Brillante Mendoza and Loren Legarda (photo by ENIE REYES)

Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza parried questions about his work on ads involving vice presidentiable Mar Roxas during the April 26 press conference for his new documentary, “Buhos.”

Roxas is running against Nacionalista Party vice presidential bet Loren Legarda, who incidentally produced “Buhos.”

“Basta ‘wag na lang tayong magtanong tungkol sa...I would like all questions na tungkol sa documentary,” was Mendoza’s firm statement on the matter during the general question and answer portion.

Later, he told Bulletin Entertainment and select members of the press that his advocacies have nothing to do with his political affiliation.

“Besides, ‘yong project namin ni Senator Legarda came up after I won in Cannes in May last year. Noon pa ito sinimulan kung kelan wala pa siyang balak tumakbo. This is a previous commitment and it’s about climate change. It has nothing to do with politics,” he explained.

Mendoza added that Roxas’ camp seems to know about his apolitical stand, “since they got me even when they knew I have this documentary with Senator Legarda.”

“Meron din akong ginagawa for ABS-CBN Fondation para sa Ilog Pasig. Kasama dun si Coco Martin, si CNN Hero [Efren Peñaflorida], si Karen Davila, ako... Marami akong ginagawa,” he said.

At the same Q & A with the media, Legarda gave a diplomatic assessment of the matter, which halted further ‘inquisition’ about Mendoza’s work involving her rival.

"Ang aming project [ni Mendoza], hindi po political. This will go beyond May 10. I appreciate his honesty that he believes in my passion,” said she.

Mendoza reiterated that he is “first and foremost a filmmaker” and “secondary lang ang political affiliation ko.”

“[Kaya] akin na lang ‘yon (referring to his political affiliation),” he quipped.

“Buhos” is a 30-minute-long documentary about climate change that’s cast from a local perspective. It mostly shows Legarda’s missions last year after typhoon Ondoy struck. The excerpt previewed for the media during the conference had Legarda giving an account of her experiences in meeting with and helping out the typhoon victims.

Mendoza disclosed that he had about 30 hours of footage to work on in coming up with the final cut of “Buhos.” The film will be shown in theaters in May followed by screenings in select schools.