‘It’s an injustice’: Ely Buendia reacts to flood control controversy
MANILA, Philippines — Singer Ely Buendia hopes that there would be justice to taxpayers, himself included, as the nation reels in the unfolding flood control controversy involving multi-billion projects allegedly lost to corruption and kickbacks.
The Eraserheads frontman sees the pressing national issue as a "shame," stressing the injustice to the Filipino people who are burdened with taxes, including VAT at 12%, considered the highest rate on taxable goods and services in Southeast Asia.
Ely was asked about his thoughts at the sidelines of the launch of the 21st edition of Cinemalaya last September 3 held in Shangri-La East Atrium.
Managing to quip that he is a vocalist after a reporter noted he is "very vocal" about political issues, Ely eventually shared his thoughts on the issue.
“I don’t wanna, you know, be all political but I think it’s an injustice lang to the people, especially the taxpayers, who I’m included din. I pay my taxes so it’s a shame. So I hope that there would be justice for the people. That’s all I can say,” Ely said.
Ely takes on his first lead role in “Padalamgan,” one of the 10 official full-length entries at this year’s Cinemalaya.
The movie is a historical drama set in Naga City at the time when the Colgante Bridge collapsed in 1972. He plays a father who desperately tries to find his son who was lost in the tragedy.
As a mass communication major with a degree in film at the University of the Philippines before his fame as the frontman of the legendary Filipino band, he finds familiarity in his first lead film. It is also a tribute to his roots because he was born in Naga City.
The Colgante Bridge collapse happened on Sept. 16, 1972, a few days after Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law on Sept. 23, 1972.
Ely said that there is an “underlying relationship between the tragedy and the political milieu of that era,” but leaves it to people to infer about the themes in his Cinemalaya debut “Padalamgan.”
At the root of it all is just a story of a father longing for his lost son.
“This story is more focused on father-son relationship,” he said.
Cinemalaya 2025 will run from October 3 to 12.
RELATED: LIST: Cinemalaya 2025 entries include Ely Buendia, Janella Salvador, JM Ibarra films
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