Renowned Film and television director Joyce Bernal said that she would not ask for any payment for her service in directing the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
Bernal who’s known for her box-office hit movies, said that she was only called to direct SONA and she wholeheartedly accepted it because she believes that as a Filipino, it’s her role to contribute to the government to deliver its message to the people.
“Tinawag po ako e, bilang mamamayan so, okay po. At saka presidente natin siya and para din po sa mga tao ‘to, sa mga kababayan natin, para sa kapwa Pinoy,” Bernal told the reporters.
“Kailangan ba magpabayad doon? Hindi ako magpapabayad doon,” she added.
According to Presidential Communications Secretary Ana Marie Banaag, Bernal wanted the viewers of SONA to see how President Duterte loves his country.
“She (Bernal) wanted to show how the President loves so much this country,” Banaag said.
Bernal is very serious in planning the SONA of the President which her first time, according to Banaag the director is staying at the Malacanang and House of the Representatives.
“[Gusto nila] kung puwede kung paano siya magsasalita sa nation, [‘yon ang ipakita ko] – ‘yong pakiramdam na ‘yon kung paano magsasalita sa nation as mayor, as a father, and as the President. Gusto nilang maramdaman ‘yon at parang ibigay ‘yong feeling na ‘yon para sa Presidente paglapag niya sa Congress,” said Bernal.
The director said that she wanted the SONA to be a patriotic-themed event. She also wanted to add more lights to the house of the representatives.
“Para sa akin, para kay Presidente, let’s get into the psyche kung papaano niya ibibigay, ire-report ‘yong mga nagawa niya or gagawin niya para sa Pilipinas. Gusto ko lang na medyo patriotic lang ‘yong [mood ng SONA],” she said.
Despite being free, Bernal said that she would be more serious in directing the said event because she knows that importance of it and she’s “honored” to be part of it.
“Very honored ako. First time ko. ‘Di ‘to pagdi-direct ng romcom. ‘Di ‘to pagdi-direct ng traffic. Pagdi-direct ito ng SONA. May sasabihin ang ating ama para sa atin, para sa Pilipinas,” Bernal said.