The controversy around Darryl Yap’s comeback film exploded this week after the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) publicly condemned “Ngongo,” accusing the filmmaker of using persons with disabilities as a punchline to sell tickets. The agency called the title alone a “direct insult” to Filipinos living with speech and developmental conditions, sparking an online debate even before the movie hits cinemas.
In a strongly worded advisory, the NCDA said the film violates the spirit of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing that disability “is not a joke, a gimmick, or a marketing tool.” The agency warned that media portrayals like this reinforce stigma already endured by millions of PWDs in the country.
The uproar pushed the NCDA to coordinate with the MTRCB, DOJ, and other government bodies to scrutinize the movie and determine whether penalties or sanctions may apply. The Council said it will reach out to the film’s producers to remind them that “hurtful stereotypes have real-life consequences.”
The backlash intensified after actress Kim Molina stepped into the spotlight, defending fiancé Jerald Napoles — one of the film’s stars. Molina said they would never join a project that “degrades or humiliates anyone,” but admitted she sympathizes with PWDs who face discrimination daily. Her statement, however, failed to quiet critics who claim the film’s title alone is enough evidence of insensitivity.
Yap, known for embracing controversy, has yet to directly address the accusations. Instead, he posted a cryptic message on Facebook featuring photos of two cast members, hinting at themes of physical versus emotional strength. Observers say the post dodges the central issue: why he chose a word widely regarded as derogatory as the title of his comeback film.
The uproar comes as Yap is already entangled in another dispute — actor Vic Sotto previously filed cyber libel charges against him over materials related to Yap’s other upcoming film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
With tempers rising and watchdog agencies circling, “Ngongo” now faces a storm that could overshadow the film’s release. Whether the movie will proceed unchanged — or face calls for cancellation — remains to be seen, but for now, Yap once again finds himself in the center of a national firestorm of his own making.