JOHN ESTRADA
THE best for us, so far, ang acting ni John Estrada bilang si Mayor Thony Halili sa biofilm ng former Tanauan Mayor titled “The Last Interview: The Mayor Antonio Halili Story” under the direction of Ceasar Soriano for his GreatCzar Media Productions.
Mayor Halili was killed July 2, 2018 during a flag-raising ceremony in the municipal of Tanauan.
There are two scenes which really made an indelible mark for John. One is the scene where he recalled the rape of his cousin. Namula ang mga mata ni John while he was sharing the story of his cousin na na-rape ng mga addict. Another is his scene where he finally saw the body of his son who was killed in an accident.
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakagawa ng biofilm si John.
“Gumawa ako ng Calvento Files The Movie before,” he said.
When we asked him kung ano ang natutunan niya sa movie, John said, “Honestly, sinabi ko rin kay direk ‘yun. Matagal na rin ako sa industriya pero nakikita ninyo na ang daming artista na tumatakbo pero ako never kong na-consider na tumakbo. Ako, for me, I think Mayor Halili is a great leader.
“Pero bagama’t ginawa na niya ang lahat sa lungsod niya pero ganoon pa ang ending niya. Parang, what does it say to our politics here. Hindi na ako magsasalita pero I think this movie is not about politics. This is celebration of life of Mayor Halili. Nag-usap kami ni direk. Ayaw nga niyang mabahiran ng politika because gusto niya talaga ay iregalo talaga ito kay Mayor Halili.”
When we queried kung ano ang ipinagkaiba ni Mayor Halili sa ibang mayor, ito ang naging tugon ni John, “Kung babasehan mo kung ilang mayors meron dito sa Pilipinas, I think naman si Mayor Halili ay isang example na talagang may bayag, may paninindigan. Hindi niya kinatatakutan ang kamatayan as long as tama ang ginagawa niya at para sa tao.”
Ang daming nasa cast ng movie tulad nina Ara Mina, Michael Flores, Phoebe Walker, JM Soriano, Martin Escudero, Kate Alejandrino, Zandra Summer, Yayo Aguila, Mon Confiado and Kiko Matos.