Years ago, Mother Lily Monteverde was not just focused on launching Regal babies and showcasing their latest films and projects. She was courted by politicians seeking her approval, often hosting press conferences for those who earned her endorsement. A particularly unforgettable moment was when she shamelessly supported thirteen senatorial candidates, despite only twelve seats being available. That’s the inimitable Mother Lily.
Now, with her passing, Mother Lily’s daughter Roselle and Roselle’s son Keith Monteverde continue her proud tradition at Regal Entertainment — both in production and in supporting individuals who will contribute to the growth of the entertainment industry. Just last Monday, Roselle and Keith hosted a press conference for director-producer Lino Cayetano, former Taguig mayor and congressman, who is now running for representative of the First District of Taguig.
Roselle shared that credibility and a heart for service are the two key qualities she looks for when choosing candidates to support.
“Number one is credibility,” Roselle explained. “Ano ba talagang purpose nila in running? Because we’re in this industry, we need a lot of help, and we need someone who will truly support this industry.”
Lino thanked the Monteverdes for their support, emphasizing the need for collaboration between entertainment and politics.
“It means so much to me, Miss Roselle, Sir Keith, and of course, Mother Lily,” Lino said. “They represent the best of what we have in this industry.”
Should he win the congressional race, Direk Lino assures he will not be leaving behind his roots in the entertainment industry. He is known for bringing people together through partnerships, like how Rein Entertainment worked with ABS-CBN, iFlix, GMA, and Viva, and how the pandemic had taught his the value of collaboration, even with political rivals, for the greater good.
“Sa industriya ng pelikula, kilala ako bilang isang producer na naniniwala sa partnerships. Noong panahon ng pandemya, naging partner ko ang ilang mga mayor na hindi ko kasama sa politika. Bilang producer, saksi ako na kahit ang mga magkakaribal na produksyon ay nagsama-sama para sa ikabubuti ng nakararami,” he explained.
Lino’s passion for collaboration is evident in his upcoming project, “Caretakers,” starring Iza Calzado and Dimples Romana, and directed by Shugo Praico. “Caretakers” is a co-production between Regal Entertainment and Lino, Shugo, and Philip King’s Rein Entertainment. For the first time, Iza and Dimples are together in an eco-horror film, playing mothers who vie for the ownership of a piece of property. Beyond the incredible story, amazing actors, high-quality production, and intelligent direction, Direk Lino is particularly proud of the zero-waste policy implemented during the making of Caretakers. Coordination with local government and a non-profit organization ensured the recycling of food and products, and he hopes that other productions will follow suit.
“We partnered with Mother Earth foundation from pre to post-production to implement zero-waster. Simpleng bagay na ‘yung mga basura sa set ay na-so-source namin. Ibig sabihin ang mga dadalhin sa set hindi iiwan sa location, may pagtatapunan na hindi dumpsite.”
If he wins the congressional race, one of Direk Lino’s plans is to prioritize revitalizing the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). He suggested exploring ways to make cinema more accessible to Filipino audiences, such as offering government subsidies and creating incentives for mall owners and producers.
“MMFF is important because it’s about the audience. Let’s find a way so that ‘yung mga manonood sa isa-dalawang daang piso, sana makapanood sila ng pelikula,” Lino explained. “Sa P1,000, sana ‘yung sampung pelikula mapanood nila. Pero hanapan natin ng programa para incentivize ‘yung mall owners at ‘yung mga producers para ‘di maapektuhan ‘yung kita nila.”
It’s imperative that the local film industry gets a boost, particularly for the younger audiences.
“We need to get young people excited about watching movies again. We need to get our core market, yung pamilyang Pilipino, kailangan manood ulit ng pelikula,” Lino said.
While his focus is on public service, Lino made it clear that he will continue to stay connected to the entertainment industry if elected. He noted that a congressional position would allow him to engage with industry leaders in meaningful ways.
“If I was running for mayor, kailangan ho wala na ako ibang trabaho, pero sa kongreso, pinapayagan na meron kang ibang trabaho,” Lino explained. “So Congress has a schedule where you can also focus on industries that are close to you. If you have a business, you can still continue. But for me, more than the business, in Congress, that’s setting policy para sa buong bayan. I can actually work more closely and more intimately with our industry leaders to help our industry.”
This week, the Taguig City court ruled in favor of Direk Lino’s residency in the First District of Taguig-Pateros, affirming his and his wife Fille’s residence in Barangay Ususan. They had faced a challenge when the Commission on Elections’ Election Registration Board (Comelec-ERB) initially rejected their voter registration transfer to the first district.
