It’s not always and for every candidate to get support from the entertainment industry. After Kiko Pangilinan, Regal Entertainment, Inc. hosts a media conference for senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos.

“As you have known, my grandmother has always supported candidates that not only mean but only do good for the community. So, we’re here today to continue that legacy supporting, hopefully soon-to-be senator Abalos. I haven’t been in the Philippines for a long time now but in my time here I’ve gotten to know him, what he stands for and I know he will, if given the opportunity, continue to do great things for our country,” shares Regal Entertainment, Inc.’s Keith Monteverde.

“Sa tagal ng panahon na nakatira ako sa America, 20 years. Bumalik ako sa Pilipinas kasi through the advise of my mother to comeback. My mother, sobra siyang loyal sa kanyang bansa. She poured out her heart for the movie industry. At the same time, mahal na mahal niya ang kanyang bansa kaya everytime na may eleksyon, nandito kami para tumulong sa mga deserving candidates. Nandito ako ngayon, hindi lang para sa akin pati na din sa buong bansa na kailangan talaga natin na mag-isip nang mabuti kung sino ang iboboto – ang taong nasa puso na tumulong sa buong bansa. At sana tulungan ninyo kami para ihalal ang taong kailangan nating mamuno sa senado at ito si Benhur Abalos. Matagal na siyang naninilbihan sa MMDA at sa DILG at alam natin na kayang kaya niyang gawin para sa buong bansa, para sa atin,” Ms. Roselle Monteverde of Regal Enterainment, Inc. continues.

“I’m here in two capacitise – in a personal capacity and also as a chairperson of a private non-profit film-related agency na for more than fifty years has been a beneficiary of Metro Manila Film Festival. Ano po ang relasyon ng MOWELFUND sa ating senatoriable, matagal na po siyang namahala sa MMDA which MMFF is under. But before that, let me tell you why I’m here in a personal capacity. Ako po ay na-request na mag-endorse ng ating mga kandidato pero this is the first time that I am personally endorsing kasi naniniwala ako sa kanya dahil nakita ko kung paano siya magtrabaho. For the constituents at large, through the DILG, in a specific capacity sa MMDA in a microcosm sa MMFF, dun pumapasok ang relevance niya sa ating industriya. Hindi niyo po naitatanong, in late 2024, nung hindi pa pinagbabawalan ang mga TV stations na magtanghal ng mga kwento, mga adhikain tungkol sa mga kandidato ay meron kaming ginawang biography na ang bumuo sa kabataan ni senator Abalos. Going through the script, going through rehearsals, going through the studies and research conducted by the network, dun na-affirm ang aking paniniwala sa kanya. Malaki din ang paghanga ko sa kanyang magulang and sabi nga nila, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ Kung ano ang puno, siyang bunga at napakaganda ng track record ng kanyang magulang at ng pagpapalaki sa kanya. When we did the TV biography, dun namin nakita ang inside story ni Mr. Abalos and I’m just so impressed at how pumapasyal siya sa set to make sure everything went well and more admirably, to make sure na accurate ang ilabas sa script, walang sobra, walang kulang. And as the chairman of MOWELFUND, gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng beneficiaries, about 4000, na natulungan ng MMFF under the leadership of senator Abalos,” Ms. Boots Anson-Rodrigo shares as she join the media conference for Benhur Abalos.

Much have been shared in the conference, including his works as the Mandaluyong City Mayor, heading the MMDA and the DILG.

It’s admirable how members of the entertainment industry, including Nico Antonio, who represents Quantum Films, Phoebe Walker, who represents VIVA, Noel Ferrer, representing MMFF and award-winning filmmaker Perci Intalan of The IdeaFirst Company.

Watch our coverage from the media conference below: