CinemaBravo

Following the success of the films Maid in Malacañang (2022) and Martyr or Murderer (2023), many fans eagerly anticipated the release of the third and final installment of the Marcos biopic trilogy, Mabuhay, Aloha, Mabuhay! However, during a recent event at Kamuning Pandesal Bakery, Senator Imee Marcos confirmed that the film’s production has been delayed indefinitely.

“Ay, hindi na natuloy yung third film kasi naabutan na ng eleksyon e! Tinamad na kami e. Nagka-busy-busy-han,” she shared when asked about the film’s status.

(Oh, the third film didn’t push through because the elections caught up with us! We got lazy. Everyone got busy.)

Pressed for more details, Marcos assured that the project would eventually be completed but not anytime soon. “Matutuloy yon pero hindi ngayon. Na-busy na lahat e,” she said.

(It will push through, but not now. Everyone got busy.)

There was also discussion about potentially adapting the series for television, though nothing is set in stone.

“May discussion na dapat daw i-TV series. Marami kasing may iba’t ibang idea. Hindi ko alam! Naisantabi na muna dahil nga sa eleksyon,” she reiterated.

(There was talk that it might become a TV series. But there are so many ideas. I don’t know! It’s been set aside because of the elections.)

Support for the Creative Industry via Young Creatives Challenge Season 2

At the same event, Marcos also highlighted her long-standing support for the Philippine showbiz industry, particularly through the Young Creatives Challenge (YC2), an initiative launched by the Department of Trade and Industry in collaboration with her office.

Now in its second season, the competition encourages young Filipinos to explore their creativity in areas such as songwriting, screenwriting, animation, and online content creation.

She emphasized that this aims to inspire, recognize, and showcase creative talents. In fact, YC2 allows young individuals to express their ideas under themes like Love, Creativity, and Future.

As a former member of the entertainment industry herself, Senator Marcos continues to show her dedication to nurturing new talent. The initiative has received positive feedback from aspiring artists nationwide.

Comment on sexual abuse and accountability

During the media interview, the senator was asked about the state of accountability in the entertainment industry, especially regarding sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior. She stressed the importance of taking action and not letting offenders get away without consequences.

“Well, unang-una, hindi dapat nakakaligtas, ha? Dapat parusahan ang gumagawa ng ganyan,” Marcos declared.

(First and foremost, no one should escape accountability, okay? Those who commit such acts must be punished.)

She further emphasized that everyone, regardless of gender, should fight for their rights: “Lalaki man o babae, dapat magpataw ng kaso, panindigan at ipaglaban… Pangatawanan ninyo kung nabiktima kayo, kahit mahirap.”

(Whether male or female, a case must be filed, and you should stand by it and fight for it. Stand by your rights if you’ve been victimized, even if it’s hard.)

Thoughts on celebrities running for office

Given the rising number of celebrities expressing interest in running for political office in the 2025 elections, with a recent GMA Integrated News report saying that the count has reached nearly a hundred so far, Marcos shared her candid views on the topic.

“Higit sa lahat, nakikita ko yung issue, lalo sa national, pagkat ang hirap-hirap mangampanya sa buong kapuluan,” she remarked, acknowledging the advantage that well-known public figures have due to their name recognition.

(Above all, I see the issue, especially at the national level, because it’s really hard to campaign across the whole country.)

“Malaking bagay talaga sa pangalan sa pagkilala, e hindi ka na mangangampanya, kilalang-kilala ka na,” she said. (Name recognition is a huge advantage because you no longer need to campaign; people already know you.)

Her take on political dynasties

The discussion inevitably touched on political dynasties—a controversial topic in the Philippines especially with her surname usually associated with it.

When asked about the Marcos family’s involvement in politics, Imee explained the complexities of the issue of remaining in power across generations.

“Well, ang political dynasty, hindi ko masasabi na dynasty talaga, in the sense na medyo magulo kasi e!” she commented.

(Well, I can’t really call it a dynasty, in the sense that it’s a bit complicated!)

She admitted that she herself did not initially intend to enter politics but felt compelled to do so by the people of Ilocos. “Napilitan akong tumakbo kahit hindi ko naman kagustuhan.” (I was forced to run even though it wasn’t my choice.)

She also noted that political dynasties are not unique to the Philippines, citing the Kennedys and Bushes in the United States. “Sa Estados Unidos kung saan sinasabing lahat demokratiko, walang batas na anti-dynasty.”

(In the United States, which is said to be fully democratic, there’s no anti-dynasty law.)

Pandesal Day and charitable efforts

That event on October 11 where Imee Marcos shared her thoughts was part of the anticipation for World Pandesal Day this coming October 16 at Kamuning Bakery Café. Now an annual tradition, the event aims to address the ongoing issue of hunger in the country by distributing 100,000 free pandesal to the public.

A donation drive for a school building at Sinait Integrated School in Tarlac was spearheaded by Kamuning Bakery owner Wilson Lee Flores. Marcos and other prominent figures, including former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, as well as Pres. Bongbong Marcos & VP Sara Duterte, have expressed their support for the initiative, which seeks to honor both the beloved Filipino bread and the need to fight hunger.