Heidi Mendoza who?
Heidi Mendoza, former commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA), the whistle-blower since 2011 against public officials on the misuse of government funds.
How rich and colorful is Heidi’s personal and professional life that could merit a live theater or a plastic art translation for all the world to witness, ponder and emulate?
Is she larger-than-life?
No matter.
As long as she is an inspiration.
A MOTIVATING CONCEPT
In a recent encounter with an ally and ardent supporter of Heidi, a bright and an interesting idea suddenly came up.
“How about a stage play about Heidi Mendoza?” she exclaimed.
Why not?
Knowing, though, the nitty-gritty, gargantuan and meticulous preparations for a theater production to make it more compelling considering that the midterm elections is just around the corner, it cannot be a vehicle for campaign.
Knowing as well the frame of mind of the enabler and Heidi herself whom I have just met once personally but I could easily glean on her attitude and principles as a public servant and as a person—basing my judgment on her stance on judicious budget spending among public officials and her long shot vision of service to the people—an opportune time isn’t a problem.
A stage play on her can take a while even after the polls, win or lose.
A LITERARY OUTPUT
In the pre-production stage of a theater play, for instance, a professional, credible and worthwhile company spends a year or so to brainstorm and concretize plans in seeing and shaping up a successful project from choosing of director and other creative crew to casting to marketing.
Writing a play isn’t a haphazard, overnight process as well although it also depends on the playwright’s work habits but well-meaning writers make sure that a literary output is a sensible and mighty proud one.
Tanghalang Pilipino was considered as a possible producer but it isn’t as simple as one imagined it to be since it is an outfit that also has its own policies although Heidi’s biographical sketches and advocacies are thought-provoking which could stir public consciousness and awareness.
‘Here is a brave soldier of the bureaucracy who put her life at the crossline in the name of transparency and accountability.’
IDEAL THESPIANS
Anyway, no actress to essay Heidi was in the pipeline yet but there are many competent and intelligent actors to portray like Sharmaine Centenera Buencamino, Madeleine Nicolas, Adriana Agcaoili, and so on and so forth.
Even regular movie and television thespians could be considered like Judy Ann Santos, Maricel Soriano, Sharon Cuneta, Marian Rivera, Angel Locsin, Bea Alonzo, Lorna Tolentino, Vilma Santos etc. (for a change as they haven’t done theater yet, for crying out loud!).
Nora Aunor could be a choice.
Heidi has a romantic life on the side and this is an intriguing part of her life.
Who would play her husband, Meynard Mendoza, a principled man?
In 2011, at the height of a series of expose on the corruption in high places of public funds, Heidi was the central figure of the controversy.
MOTHER LILY’S INSTINCT
Here is a brave soldier of the bureaucracy who put her life at the crossline in the name of transparency and accountability.
She was fearless. She was bold. She was an idol.
According to Heidi, the late matriarch of Regal Films, Mother Lily Monteverde, approached her get her permission to film her life.
“Nag-usap na kami no’n (We already talked before),” recalled Mendoza.
The progressive feminist award-winning writer Lualhati Bautista was commissioned to do the script.
Mother Lily was willing to pump in millions to the project.
Piolo Pascual was considered to star in it.
“We already have a pictorial with Piolo,” Heidi chuckled.
The movie didn’t push through, though. “Nagkaproblema (There was a problem),” informed Heidi.
At this point that filmmaking as a business venture is expensive, a stage play is wiser, cheaper and more compact—if the execution is right—in message.