Brillante Mendoza’s directing gig at first Duterte SONA will be for free

Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza is not getting a cent for directing President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address, a SONA organizer said.

"This is pro bono. He offered his services for free even if he has already won [at] Cannes. He wanted to volunteer his services because of his nationalism, I think, and his support for our new President. We will not be paying him anything and he has purely volunteered," said incoming Department of Finance spokesperson Paola Alvarez in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday afternoon.

Alvarez is helping Congress prepare for the SONA.

Mendoza became the first and so far only Filipino Best Director awardee at the Cannes Film Festival when he won for “Kinatay” in 2009.

His recent offering, “Ma'Rosa,” competed for the Palme d'Or in Cannes this year. Its star, Kapuso actress Jaclyn Jose, bagged the Best Actress award at the prestigious festival.

Alvarez said that Mendoza's role in the upcoming SONA is nothing new, as other directors also took charge duringprevious SONAs.

"There always has been a director and this time he volunteered," she said. — BM, GMA News