Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino: Gov’t out to ‘frame’ art to serve big business

"This leads us to believe that this scheme is in line with the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership policy. Under this system, artists are left to fend for themselves—to “beg” for their livelihood as artists from rich individuals and big corporations. This will oblige artists to create works of art that will spur culture that complements the needs and wants of the elite and big businesses.

We join music groups and organizations actively opposing HB 4218 and embrace their struggle for the right to organization of Philippine music artists and work force. We affirm our commitment to fight for artists,’ and the Filipino working class’ political rights, economic security and social welfare.

—JULIE L. PO, board member, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino

read full text here:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/83080/govt-out-to-frame-art-to-serve-big-business

It’s all about the money, not about the music: No to House Bill 4218 (OPM Development Act of 2014)

“We, musicians, performers and artists uniting or affiliated with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, say no to the House Bill (HB) 4218 introduced by Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat in March 2014.

HB 4218 purports to pursue the “promotion, protection and development of the Philippine music industry” by supporting original Filipino music and guarding against the preferential treatment of foreign music. It grants to the National Committee on Music (NCM), a sub commission of the National Committee for Culture and the Arts, the power to regulate performances and collect reciprocal equity fees from foreign artists, the income of which to be re-channeled to an equity fund for local artists. The bill also proposes to give tax credits to broadcast organisations which will play a minimum of four works of original Pilipino music, as stipulated in Executive Order 255.

The bill’s vision of supporting the Philippine music industry sounds good at first glance. However, its proposed mechanisms for implementing these in practice fail to address longstanding problems within the community of local musicians, performers and composers and the Philippine music industry in general..”Concerned Artists of the Philippines

Read full text here:
http://philippinefundraisers.blogspot.com/2015/02/lets-rock-congress-oppose-hb4218.html

AMP's Official Stand on HB 4218

"THE ASOSASYON NG MUSIKONG PILIPINO HAS ALWAYS BEEN WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE FILIPINO MUSICIAN. WE WELCOME ANY AND ALL HELP WE CAN GET IN PROMOTING, STRENGHTENING AND SAFEGUARDING OUR RIGHTS AS ARTISTS AND OUR CRAFT. A BILL, NAMELY HB 4218, ALSO KNOWN AS THE “OPM DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2014” HAS BEEN FILED IN CONGRESS AND IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF DEBATE FROM THE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIONS AND CONCERNED GROUPS ALIKE.

AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW AND CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF AMP, OUR STAND IS THIS; AS ONE OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT INITIATED THE COLLECTION OF EQUITY, THRU OUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK SINCE 1998, WE OPPOSE SECTION 8 OF THE PROPOSED BILL."

Read the full text here https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=807915779281556&id=105277859545355

DJ John Hendrix On HB 4218

"The OPM Development Act or House Bill 4218 wants to charge foreign acts 'equity fees' for holding concerts in the country as 'renumeration' for 'displacing' local performers. 

So if Sting or Madonna or U2 perform in Manila, they would be depriving Ogie Alcasid of concert sales? Now I would pay good money to watch Sting's artistry. On the other hand, you would have to pay me good money to watch Alcasid's tripe. 

If local performers want to be supported by local audiences, they had better get their acts together instead of blaming the success of other musicians for their failures.

House Bill 4218 is supported by a spoiled, privileged, self-entitled minority who believe

that fostering the growth of musical artistry in our country can only be achieved through an authority they want to claim for themselves and impose on others. 

When will these greedy industry hypocrites learn that developing 'OPM' is not about making money? 

This is the reason why the OPM 'Development' Act is just that: AN ACT."

--JOHN HENDRIX

DJ / Event and TV host

Feb. 4, 2015