MANILA – Actress Boots Anson-Roa defended the changes made in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), stressing that these were not done “on a whim.”

Anson-Roa, a member of the MMFF executive committee, explained that the changes were made in response to the hearings over the alleged irregularities in the annual event.

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“Iyong mga pagbabago na ito, hindi lang naman on a whim or caprice o ‘yung wala lang. May pinanggalingan lahat ‘yan. Last year, nagkaroon din ng controversies at congressional hearings… Sinunod ng bagong Execom ‘yung mga mandato ng mga hearings na ‘yun,” Anson-Roa said.

“Mayroong mandato ‘yan and we’re trying our best to implement all those changes so all sectors will be pleased,” she added.

For the first time in years, films of popular comedians Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto did not make the cut in MMFF 2016.

This after the factors in selecting the entries were changed.

Anson-Roa made it clear, however, that she and the MMFF Execom had nothing to do with the selection process.

“Ang dami ngang nagbago. Pero ang masasabi lang namin ay ang executive committee, talagang hindi pinakialaman ‘yung trabaho ng selection committee,” she said. “Purposely, the Execom isolated itself from the work of the selection committee. Truth to tell, nalaman lang namin ‘yan right before i-announce… para makaiwas na rin sa bintang at intriga.”

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Meanwhile, Anson-Roa hopes that the public will be open to the changes in the MMFF and give this year’s entries a chance to shine.

“Ang mga pagbabagong ito ay sana i-welcome nila,” she said.