President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. at the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa, July 31, 2023 | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Thursday urged actors to raise the standards for local film and television productions to make them effective instruments in showcasing Filipino culture and the progress being made by the country.
“As we remain steadfast in improving the environment and conditions for our workers in all sectors, I urge you all to continue taking the lead through your meaningful initiatives,” he said in a speech to the Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT) during the oath-taking of its new officers in Malacañang.
“I am pleased to hear your oath and commitment to responsibly lead our very own actors guild and to know that the government has a genuine and reliable partner in all of you,” he said.
The group is led by singer-politician Imelda Papin, an ardent supporter of the President’s parents who calls herself a “Marcos loyalist.” The former Camarines Sur governor campaigned for Marcos in the May 2022 national elections.
The President said the government will support the KAPPT’s efforts, but did not specify the assistance his administration would give to the movie and television industry, and the actors.
Marcos said he hoped that the KAPPT would maximize the advantages brought about by new tools, new technologies, and new platforms to showcase Filipino excellence and artistry on the world stage.
“Through the effective combination of these technological developments and your craft, you have greater opportunities to share our traditions and values farther than ever, even as you continue to mold, to influence, and to shape the society that we live in,” he said.
The President praised the “creative industry” for helping define and promote Philippine culture nationwide and across the globe.
Creatives, he said, provide a “selling point for the Philippines” so the government was committed to support artists and the film and television industry workers.
“If we strengthen, improve and give support to all our creatives, this is support to our being Filipino. Because when you say, ‘What is it to be a Filipino?’, you point to our culture, because a culture is a shared consciousness,” he said.
Pandemic impact
He said the pandemic had “very damaging effects” on the movie and television industry, which needs support.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local film industry, the “excellent work” of Filipino directors, actors and industry workers allowed their productions to be featured in international film festivals.
“All these are important to the government. It’s important to our economy. Because it helps us in publicizing the Philippines and on our part we can be proud of, we won’t disappoint in, any kind of artistic endeavor,” Marcos said.
“And this is really important because not only can we help our practitioners but we can be proud of Filipino culture before the whole world,” he added.
Gov’t support
The Philippine Creative Industries Development Act lapsed into law on July 28, 2022.
It mandates the development of “vibrant Philippine creative industries” by protecting and strengthening the rights and capacities of creative firms, artists, artisans, creators, creative workers, indigenous cultural communities, creative content providers and other stakeholders.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the law provides adequate support to the creative industries which faced “binding constraints to growth,” such as high productions costs, fragmented education systems, piracy, lack of data and statistics, underdeveloped branding and infrastructure, and wide skill gaps and mismatch.
The law also mandates the development of a plan to provide support in dealing with problems in the “creative ecosystem,” including infrastructure, research and development, innovation, digitalization, financing, investment and education.