BY GAY ACE DOMINGO
Actors and philanthropists Alden Richards and Dingdong Dantes recently joined the board of trustees of Mowelfund or the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation. They join the non-profit organization’s leadership that includes actress Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo (chairman and trustee), actress-director Gina Alajar (treasurer and trustee), CMB Film Services president and managing director Jim Baltazar (trustee), Res Cortez (president and CEO), Julius Marcelino Topacio (vice-president and COO), Jose Raymundo Roa (director for welfare), and other distinguished and respected individuals in the movie and TV industry.
Dingdong took his oath as trustee in October 2023, while Alden was appointed a month earlier, in September.
The stars’ involvement in Mowelfund comes at a special time as the foundation turns 50 years old this 2024.
In a series of videos called Mowelfund Sessions posted on the Mowelfund Welfare Facebook page, Dingdong, Alden and their co-trustees elaborated on their passion for helping co-workers in the entertainment field.
Dingdong and Alden are actually part of an endeavor begun by Philippine cinema legends Joseph Estrada, and the late Dolphy and Fernando Poe, Jr. According to Chair Boots Anson-Roa the birth of Mowelfund in 1974 was like this: “Kilalang-kilala sina Erap, FPJ at Dolphy bilang philanthropists (sa movie industry)… Nag-usap-usap ang tatlo. Sabi ni former president Erap, ‘Tumutulong tayo sa marami pero tingi-tingi. Bakit hindi natin i-institutionalize na gagawa ng foundation para sa mga tinutulungan natin sa industriya?’”
Fifty years later, Mowelfund is still up and running. It assists hundreds of members, such as cameramen, stunt men, bit players, assistant directors, production managers, etc., with financial and medical concerns and also with scholarships for the members’ children. During the pandemic, the foundation disbursed financial assistance. Says vice-chair Gina Alajar, “We gave all the members ayuda. Hindi gano’n karami ang pera ng Mowelfund pero nakapagbigay pa.”
Mowelfund’s primary sources of funds come from the proceeds of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and the tuition fees of students of the Mowelfund Film Institute (MFI), a premiere moviemaking academy in Asia. MFI is proud to have in its roster of alumni big names like Raymond Red, Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz, Yam Laranas, and many other topnotch Filipino directors and filmmakers.
Due to the growing number of members and the changing times, Mowelfund has had its share of financial difficulties. “Halos manlimos kami dahil hindi puwede tumigil ang benefits sa beneficiaries… Kapag may humiling, (dapat) meron kaming mabibigay,” Boots reveals in the Mowelfund Session video.
Gina also discloses that to keep afloat, Boots and former Mowelfund Chair and movie producer, the late Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda, would hold fundraisers during their respective birthday celebrations. “In lieu of gifts, they would ask friends to donate to Mowelfund. Nakaka-more than one million din ang nare-raise nila sa ganoong events,” says Gina.
The leaders’ dedication impressed Alden who says, “‘Yung to the point na kailangan nilang maglabas ng pera to sustain Mowelfund… ‘yun ang pinaka inspiration ko.”
Dingdong and Alden are proud to be collaborating with a hardworking and pro-active board who is committed to ensuring Mowelfund remains viable for the sake of its members and the future of the entertainment industry. Their efforts have resulted in the creation of additional income streams such as the Dencar Theater, a movie theater for block screenings located in the Mowelfund compound (and named after Jim’s father, awarded cinematographer Conrado Baltazar) and M Digipost, a post-production facility. The board is also leading the way to develop entrepreneurship among Mowelfund members, upgrade Mowelfund’s library and museum, and revitalize MFI courses for the further professionalization of audiovisual artists.
A major project for 2024 is the Mowelfund Ball.
“I think the industry has been very, very kind to us,” Dingdong tells Alden. “What better way to give back than being in an institution that can officially render services to the movie and TV workers? Gusto nating ma-improve ang kalidad ng buhay ng bawat member ng industriya.”
Dingdong turns reflective and a bit emotional when he declares, “Do I see myself here (at Mowelfund) for a very long time? Maybe all my life? Yes!”
To which Alden concludes for both of them, “We will protect Mowelfund at all costs.”
