‘The Philippine Statistics Authority records 7.26 million persons employed in creative industries. This contributes to 7.1% to our GDP or P1.7 trillion pesos last 2023.’
The three-year-old AKTOR (League of Filipino Actors) had their general assembly recently with the members renewing their commitment to support and look after each other as professional and working actors.
Herewith is the message of their chairman of the board, Dingdong Dantes, who gave a passionate speech that set the tone for their next moves as a formidable guild.
Below is the speech edited for clarity and brevity:
“Isang karangalan ang tumayo dito upang batiin kayong lahat, my fellow actors, and my fellow AKTORs. We’ve come a long way since that Zoom call noong kasagsagan ng pandemic.
“Higit sa simpleng pagbabalik-tanaw, bilang mga aktor, kaya nating i-sense memory at hugutin muli at damhin ang bawat emosyong naramdaman natin noong nakakulong tayong lahat sa ating mga tahanan. Kaya nating buhayin ang mga emosyon ng takot, pagka-balisa, uncertainty, helplessness, hopelessness, despair. Pero ang pinaka-gusto kong naidulot ng malagim na sitwasyong iyon? The fact that it also brought out THE BEST IN EACH OF US.
“We reached out to each other. We let people into our lives, our homes even, virtually, via our phones and laptops. Nagkumustahan. Sa iba’t ibang paraan, emotionally, financially, creatively, we supported each other. Gumuho ang mga pader ng ating komunidad: nawala ang kapuso versus kapamilya, tinanggap natin ang comfort, ideas at contributions mula sa isa’t isa, regardless of gender, age, tenure sa industriya. Naisilang natin ang grupong ito na tulad ko, alam kong matagal niyo na ring hinangad mabuo.
“At nabuo natin ang AKTOR dahil hindi natin hinayaan ang isa’t-isa. Hindi tayo nag-iwanan.
“At dahil hindi tayo nag iwanan, sama-sama nating tinukoy ang mga problema na gusto nating masolusyunan.
“Mga problemang ‘Thank, God’ wala na ngayon.
“Ngunit, mayroon pa ring iilan-ilan. We all know that we operate in a very peculiar, nuanced, and vulnerable industry. And, just like in any organization, nowadays, the pace of change is very, very fast….
“[N]ow more than ever, our sector and our industry is at a very, very important pivotal point, which could dictate our development and progress in the coming decades.
“In fact, the Philippine Statistics Authority records 7.26 million persons employed in creative industries. This contributes to 7.1% to our GDP or P1.7 trillion pesos last 2023. This includes revenues from movies, music, TV, print, and online advertisements, income of workers, and materials used to produce creative output.
“Ngayon… nararamdaman natin ang passion at pag-alab ng iba’t ibang groupong nag-oorganisa; whether old guilds or new guilds, and the creation of the IGA (Inter-Guild Alliance) is a testament to that.
“Sa larangan ng polisiya, nandito na ang Creative Industry’s Act, paparating na ang Eddie Garcia Bill.
“Sana’y dunating na rin ang Executive Order taking away temporarily the amusement tax, which could help our producers. Thank you, Tito Pip (Tirso Cruz III), through the FDCP for initiating this, together with the producers guild.
“Ngayon, nandiyan na ang streaming platforms, at hopefully, mag tuloy-tuloy ang box office, and suddenly, in the advent of these platforms we now have a global stage… instantly.
“Now, with all these opportunities, mas nagkakaroon ng saysay ‘yung vision na nabuo 3 years ago. And that is: To cultivate a vibrant community of proud AKTORS by 2030 through visionary leadership, democratic governance, commitment to professionalism, adherence to humanitarian values, and solidarity with principled communities.
“For us to integrate fully, at para magampanan natin nang maayos ang ating papel sa nangyayari sa ating industriya. We imagine all of us being in the persona of a Proud Aktor… And si Proud Aktor ay isang paragon of professionalism. isang protector of community, isang cultural champion, at isang nation builder.
“Because of this vision, we have identified which problems we really want to solve and improve on… before we get to the Proud Aktor state, and we have divided it into three: character, craft, community.
“Pag sinabi nating charcter, ang gusto natin ay ma-empower ang ating community sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng access sa welfare programs, kagaya ng programang pangkalusugan, na imbes na tayo ay maging reactive, ‘yung tipong hihingi ng tulong kapag may sakit, gusto nating maging proactive— gusto natin ito maagapan sa pamamagitan ng yearly medical examination.
“Kaya’t in partnership with Mowelfund, ang AKTOR ay may access sa health benefits, and very soon, we will have access to a very reasonable HMO package. Thank you Chairman Boots (Anson-Rodrigo) and President Rez (Cortez)….
“Pag sinabi namang craft, paano ba tayo magiging mas magaling sa ating ginagawa? At sa aming paniniwala, yun ay ang pagkakaroon ng access sa paglawak ng ating pag-unawa sa ating mga kakayahan. At dito papasok ang ating educational programs, that would further hone our craft, and that could help us in administering our jobs.
“Na-establish rin natin ang AKTOR Skwela at nakapag organisa ng mga Masterclasses through the initiative and guidance of our members kagaya nila Marlon Rivera, Angeli Bayani, Leo Martinez, Pinky Amador and others.
“Marami na rin tayong townhalls at collaborations sa iba’t ibang organizations.
“And moving forward, mas gusto pa natin pagtibayin ito sa pagkakaroon ng mas maraming masterclasses, na mas specific sa kailangan ng isang actor; kagaya ng a clear guide to taxation, financial literacy, acting workshops, and more.
“Gusto rin nating magkaroon ng singular database that will be the primary and recognized database of all actors in the country, think IMDB – local version.
“And, finally community. Pag sinabing community, we want to be well-represented, lalong-lalo na sa usaping polisiya and development. Gusto rin nating magkaroon ng community activities, kagaya ng pag institutionalize ng isang reputable award-giving body, among many others.
“Pero ang tanong — how could these plans impact the community? Just like in any other organization; the goal is to have these plans institutionalized by making it:
S-ustainable
M-easurable
A-ttainable
R-elevant
And of course, T-imebound.
“So paano ito magkakaroon ng impact sa buhay ng bawat miyembro? At paano ito magkakaroon ng impact sa community?
“As the first elected board; binuo namin ang pundasyon — ang tahanan; and it is our hope for the next leadership to sharpen, and realize these dreams.
“That’s why at this point, I’d like to acknowledge and thank our current leaders for co-creating these. Our Board: Ron, Iza, Agot, Pie, Mylene, Jasmine. Our Mancom: Joel, Marlon, Ge, Angeli, Jenny, Andoy.
“To our incoming leaders, ipinagdarasal ko na sana’y pagtibayin ang inyong dedikasyon at puso para maisakatuparan ang mga pangarap na ito. Things like this are never easy, we just gotta get things done.
“If there is one thing I’ve learned in the 3 years of our organization, it is that, nothing beats an empowered and engaged community; because, just like anyone who wants to join an organization; ang tanong natin ay:
What’s in it for me? While that’s valid and practical, my greater challenge is: ano ba ang maiaambang ko sa komunidad na ito?
“When we started during the pandemic; the goal was to unite, kasi, may nakikita tayong napag-iiwanan; but with AKTOR, nagtulong-tulungan tayo.
“At ngayong meron tayong 150 inital members, today, we are opening our doors to all Aktors who have been active in the industry at least in the last 3 years. We wholeheartedly welcome you and will undergo our orientation and onboarding process in the coming months.
“Sabi nga ni Ron Capinding, ang ating vice chairaman, sa kantang kaniyang isinulat: ‘Kung hindi rin lang lahat, eh walang ipagdiriwang/Walang saysay kung umarangkada ka mag-isa.’ Pero naniniwala akong itoy’y magandang umpisa.
“Our coming together is a testament na ito ang panibagong simula, or AKT2 na wala tayong gustong maiwan….
“As actors, napakahalaga ng ating proseso para magampanan ang ating mga papel. Halimbawa, ‘pag nakuha natin ang isang script, babasahin natin, paulit-ulit, paplanuhin natin kung papaano ba natin ito magagampanan ng maayos, ippractice natin, at kapag sinabi ng direktor na ‘ACTION,’ lulundagin na natin ang eksena.
“Sa tingin ko, malinaw na ang sinasabi ng ating script — na may mahalagang papel tayong mga AKTOR.. Hindi lang sa industriyang ito; kundi…. sa lipunan. We are the country’s invisible visible workforce.
“Isang workforce na bukal sa kaloobang mapaglingkuran ang mahal nating Inang Bayan – dahil ang tibok ng puso niya ay siya ring pulso ng bawat nating aksyon, linya, reaksiyon, eksena, palabas, pelikula, istorya.
“Cut! Close sequence! Baklas! Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!”
After their general assembly. AKTOR has chosen their new members of the board of directors, namely, Dingdong Dantes,
Piolo Pascual, Iza Calzado, Mylene Dizon, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro and Jasmine Curtis- Smith (Aktor Youth seat).
The members of the board of advisors are Charo Santos-Concio, Christopher De Leon, Tirso Cruz III and Vilma Santos-Recto.
Being an artist is hard. All too often, their worth is compared to other artists without the knowledge of the full journey it takes to achieve the results. With AKTOR, there is a safe and creative space for artists to share and make the journey even more exciting and worthwhile. All the best to AKTOR.
