letter, however, neither confirmed nor denied Regal Entertainment's connection with "Ai$hite Imasu 1941."
Copies of camera reports from Regal Entertainment Inc. showed that a number of negatives were used for "Ai$hite Imasu 1941," with "J. Lamangan" as director and "R. Manuel" as cameraman.
Ng, stockholder
MegaVision president William Lao said Regal is not a stockholder of the corporation, nor are any members of the Monteverde family.
But Metro Manila Theaters Association president Ng Meng Tam is a stockholder of Regal Entertainment, according to documents Inquirer Entertainment obtained from the SEC last Thursday. Ng is also a member of the MMFF executive committee.
A copy of the minutes of an annual Regal Entertainment meeting listed Ng as a stockholder.
"Incidentally," Alonso said in her letter to Fernando. "Mr. Ng Meng Tam's son, Marcus Ng, is a member of the MMFF selection committee.
"It's more than a simple conflict of interest," Alonso told Inquirer Entertainment on Friday. "You are a judge and a producer of films. However you look at it, you are already biased. This only means that we are no match for people whom they consider part of their circle."
No more participation
According to SEC documents, Monteverde has stakes in Binan Cinema 2000 Inc., Sta. Rosa Cinema 2000 Inc., and Urdaneta 2000 Inc. Marcus Ng is a member of the board in all of these corporations, according to the documents.
MLR Films' "Minsan Pa," which stars real-life lovers Jomari Yllana and Ara Mina, failed to make it into the festival's final circle of eight entries. Jeffrey Jeturian directs the movie.
"We wish to emphasize that MLR Films is not going through this process to get 'Minsan Pa' into the MMFF this December," Alonso told Fernando. "Notwithstanding any positive outcome in the decision of the MMFF executive committee on (MLR's) protest, 'Minsan Pa' shall not participate any further."