The film is a fictional retelling[3][4] of the Marcos family's last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced to be exiled to Hawaii during the People Power Revolution in 1986.
[5] The film stars Cesar Montano, Cristine Reyes,[6] Diego Loyzaga, Ella Cruz and Ruffa Gutierrez as the Marcos family, alongside Karla Estrada, Elizabeth Oropesa and Beverly Salviejo.
Upon release, the film received a generally negative reception, with certain scenes garnering much controversy over misrepresentations or lies as well as reviews criticizing Yap's direction and screenplay, production, acting, cinematography, and pacing.
A snap election is held on February 7 in which Marcos won to allay fears that he was losing control of the government, but the results are widely regarded as fraudulent by NAMFREL.
The final scene shows the real-life palace staff, including the Presidential Security Command, as well as the three maids, as a tribute to those who served during the Marcos family.
Writing for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, historian Ambeth Ocampo criticized the acting, especially Ella Cruz's portrayal of Irene Marcos, saying that 'her whining and mock tears will not win her a FAMAS Award and that is not tsismis [gossip]'.
He also criticized Cesar Montano's acting as well, saying that his performance is 'wooden and colorless as the grainy archival footage of Marcos declaring martial law in 1972.'
Marion Aunor's rendition of "Nosi Balasi" was also praised, describing it as 'haunting', and 'sets a chilling atmosphere as it accompanies the audience to focus more on the one-act play of “simplicity.”'.
Additionally, they also criticized the acting, its propagandistic themes, and the 'snooze-fest' pacing, noting that 'the effort just appears lazy yet expects to elicit a response.'
He particularly criticized director Darryl Yap for the inclusion of the scene showing Cory Aquino and the Carmelite nuns playing mahjong, saying that if it is just included for entertainment, then 'that is poor taste, ridiculous, and offensive.
'[24] Writing in his blog, film critic Fred Hawson reviewed both Maid in Malacañang and Katips, praising the latter while giving the former a neutral reception.
"[30] Public historian Ambeth Ocampo became the target of online attacks following his response to the actress' remarks: “Don’t confuse history and chismis.
Tanggol Kasaysayan said: “[We] stand by his critique of recent efforts to trivialize and discredit History as a discipline, and to disauthorize professional historians in their socially important work of producing veridical knowledges about our past”.
Subject them to vile and discriminatory, unprincipled and unjust attacks?”, “Historians like Ambeth Ocampo deserve this respect, and if a writer and scholar of Ocampo's stature is vilified like this, then what can others expect, when they stand up for truth and history?”, “We condemn these ad hominem attacks on the character of a well-regarded and highly professional historian of the Philippines”, adding that they would remain “vigilant in the defense for historical truth and integrity”.
The fan site posted an excerpt from the book People Power: An Eyewitness History, which showed that Cory was willing to give the Marcoses two more days in the country to spend in their hometown Paoay.
There, Cory received a phone call from US Ambassador Bosworth, telling her that Marcos was ready to leave but was asking to stay for at least two days in Paoay, his home in the North.