Barely surviving

Turning 29 and weathering crisis upon crisis from all fronts – low box-office receipts to changes in government – is no mean feat. It is, if anything, an uphill climb.

After all, when you survive drastic swings in budget support – from a hefty 60 percent when you started out in 1974, to 50 percent during former president Cory Aquino’s admistration, a sorry 10 percent during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s time, then to 35 percent at present (thanks to intercession from concerned sectors), you deserve a pat on the back.

That’s why Mowelfund (Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc.) is celebrated its 29th year yesterday with funfare. It is celebrating not just 29 years of serving the lowly movie industry workers, but a tenuous victory in its struggle for bigger share of the Metro Manila Filmfest proceeds from year to year.

Tradition dictates that a family day with free clinic and a fun day for members and their immediate families be held. Fr. Sony Ramirez will celebrate the holy Mass, with the Oasis of Love Choir helping out.

Big prizes are at stake at the bingo social with raffle. Members’ children will be treated to parlor games, goodies and toys from McDonald’s and Feed the Hungry Foundation, Inc.

But this year, the celebration has a slight twist. The Mowelfund must cook up ways and means to raise funds for its social welfare, film education and research development programs.

So there will be new things galore. Ronnie Ricketts will lead 30 actors and actresses and 1,000 members in a Run with the Stars on March 8, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Greenhills Shopping Center.

On March 29, a photoshoot fest and film lectures will be held all day long – from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mowelfund Plaza. Film students from select schools have been invited to the workshop/lectures.

That same day, a livelihood booth will be set up for members and their immediate families.

The rich and famous – the stars – will be invited in a grand fund-raising activity on April 2, 7 to 9 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater. Dubbed A Night with the Stars, the glittery affair will gather pledges from top actors, actresses, singers and other noted entertainment figures to complete the construction of the Mowelfund building at 66 Rosario Drive, corner Ilang Ilang, Cubao, Quezon City.

Target completion date is next year, in time for Mowelfund’s 30th anniversary.

Capping the three-month festivities is a swimming event for the annual Star Olympics. Participants will compete at Mowelfund’s capacious swimming pool, to be reopened specially for the fund-raising event.

"We need P4-M a year to cover operations cost," says the venerable director Eddie Romero, one of Mowelfund’s top officers. This represents 50 percent, or 15 percent less than what Mowelfund is currently getting from the Metro Filmfest.

The key here, says Mowelfund Executive Director Boots Anson-Roa, is self-reliance.

Award-winning filmmaker Nick Deocampo, a Mowelfund scholar himself has decided to look outward. The result is an inspiring $216,000 grant from the ASEAN to train two young filmmakers from Asia starting September.

"Mowelfund itself will come up with the films," he reports, a tinge of pride in his voice. "Hopefully," he adds, "this will make us the training center for film in Asia."

Big plans, big dreams. Let’s hope the stars will match these with equally overwhelming support, especially for small movie workers who make life easier for them, every single shooting and taping day.