Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Welcome to Malacañan.

I extend my congratulations sa lahat ng mga newly elected Officers and Board of Directors of the Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon. Ang ating mga idol. [applause]

I am pleased to hear your oaths to responsibly lead our very own Actors Guild and to know that the government has a genuine and reliable partner in all of you.

Since the establishment of this group, the KAPPT has upheld the welfare of local film and television industry workers, given jobs and opportunities to our fellow Filipinos, and brought dynamism to our economy.

Over the years, the KAPPT has fostered [unity] amongst its members – dapat tawag kapit, [applause] nakita ko lang, sabi ko bagay na bagay sa inyo kapit – has fostered unity among its members enabling the organization to embark on many noteworthy projects and endeavors amidst the challenges of the times.

As we remains steadfast in improving the environment and conditions for our workers in all sectors, I urge you all to continue to take the lead through your meaningful initiatives.

Maliwanag na maliwanag sa amin dalawang bagay. Unang-una, napakabigat ng tama ng pandemya sa ating mga creatives at saka sa creative industry.

Hindi ko lang pinag-uusapan ang mga nakikita sa television, ‘yung mga artista, ‘yung mga sikat na direktor, kung hindi ‘yung mga workers, ‘yung mga caterer, ‘yung mga driver. Talagang lahat sila natamaan. Kaya’t napakalaking bagay para sa amin na suportahan nang mabuti.

Dahil hindi lamang dahil tinamaan ang industriya na napakalakas dahil sa pandemya, for us, it is very, very important, not only internationally but also nationally, na maging malakas ang boses ng ating mga creative industry.

 
As a selling point for the Philippines, kilalang-kilala na ang Pilipinas for many, many reasons. Kung sa creatives, palagay ko hindi na natin kailangan masyadong ipaliwanag. Maraming mga awardee na mga directors sa mga international film festival, ‘yung mga artista natin kinikilala na rin sa mga sikat na film festival.

Lahat ‘yan ay mahalaga sa gobyerno ‘yan, mahalaga sa ekonomiya natin ‘yan. Kasi nakakatulong ‘yan sa ating pag-publicize ng Pilipinas at tayo naman ay maipagmamalaki natin, hindi tayo mapapahiya kahit sa anong klaseng, kahit anong klaseng artistic endeavor. Ang Pilipino, talaga naman, suwerte lang siguro tayo at nabasbasan tayo ng Diyos, nabigyan tayo ng ganitong klaseng talento pero nandiyan talaga. At mahalaga nga ito para hindi lamang tulungan ang ating mga practitioners kung hindi pati na ay ipagmalaki ang kultura ng Pilipino sa buong mundo. [applause]

Bukod pa riyan ay mahalaga ang ating mga creatives, ang ating creative industry dahil you are defining the culture of the Philippines. And for us to be able to say Pilipino ako, ang tanong diyan, ano ba ang Pilipino? Ang Pilipino ang nakapaloob diyan ay ang kultura, ang kultura ng Pilipino.

‘Pag pinapatibay natin, pinapaganda natin at binibigyan natin ng suporta lahat ng ating mga creatives, ito ay pagsusuporta sa ating pagiging Pilipino. Dahil when you say, “What is it to be a Filipino?” You point to our culture, because a culture is a shared consciousness.

Kaya’t mahalaga para sa ating mga Pilipino na sabihin, ganyan kami, ganyan kaming mga Pinoy. O, ‘yan ‘yung mga sine na ganyan, totoo ‘yan. Ganyan talaga ‘yung buhay ng Pilipino.

O, nakita mo ‘yan, ‘yung kanta, gawa ng Pilipino ‘yan, ganyan kami gumawa ng kanta, ganyan kami umarte. Ganyan kami gumawa ng palabas.

And so this is something that will give a rallying point for Filipinos na sinasabi: “Ito ang Pilipino. Kaya pareho ako sa’yo, kaya pareho ako sa’yo, kaya pareho ako sa’yo kasi mga Pilipino tayo dahil ganito tayo.” And that’s what’s important. That is the primordial importance of the creative industry.

And that is why, not only is it to support our practitioners in the creative industry, because of the very damaging effects of the pandemic to your industry, number one, but also to bring to the rest of the world. Kasi kaya natin ipagmalaki.

We are as good, if not better than many, many of these... Kung tayo nakatira sa LA, mga milyonaryo kayong lahat ‘di ba? Dahil maliit lang ang Pilipinas. But if everyone, all our talents, mga singer, mga artista, mga direktor, lahat ‘yan, kahit na ‘yung mga technical, ‘yung mga lighting, lahat ‘yan sound, kung dinala mo sa LA ‘yan, sikat lahat ‘yan, mga milyonaryo lahat ‘yan. Kaya’t it's time already that we bring that culture of the Philippines. And finally it is the way that we define ourselves, the work that you do is what defines us as Filipinos. Kaya’t nakapakahalaga na suportahan ang creative industry.

So, I hope that, as you secure the well-being of your colleagues, you will continue to strive to raise the standards of our films and our shows at the same time.

It is also my wish that you make use and 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.

I congratulate all of you, and I thank you for your desire to create a better industry that future generations can appreciate, enjoy, and be proud of.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay ang telebisyon at pelikulang Pilipino! [applause]

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 Watch here: Oath-taking of the Officers of the Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon

Location:  President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace, Manila