SPEAKING of election, very timely ang tema ng pelikulang “Magtanggol” na pinagbibidahan nina Tom Rodriguez, Ejay Falcon, Denise Laurel, Albie Casiño, Yam Concepcion, Kim Domingo, Jonee Gamboa and Dina Bonnevie.
Isang adbokasiya na bunga ng pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit ang unang subok ng investment banker na si Jojo Dispo sa pagsulat ng pinrodyus niya na pelikula, ang “Magtanggol” na unang handog ng Felix and Bert Film Productions.
Among the members of the cast, si Denise ang belong to a famous political clan sa ating bayan, walang iba kundi ang mga Laurel. Apo siya ng dating Vice-President na si Salvador “Doy” Laurel during President Cory Aquino’s term. Misis naman ng yumaong VP Doy Laurel ang dating aktres na si Celia Diaz. Great grandfather naman ni Denise ang dati nating Presidente na si Jose P. Laurel.
Despite of her remarkable political lineage, nagdesisyon na pala si Denise na never susundan ang yapak ng kanyang grandfather at great grandfather.
“Wala po talaga akong balak kahit ilang beses po nila akong tanungin hindi po talaga. Kasi sa tingin ko I didn’t go to school for it. Sa tingin ko po unfair sa mga taong lumaki dito sa Pilipinas na nagbabayad ng tax at naghihirap para umasenso ang mundo natin. “Tapos maging official ako na hindi ko pinag-aralan? Hindi ako abogado, hindi ko inaral ang government? Tapos papasok ako sa politika? Parang unfair naman,” lahad niya.
Naniniwala si Denise na maraming paraan para makatulong siya sa kanyang mga kababayan. “In my own way, I will do my best. I will give my tithing tuwing may sweldo ako. I will continue to work with charitable events. I will continue to inspire people. I will try to be the best citizen and person I can be. And you don’t have to be a politician to do that,” diin pa niya.
Kaya marami raw siyang realization nang gawin niya ang “Magtanggol” na idinirek ni Sigfreid Barros Sanchez. Inamin pa ni Denise na na-trauma raw kasi ang pamilya nila dahil sa nangyari sa kanyang mga lolo, “Sa pamilya namin pansinin ninyo walang tumatakbo. Oo, medyo na-trauma kami doon sa nangyari sa Lolo ko and to my great grandfather. But for us, it has always been, our family motto ay ‘ang bayan higit sa lahat.’ And that was taught to us from the moment we were born and that our family will say until we die.
“And I think that doing this film and watching it, habang dina-dub namin, habang ini-edit, you know, it was reminded so much more of that love for country and also that love for my family and my fellow men,” esplika niya.
Denise plays a character in “Magtanggol” that works with Migrante, ang grupo na tumutulong sa mga OFWs, “You know, they don’t make that much money out of that. Most of the time, the money comes from their own pocket just to help the OFWs, and talking to the people that work in Migrante, they inspired me and showed me, you know, the importance of loving you country.”
Showing na ngayong May ang “Magtanggol”.