What showbiz community expects from Noynoy's SONA
by Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/26/2010 12:09 PM | Updated as of 07/26/2010 12:15 PMMANILA, Philippines - Show business is a very pivotal component of society not only because it offers entertainment but most especially because it is a cultural reality.
Being a cultural reality, it is rooted, juxtaposed as well, in a political economy of a country.
Culture, being a social process, is composed of people - in this case, actors, producers, artisans etc. - and institutions - groups of artists, cinema productions, networks, censors body etc - that interact with each other.
It is also a business enterprise. As commerce, it goes through a process.
Before a company, film or television, is awarded business operation, it has to secure a permit from a corresponding government agency for a fee.
Show biz structures, in other words, are also subject to state laws. Since they are governed, they have the right to ask their government for a better life, primarily in their work and territory.
It is in this context that Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is laid.
Most of the entertainment people we’ve asked about their expectations of Noynoy’s SONA would center on the larger equation of the plans instead of zeroing in on the cultural reality of show biz.
First and foremost, their workplace and bread butter, its problems and suggested solutions in relation to the national platform.
It was only tabloid entertainment editor Art Tapalla who said that “two of the areas which Noynoy should address are the improvement and development of Filipino arts and culture.”
“These are very important in order that we move on progressively. Arts and culture are purveyors of enlightenment about practically anything so if we are armed with crystallizing pieces of arts and national culture, we can fight for our rights for survival and a better life in all aspects of society,” Tapalla said.
Tapalla also asserted that Aquino includes in his speech culture as one of the priorities of his administration unlike during the term of his mom, the late former president Corazon Aquino, where culture just took a backseat.
Heavy taxes, according to Tapalla, are imposed on entertainment products such as music CDs, film DVDs, computers and practically all forms of audio-visual and multi-media transactions. But in return, the citizens don’t get enough quality mass-oriented productions from the tax levied on them.
Tapalla also invoked the lawmakers to legislate regulations and rules that would sanction inanities and inhuman treatment of persons on popular media, improve the minds of the mass number of people in our communities, and to act side by side with educational institutions and other agencies with libertarian, if not totally liberating ideas.
Entertainment writers, in general, Tapalla volunteered, aren’t paid well despite the hard work and physical harm they risk in getting good copies.
“Marami nang hindi nagbabayad na publications,” he said.
Meanwhile, movie producer Sixto Dy of Leo Films said Noynoy should put a stop to “influence-peddling” “nepotism,” “clique system” and other malpractices in state cultural institutions which fund film and TV productions.
“Kailangan ding tutukan ng gobyerno ngayon ang sobrang kikilan, profit-sharing sa mga sinehan in the provinces. Maraming hindi nagre-remit ang tamang entertainment taxes sa mga probinsiya kasi maluwag ang pagpapatupad do’n ng mga batas,” Dy shared.
The producer also lamented the slow implementation of the entertainment tax reduction law.
“Nito lang, nang si Secretary Margarito Teves pa ang sa Finance, hindi pa pala nai-implement and entertainment tax reduction law dahil wala pa silang time. I hope in Noynoy’s term, maipatupad agad,” Dy urged.
Perennial problems like unequal playing field of local and foreign cultural products where imported shows are favored not only by the government but the consumers as well, and harsh censorship at the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board are also raised by Dy.
“Although I must say that show biz is just being looked at a minor concern, but these things are also of national import,” he said.
Let’s see what Aquino would say about culture and its implications in our national life.
Education, tax, etc.
Some artists also said that they want to hear Noynoy’s education and health plans.
Pokwang tweeted: "Gusto kong marinig ang tungkol sa libreng edukasyon at kung ano na ang kalagayan ng tax na binabayaran ng mga mamamayan."
Angel Locsin echoed in her Twitter page: "Gusto ko po sanang marining ang plano para sa magandang edukasyon ng nakakarami, health facilities/benefits, sweldo ng mga guro at land reform.”
Singer Sitti, meanwhile, heaved a sigh of relief that the President “would give a SONA the way it was meant to be given.”
"No bollocks, just plain solid truth of nation's reality because not one person, even the highest-appointed in that, can solve all… and I totally approve of Pres@noynoyaquino rallying and involving Filipinos in his speech & goals he wants accomplished,” Sitti tweeted.
143redangel
pray for us tweeps 
