Mother Lily Monteverde produces honest results in "Don't Lie to Me"
Author: Elyas Isabelo Salanga
Regal Films producer and matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde is probably John Lapus's biggest guest so far to get strapped in a lie detector seat in an attempt to keep a perfect score on Showbiz Central's "Don't Lie to Me" segment.
Accompanying Mother Lily-though of course sitting on a more comfortable seat-are some of her younger Regal Babies: Mart Escudero, Kris Bernal, TJ Trinidad, and Dennis Trillo.
Without further ado, John proceeded on asking the juicy questions for Mother Lily. The first question was this: Rio Locsin, Dina Bonnevie, and Snooky Serna have all wore a "magic kamison." Many people are asking now if Mother Lily owned that iconic kamison that she had her leading ladies wear in their movies.
"No," Mother Lily smiled. As it turned out, the machine churned out a "Truth." After the result, the boggled John couldn't help but ask why Mother Lily always lets her actresses wear a kamison.
"It's very lucky, that kamison," Mother Lily said. When asked if she has her own magic kamison, she laughed and answered, "Yes!"
The next question came from one of Mother Lily's Regal babies, William Martinez. He asked through video feed, "Totoo nga ba na kami raw ni Maricel Soriano ang favorite mo noon as a love team?"
"No," Mother Lily quickly answered. As the result to Mother's answer showed a "Lie," John exclaimes and dances to the beat while Mother laughed, clearly enjoying John's dance moves. When asked to explain her side, Mother simply admitted that she lied on purpose. It seems like Mother Lily lied on purpose just to see John dance. The Maricel-William love team was in fact, her favorite.
The moderate level of John's questioning lived up to its name as John gave out a rather sensitive yet funny question. "Mother," John said, "tuwing nag-aaway daw kayo ni Alfie Lorenzo ay nagbabatuhan daw kayo ng sandok. At kapag nagagalit ka daw ay mahilig ka na magbato naman ng cellphone. Mahilig ka ba mangbato ng gamit tuwing magagalit ka?"
"No," Mother Liliy answered.
The lie detector seemed to trace a wee bit of pressure on Mother Lily's part as it gave out a "Lie." Mother could only laugh as John once again danced to the beat. This time, Mother didn't look as amused as before. When asked on what she had thrown so far, Mother just said, "I'm very sweet, wala."
"Sa mga Regal babies," John asked, looking at Dennis' direction, "kayo ba ay nabato na ni Mother?"
"Ako, hindi pa ako nakakakita ng ganoon," Dennis said. "May naririnig ako pero ayoko maniwala hangga't 'di ko nakikita, siyempre."
Mart agreed. "Sa akin, wala pa. Sa tagal ng pinagsamahan namin, e, wala pa."
"Wala rin. Mabait si Mother," Kris added. "'Pag sa taping namin patient si Mother."
Since John got good feedback from the Regal Babies, he turned to Mother Lily and asked if she threw stuff on her staff. "No," answered Mother Lily.
The next question was quite an easy one for Mother Lily. John asked, "Was there ever a time na naging sakit ng ulo mo si Snooky Serna?"
"Yes," Mother said without hesitation. As it turned out, the machine agreed. When asked why, she explained by saying that Snooky had many problems during her time. When asked if Mother would still cast Snooky on future films, Mother again without hesitation, answered a "Yes."
Moving on to the difficult part of the question, John asked, "Mother, binabayaran mo daw sina Tito Alfie Lorenzo at Manay Lolit Solis ng 100 pesos noong araw para sundan ang iyong mister at tignan kung nangbababae ito. Don't lie to me, yes or no?"
There was short pause before Mother could give out a "No." That short pause may have given her away as the lie detector once again gave out a "Lie." Mother could only smile and laugh as John once again dance to the beat of Mother's blunder. When John asked on whether Lolit and Alfie found anything on their "investigation", Mother again slipped by saying, "Wala naman."
The next question came from Judy Ann Santos via video feed. She asked, "Mother, mayroon na po ba kayong nakasamaan ng loob na talent manager?"
"Yes," Mother calmly answered.
As the lie detector gave out a "Truth," Mother proceeded to share on who that manager was.
It turned out to be Becky Aguila.
Why was she mad at Becky?
"I got hurt," Mother explained. "She lied. I am inviting her to have this lie detector."
Next question was, "Totoo ba na laging postdated or delayed ang binabayad mong tseke sa artista mo?"
"Yes," the honest Mother Lily said. As the machine agreed, Mother explained that the times are hard. "I try to move the industry alive. That is the reason why after the shooting, that's the time I pay them."
The Now or Never question came from Alfie Lorenzo. He asked, "Mother, mas galante ka daw sa mga artista kaysa sa mga anak mo? Yes or no?"
"Yes," a teary-eyed Mother said. When the machine agreed to her answer, she added, "Of course, when I produce a movie, I have to sacrifice my family. The priority is the stars."
Overcome with emotion, she paused for a few moments to regain her composure. After sensing that she was ready again to speak, John asked, "Na-explain mo na sa kanila kung bakit kailangang mas maging galante sa artista kaysa sa kanila?"
"Of course now they realize that I give the stars priority," Mother said. As it turned out, her children grew up to be producers as well. For a mother, she was proud for her children. She added, "I am proud of them because they followed my footsteps. I always teach them to be honest and accept things."
HURT OVER Becky Aguila. After the segment was done, Mother Lily wished to give some advice to managers out there. She said, "Well in my entire life, for the past 48 years that I have experienced so many things in my life. Na-feel ko na sometimes I get hurt and sometimes I also have differences with others but my stars are with me. It's not forever because I want them to grow far, far, farther like Angel Locsin."
As she mentioned the name Angel Locsin, silence followed as everyone, including John, waited for Mother's speech to progress.
"I don't want to sue her anymore," Mother calmly said. "Because she is very innocent in this issue. But the only thing I advise to all managers is to be honest."
As Mother again became emotional with her words, she added, "Honesty is the best policy in life. Ever since in my life-I am seventy-I've been working very hard. But one thing I really get hurt is a manager who tells a lie. Even the lawyer tells a lie because she was with me talking about the schedule with Angel. All of the sudden she [Becky] turned her back and said that she is not exclusive with me."
As John moved in to politely cut-off Mother Lily's words with a praise, Mother gave a metaphorical last message. She said, "Deep in my heart, the father of Gabby [Concepcion] gave me a diamond ring."
"And he said to me, 'Diamonds are forever.'"
