Heads of Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) Vivian Velez, Rez Cortez, and other artists joined the launching event of the Bayad Buwis Movement on Thursday, March 31.
More than 3,000 persons gathered in Quezon City Memorial Circle including Quest, Dotty’s World, J Brothers, Good Harvest, and other talents.
The campaign did not endorse any presidential candidate but it tackled the P203 billion unpaid estate taxes of the Marcos family.
In the midst of the event, people shouted, “Buwis bayaran! Buwis bayaran!
“Walang kulay dito, welcome ang lahat,” Velez said. “Kaming mga artista nagbabayad din ng tamang buwis, tulad din ng ibang prospesyon,“ Velez added. “Kaya dapat ‘di manalo ‘yung may utang na P203 billion!”
Movie producer Edith Fider, one of the convenors of the event, claimed that performing artists who believed in the advocacy of Bayaran Buwis Movement were only given an honorarium and not money.
Fider said, “Nagpapasalamat kami sa kanilang suporta.”
Despite being a supporter of Isko Moreno, Fider also acknowledged the supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Ping Lacson, Leody Diaz, and other presidential contenders.
The performers also included Jojo Abellana, Endangered Species, and Gandaras, the all-female group managed by celebrity hair and make-up artist Bambi Fuentes.
“Tama lang ang honorarium,“ Fuentes said.
The event organizer and former Metro Manila Film Festival overall chairman, Tim Orbos, said they will urge other artists and sectors to fight for Bayad Buwis Movement.
“Iba naman talaga ang boses ng nasa entertainment industry,“ Velez said. “Talagang nakakatawag-pansin so sana marami pa tayong makasama sa mga next rally!”
In an interview with the media on Thursday, March 10, the new group backing the presidential and vice-presidential candidacies of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio briefly talked about why they do not like presidential aspirant, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Velez said, “Wala naman tayong tandem voting so we take advantage of that. In a way that we choose the best of the presidentiables which is Isko and we chose the best vice president which is Sara.
“This is a supporter’s initiative. Hindi po kami nagpaalam kay Isko, hindi rin po kami nagpaalam kay Sara. Eto po ay karapatan ng each one of us to support whoever we want to support.”
