Actor Jerald Napoles and director Darryl Yap defended their upcoming film “Love, Ngo” against criticism over its portrayal of people with cleft palate, saying the movie aims to promote awareness, acceptance and self-love rather than ridicule.
During a press conference, Yap addressed concerns that the film’s humor could come at the expense of people with cleft conditions.
“They think we’ll just make fun of people with cleft palate. And I think the movie will correct that, that it’s fun to be with them. Not to make fun of them, but to have fun with them,” Yap said.
“In my opinion, the movie is a testament to the fact that what makes our fellowmen’s lives difficult is how they treat their fellowmen. With this film, we treated people with cleft palate as normal people,” he added.
Yap said the production deliberately avoided altering how characters spoke, including in the film’s subtitles.
“Even in subtitling, we didn’t correct how they said it. Verbatim, we put what they said because we don’t want to put it into visuals that there’s something wrong with them,” he said.
Napoles, who reprises his viral “Ngongo” character from “Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam,” acknowledged that some viewers with cleft palate initially reacted negatively to the teaser because it brought back painful memories.
“One person messaged me and said, ‘The moment I watched or saw this teaser, what I experienced as a child came back to me. I can’t help but feel a bit sad because I experienced that,’” Napoles recalled.
“But she also said, ‘I’m giving this movie a chance. I want to give Jerald a chance on how he’s going to portray us. I hope what you’re saying is true, that it’s for awareness, and it’s not a joke to make people laugh at us,’” he added.
Napoles said the message changed his initial reaction to criticism surrounding the film.
“At first, what came to me was, ‘Why are you angry? You haven’t watched the movie yet.’ But when she explained it to me, I understood that it could give flashbacks and become triggering for them,” he said.
The actor said he hopes audiences will give the movie an opportunity to tell its story.
“We want them to give the movie a chance because, like we said, we are showing this to uplift them. And it’s a love letter to themselves,” Napoles said.
Veteran actress Gina Alajar also weighed in on the issue, saying society’s perception is often the bigger problem.
“People with cleft palate aren’t the problem — those who mock them are. People with differences have already accepted themselves,” Alajar said.
“Love, Ngo” follows Ngongo, a hardworking young man who volunteers at a cleft lip and palate foundation while helping at his mother’s burger stand. The film explores his struggles with love, family and self-acceptance after falling for a woman whose family disapproves of his condition and social status.
The film also stars influencers Malupiton and Jack Argota and opens in Philippine cinemas on June 3.