The emphasis of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on the Filipino tourism brand signals a shift in how the country conducts and communicates tourism.
Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia believes the Filipino tourism brand will be further boosted with the fuller participation of the creative sector and the implementation to the fullest of the newly enacted Republic Act 11904, or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act.
De Venecia, chairperson of the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, emphasized that many people in the creative sector work as freelancers. It is for this reason that he regards the statement of Marcos as clear support for Filipino freelancers across the country.
“With this, I appeal for the passage into law of the proposed Freelancers Protection Act,” he stressed.
The lawmaker revealed 81 creatives of different artistic fields have applied for the 2022 Anakbanwa Creative Residency Program, which he will host anew in his legislative district.
He claimed that the applications received by its deadline are more than double the number of entries received in last year’s inaugural salvo. Entries come from 19 different areas in Luzon, Visayas, and even Mindanao’s South Cotabato.
De Venecia expressed enthusiasm as they were pleasantly surprised by the volume of entries.
“This bodes well for the future of support for creatives because the Anakbanwa program can serve as a model for other creative hotspots nationwide. In fact, I have filed House Bill 1288 to establish the Arts Residency Program of the Philippines,” he said.
The chosen artists will be notified in August once the applications have been examined. The second wave of the Anakbanwa Creative Residency begins in September.