Film producer Francis Ho recently addressed the controversy surrounding the filming of 1521.
During a recent media interview, Ho apologized to actress and 1521 lead star Bea Alonzo for any mistakes he made as a first-time producer.
“I apologize for my limited knowledge and experience as a first-time producer. I made some calls na hindi nakatulong sa kanya, and I take full responsibility for that. I hope she accepts my apology because I didn’t intend to do that,” he said.
Ho then acknowledged his shortcomings and expressed his hope for resolving the issue. He mentioned reaching out to Alonzo’s team on multiple occasions.
“I did reach out to her camp several times, and, sadly, we had to reach this point,” he continued.
He also emphasized his good relationship with Alonzo’s manager, Shirley Kuan. He highlighted their personal connection and refuted any rumors of animosity.
“By the way, on a personal note. Ms. Shirley is a family friend, hindi ko po siya kaaway. Her family would spend time in America, hang out, and go places. Kaya, I just want everyone to know na hindi ko siya ka-away,” Ho added.
Despite the conflict, the movie producer commended Alonzo’s talent when it comes to her craft, speaking highly of her acting skills, and expressed his admiration for her work and saying that it’s a dream come true working with her.
“Si Miss Bea, it has always been a dream to work with her kasi nakita ko yung track record niya magaling naman talaga siya. I mean, like stellar yung performance niya. I admire her; she’s a great actress; there are times during the production when I will tell her exactly napakagaling mo,” he continued.
Ho also revealed that he only thought of Alonzo as the perfect actress to portray the role of Diwata.
On the other hand, Ho discussed his debut film as a producer. He clarified that 1521 is a historical drama with fictionalized elements, not a documentary.
“I just wanted to be clear that 1521 is not a historical documentary. It’s a historical drama, action, and romance. The battle is historical, but the love story is fictional,” explained Ho.
The movie centers on a love story set against the backdrop of the Battle of Mactan. It showcases the bravery of Datu Lapu-Lapu and his warriors against Ferdinand Magellan and his forces.
The film boasts a cast that includes Bea Alonzo as Diwata, Hector David Jr. as Enrique, and Hollywood actor Danny Trejo as Magellan.
Directed by Michael Copon, 1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom is hitting the cinemas nationwide on June 5, with Viva Films as its distributor in the country. The film also stars Michael Copon as Lapu-Lapu, Vic Romano as Udong, and Costas Mandylor as Lorenzo.