Directors Guild breaks away from FAP - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

It’s final – and irrevocable: The 58-member Directors Guild of the Philippines Incorporated (DGPI) has "broken away" from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), the 14-year-old umbrella organization run and managed mostly by inactive producers as top officials and which counts as members (besides the directors) actors, scriptwriters, production designers/art directors and other talents involved in filmmaking.

This was announced yesterday at a presscon at Whistle Stop (Tomas Morato) by the guild’s newly-elected officers, including Jose Javier Reyes (president), Jeffrey Jeturian (vice president), Maryo J. delos Reyes (chairman of the board), Laurice Guillen (chairman of the Committee on Education) and the board members (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Don Escudero, Joel Lamangan, Erik Matti and Chito Roño).

Absent were Mark Reyes (secretary), Rory Quintos (treasurer) and Mel Chionglo (board member).

The officers said that they agreed to "break away" from the FAP on the following points:

1. In the light of the most recent socio-political developments in our country, the role of the filmmaker must be redefined. Issues and problems plaguing our nation must be addressed using the power and influence of film as medium to uplift the moral and intellectual standards of the Filipino people.

2. An organization comprised of Filipino directors must exercise its independence as a private corporation and establish a critical and productive relationship with government and other sectors of society in both local and international fora.

3. The Guild must perform its function as both catalyst and guardian of the integrity of filmmaking as well as protect the welfare of film workers and address the needs of the Filipino audience.

4. A dynamic and progressive organization such as the Directors Guild of the Philippines Incorporated must grow and consistently redefine itself to maintain relevance to the changing demands of the times not only in our country but also in the context of global cinema.

In 1991, the DGPI also "broke away" from the Kapisanan ng Mga Direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino (KDPP) but remained as a member of FAP which recognized the two directors groups (with some showbiz-watchers describing the DGPI as "samahan ng mga ‘quality’ directors" and the other group as... well, the "other samahan").

Why did it take them all of eight years to "break away" from the FAP which they described as a "quasi-government organization"?

"We gave the FAP enough time to come up with programs for (the artistic upliftment of) actors, directors and other talents (involved in filmmaking)," said direk Joey Reyes, "para naman we could keep up with trends in cinema around the world, but nothing of that sort happened. We expected the FAP to do something (more productive than just giving out the annual awards) but sadly, it isn’t growing with the times."

"We were hoping na baka mahawa ang FAP sa aming idealism," said direk Marilou, "pero walang nangyari. It all boils down to doing better films and doing them in a better way."

Without the DGPI, the FAP will be crippled considerably. For instance, in the annual FAP Awards, how can it be credible if members of the DGPI are not in competition, since it is an accepted fact that DGPI members make the best and finest films?

How would the FAP bigwigs react to the DGPI resignation tendered yesterday? Would they say it’s uh, "immaterial" and "irrelevant"?

You may not know it but members of the industry’s "silent majority" are saying to the DGPI move, "We second the motion!"

In defense of Korina

Her middle name might as well be, that’s it, Controversial – Korina Sanchez, that is.

Because she co-hosted (with Ted Failon) former President Joseph Estrada’s radio/TV program Jeep ni Erap, Korina was accused of being pro-Erap, even when she politely refused to accept, according to reports, a Rolex watch (easily worth P800,000) given as a Christmas gift by Erap.

"Sa totoo lang," said Korina, "I didn’t even vote for Erap."

In the course of her pursuit of journalistic excellence, however, Korina has proven to be outspoken and highly resourceful, making some of her colleagues very insecure and very jealous, indeed.

"I’ve always been neutral and objective as journalists should be," added Korina.

Over the weekend when she scored another "scoop" by being the first to have an exclusive interview with newly-installed President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo, Korina became the object of nasty text messages branding her as a balimbing.

Korina is keeping her cool.

Now, could it be true that the "smear" campaign against her is being initiated by a colleague of hers at ABS-CBN?