Former senator and current senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan faced heavy criticism after attending the Konsyerto sa Palasyo concert with his wife, Sharon Cuneta, on Sunday. The event, led by President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos, aimed to highlight the important role of the film industry in the country’s arts and culture.
The concert, organized by the Office of the President and Radio-Television Malacañang, was an effort to celebrate the local film industry. Despite the concert’s intention to support Filipino cinema, Pangilinan’s attendance, alongside his wife who is considered one of the pillars of Philippine cinema, drew criticism, especially given his known stance as a vocal critic of the Marcos administration.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Pangilinan addressed the backlash and explained his reasons for attending the event. “I attended the concert to support the local film industry upon the invitation of Malacañang and to accompany my wife, Sharon, who is considered by many as one of the pillars of Philippine cinema,” Pangilinan wrote.
He further expressed gratitude toward the Marcos administration for supporting Philippine cinema and reiterated his stance on other political issues. “We thank Malacañang for supporting Philippine Cinema, just as we support Malacañang’s decision to ban POGOs and its position in defending our sovereignty against Chinese aggression,” he added.
Pangilinan emphasized that attending the concert did not equate to abandoning his principles. “Showing up to support the initiatives of Malacañang that we also support does not mean we have abandoned our values,” he stated.
As a prominent figure in the opposition and a long-time critic of the Marcos family, Pangilinan faced widespread online criticism. Many netizens questioned why he attended the event, given his years of opposition to the Marcos regime.
Despite the criticism, the former senator remained firm in his commitment to his advocacies, emphasizing that support for the film industry is a goal that transcends political affiliations. “Supporting the film industry is a cause that should be embraced by everyone, regardless of political color,” Pangilinan concluded.
As of now, Sharon Cuneta’s camp has not released an official statement regarding the matter, although she continues to be an active advocate for the promotion of Filipino arts and culture.