Is it true that his brother, Hero Bautista, and Tates Gana, the mom of his two kids, Athena and Harvey, are both running for councilor in QC? We thought he didn’t want any of his relatives to run while he’s still in office. “What happened was tatakbo sana ako sa Senate, so kung wala na ako sa QC, puwede na sila mag-run. But after consultations with various sectors and political leaders, I was prevailed upon to run for my third term as QC mayor. E, nag-commit na sila kaya tatakbo na rin sila.”
His two film festivals for Quezon City, Pink International Filmfest and QCinema are both very successful. Will these continue? “Oh yes. Tuluy-tuloy na ‘yan. Gusto naming makilala internationally so we always coordinate with the various embassies for entries from their own countries. Nakatakda na nga ako to meet with them for the next festivals.”
What about the move of the late Kuya Germs for Quezon City to be known as the City of Stars? “I’m all for that, pero hindi madaling i-implement ‘yung plans niya, like lagyan ng City of Stars ‘yung Welcome Rotonda. You have to have permission muna from the National Historical Commission. Gusto rin niyang ang Quezon Memorial Circle ang maging hub ng city of stars but it’s not under our jurisdiction but with the National Historied Commission. ‘Yun namang Walk of Fame sa Eastwood, it’s a private enterprise so, sana, may magtuloy and I will support it. I think it’s the local actors guild who should lead that, kasi mga artista naman ang pinararangalan dito. I’m happy talaga na bago pa namaalam si Kuya Germs, isa na ako sa mga naunang nagbigay ng parangal sa kanya as one of the Most Outstanding Citizens of Quezon City. We will all miss him.”
