EA Guzman gets into vlogging, food biz

Edgar Allan Guzman is keeping busy with his recently launched vlog, which he is using to connect with fans. “I want to present something new to my Kapuso fans,” he said in a recent interview.

He is also going into online selling via his mom Sarrie’s famed adobo. As an appetizer, they served a sampling of her recipe at the intimate dinner his family hosted at the Limbaga 77 Resto for the birthday of her sister Michelle.

EA said he was supposed to have an entry to the cancelled first summer Metro Manila Film Festival titled “Coming Home,” but the pandemic led to the festival’s cancellation. The Metro Manila Development Authority said that entries selected to the first Summer MMFF will get automatic slots when the festival pushes through next year.

Now able to devote time to his vlog which he had long wanted to, EA produced four episodes which all amassed a good following.

He is still waiting for a new TV show under GMA after the successful “One of the Baes” where he played a contravida opposite Ken Chan and Rita Daniela. There are a number of BL (Boy Love) series being made and EA said if he will be offered a good script, he might give it a try.

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The Performers’ Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSPh) got a major boost from fellow artists and government officials at a press conference called “Filipino Performer: Alamin and Rights Mo!” PRSPh is an artists’ organization that aims to protect the rights of Filipino performers under Republic Act 8293: the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

In an online presscon held recently to encourage membership, stalwarts from cinema, music and stage expressed support for PRSPh, citing that its function as a collective management organization fulfills a profound need especially at a time when film and TV production are at a standstill and artists’ works are repeatedly shown in media platforms.

“To promote artists’ rights and welfare is truly worth commending,” said Nick Lizaso, Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), who was introduced by PRSPh chairman Leo Martinez.

PRSPh President Mitch Valdes said that by law, performers are entitled to additional remuneration each time a TV episode, show, or concert of theirs is replayed or re-broadcasted. “It would be difficult for each performer to go to every broadcast studio and record label producer and demand a certain number of rights. PRSPh has taken the responsibility of doing all this for us,” the veteran singer-actress explained.

The organization’s scope is worldwide as PRSPh is recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR), Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE), Center for Performers Rights Administration/Geidankyo in Japan, Federation of Korean Music Performers (FKMP), the Kobalt Music Group, and ACTORES in Colombia, among other international collective management associations.

Actor Rez Cortez, a member of PRSPh, hailed the society, saying that he has been getting yearly remuneration or residuals from his 2005 Hollywood film “The Great Raid” — thanks to PRSPh’s legal consultant, Atty. Rod Vera. Cherry Pie Picache and Iza Calzado represented AKTOR (a recently formed league of actors). Picache spoke movingly about the plight of actors who were among the most badly affected by the pandemic. Musical director Mel Villena, who is also a PRSPh trustee, told members of Asosasyon ng Musikang Pilipino that the time to join is now.

PRSPh also invited luminaries such as CCP Vice-President Chris Millado, National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes, actress-director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo; music composer Louie Ocampo, and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, who urged young artists to invest in their future by joining PRSPh. Addressing young musicians, he said, “You are going to populate our future. Through the years, mas malaki ang matatanggap ninyo.”

As PRSPh Vice-President and Treasurer, singer-actress Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo said the advancement of performers’ rights in the country greatly depends on the support and participation of the performers themselves. “Only when we are strong can we achieve all of our goals.”

To become a member, email [email protected] or visit facebook.com/prsphilippines.