Press Release
July 11, 2019

Go sworn as a new member of the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival, expresses support for the movie and entertainment industry

In support of the Philippine entertainment industry, Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go took his oath today as a new member of the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival year 2019.

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a yearly film festival in Metro Manila, running from December 25 until the first week of January.

Pursuant to P.D. No. 1459, an Executive Committee was formed to handle MMFF. In 1977, P.D. No. 1647 reconstituted the Executive Committee and transferred the management of the MMFF to the Office of the Metro Manila Commission, the precursor of today's Metro Manila Development Authority.

"Isang malaking karangalan para sa akin ang maging kasapi ng ExeCom ng MMFF. At nakikiisa ako sa hangarin nating lahat na mas palakasin at paunlarin natin ang industriyang patuloy na nagbibigay ng trabaho at kaginhawaan sa marami nating mga kababayan," Go said in his speech.

The Senator also stated that he will push for measures to address the concerns and needs of the industry as some of his friends have asked for his help to uplift it.

"Marami po akong kaibigan na artista at marami po silang hinaing na gustong iparating sa akin. Sabi nila, kapag maging senador ako, tulungan ko sila makapagpasa ng mga batas na makatutulong sa protesksyon ng mga manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino," he added.

Likewise, Senator Go made a proposal to make the MMFF twice a year to further help the film workers and artists as he believed that many Filipinos will be supporting the said festival.

"As a Senator, iniisip ko paano tayo makakatulong sa mga Filipino artists' natin. Napansin ko, tuwing Disyembre ay inaabangan talaga itong MMFF hindi lang sa Metro Manila pati na rin sa mga probinsya. Ako, ang suggestion ko po para makatulong, with your permission and approval ay maging twice a year po ang MMFF kung kakayanin po ng inyong resources at panahon niyo, panahon natin lahat. Magtulungan tayo," he stated.

Go also assured the members of the industry that he will craft bills that will be valuable to them, saying, "Nakikita ko kasi na nagkakaisa ang mga Pilipino tuwing week-long na iyan. Talagang nagpupuntahan sila sa mga malls, sa cinema. Talagang tinatangkilik nila ang pelikulang Pilipino kaya naman iniisip ko kung paano tayo makatutulong sa mga workers natin lalo na sa mga mabababa na gumagawa ng pelikula. Mahalaga 'yung welfare at security nila lalo na sa kanilang pagtanda dahil malaki ang kontribusyon nila sa pelikulang Pilipino."

He further guaranteed that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will always support the industry and the Filipino films.

"Kung ano pa po ang pwede ko maitulong sa inyo, sabihan niyo lang po ako, magtulungan tayo. Asahan niyo po ako hindi lang bilang legislator, pati na rin bilang tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Pinagbilin po niya na tulungan namin ang Pelikulang Pilipino," Senator Go said.

"Gusto kong tulungan po talaga na maibalik ang sigla ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Tangkilikin po natin ang Pelikulang Pilipino. Tayo ay Pilipino, mahalin natin ang sining na sariling atin," he added.

It can be remembered that Go was one of the judges of the latest Metro Manila Film Festival. He was at the Solaire Theatre to award the winners last December 2018.

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