In a statement issued by the Carmelite Sisters on the scene depicting the late President Cory Aquino's visit in Cebu in 1986 in the controversial film 'Maid in Malacañang' said:
"Well-meaning friends have brought to our attention pictures, supposedly coming from the film Main in Heaven, which are now trending in social media. The pictures depict the late Cory Aquino together with some religious sisters. The nuns are not wearing our brown religious habit. But if these pictures are portraying the events of February 1986, then the allusion to the Carmelite order in Cebu is too obvious for anyone not to see.
"Let it be known that no one responsible for the production of the movie came to us to gather information on what really happened. Any serious scriptwriter or movie director could have shown such elementary diligence before making such movie. After, all, many of those nuns is Carmelite Monastery of Cebu 1986 are still very much alive and mentally alert. Among them is Sr. Mary Aimee Ataviado, who was the superior at that time.
"The attempt to distort history is reprehensible. Depicting the nuns as playing mah-jong with Cory Aquino is malicious. It would suggest that while the fate of the country was in peril, we could afford to leisurely play games. The truth was that we were then praying, fasting and making other forms of sacrifices for peace in this country and for the people's choice to prevail. While in our prayer, we were constantly in fear that the military would come to know of the whereabouts of Ms. Cory Aquino and would soon be knocking at the monastery's door. We knew the dangers of allowing Ms. Cory Aquino to hide in the Monastery. But we also prayerfully discerned that the risk was worth it, as our contribution to put an end to a dictatorial regime. Indeed, we were ready to defend her at all costs.
"Thus, the pictures would trivialize whatever contribution we had to restore democracy. But there is more to the pictures than the trivialization. Over more than seven decades, Cebuanos have asked us to pray for their intentions. With the grace of God, we take this vocation to pray for and with the people in all seriousness. But the pictures would imply that while the country's fate was in the balance, we mindlessly were simply playing games. Thus, if these pictures would be taken as authentic representation of what really happened, they would put into doubt the trust that the people have placed in us.
"Lastly, we are praying for the unity of Filipinos. But this unity can only be built on truth and not on historical distortion."
The controversial director, Darryl Yap, also issued his statement saying, 'Wala pong masama sa mahjong'.
"Tungkol po sa point ni Monsignor (Joseph) Tan at ng Carmelite Nuns, na hindi ko po sila kinunsulta sa eksena-hindi ko po kasi naisip na kailangan," said Yap.
"Gaya po ng sinabi nila, hindi naman po nakabrown, at walang binanggit na 'Huy mga Carmelite Sisters, Ano na?!" He added.
"Pero kung talagang dapat po ikinunsulta ko ang paggawa ko ng pelikula, hihingi ako ng advise kay Valak kung paano, kailan, at kanino siya kumunsulta," referring to the monster nun in a movie "The Conjuring 2".
Meanwhile, Yap is inviting the Carmelite sisters to watch for the movie.
"I would like to invite our Sisters to watch the film; if they are ostentatious about details, I don't think there is a need for this 'ouch' and 'involvement.' Nung pinaalis ng bansa ang Pamilya Marcos, Wala po si President Cory sa isang Monasteryo.
"Wala rin pong masama sa 'Mahjong' pampalipas-oras man o pang magkakaibigang-laro," he said.
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