Last September 24, 2008, Sen. Miguel Zubiri promised that he would allocate P2.5 million for the scholarship program of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa para sa Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP). Senator Migs (his nickname) also promised that he would give an additional P2.5 million for the housing project of the four-year old organization. (Click HERE to read related article.)
But during the thanksgiving dinner of the NMPP held at Kamay Kainan, Kalayaan Ave., Q.C. last March 12, the former congressman of Bukidnon, promised an additional P1 million for training programs of NMPP members so they can enhance their knowledge in the field of moviemaking.
His total donation to the NMPP will now amount to P6 million. Senator Migs isn't a showbiz personality (although he is married to former TV personality Audrey Tan) but he has proven to be sympathetic to the needs of the movie industry.
When asked why he is very helpful to the NGO that advocates the welfare of directors, actors, stuntmen, and other movie crew members, he explained:
"Unang-una, ako po'y isang movie fan. I'm a big movie fan, gusto ko pong mabuhay po ang industriya ng pelikula dito sa ating bansa, dapat hindi lang mga dayuhan ang mga nakakakinabang sa ating populasyon. Linggo-linggo ang nakikita lang po natin ay foreign films, at hindi po local films. Ako'y naniniwala sa Filipino support, sa Filipino movement...
"Even before I was a senator, sinasabi ko naman po palagi yan, if I had a chance and opportunity na makatulong po sa movie industry, I will try my best. Noong araw kasi as a congressman, limitado yung pondo namin, limitado po yung scope ko, sa distrito ko lang. Ngayon po ay national na ang aking scope [as senator], I'm so happy to be able to help sa movie industry. Kaya nga, kami ng asawa ko, ang commitment namin ay yearly, hindi lang po one time dole out," Migs Zubiri promised the entertainment press.
Is he asking anything in return for his donation?
"Hindi ko naman po hinahanap ang na masuklian po ako ng favors. Ang akin lang naman, ay trabaho po natin ito, trabaho po ng isang public servant, trabaho po ng isang pulitiko, na tignan po ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan...I really want to be an example...gusto ko pong maging ehemplo, isang example para sa ating mga kasamahan. I'm not asking for anything in return. Gusto ko lang makatulong sa inyo, gusto ko lang makitang nakangiti itong ating mga mahihirap at mararalitang miyembro ng industriyang Pilipino."
During the thanksgiving dinner, Senator Migs had the chance to meet the young students who are applying to become one of the ten scholars who will be given a scholarship by the NMPP. When he had a photo op with the students, Senator Migs said out loud, "These are the faces of the future!"
SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL. During the event, Senator Zubiri revealed that he has been talking with the other politicians who are also showbiz personalities—Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and Sen. Lito Lapid—to discuss how they can help the local movie industry.
They will be propose the creation of a summer film festival of locally produced films that will run for two weeks. Senator Migs is proposing that key people from the movie industry should run this filmfest.
"Hindi lang dapat isa ang filmfest, dapat dalawa. Dapat every six months para boom ang industry natin. Actually it is demand-driven. Pag marami kayong venue para ipakita ang mga Filipino films, siyempre hindi mawawalan ng trabaho ang ating mga directors and movie workers. Kaya kami po nina Senator Jinggoy, Senator Bong Revilla, and Senator Lito as well as the other senators, are planning to pass legislation para maging twice a year na ang film festival, hindi lang once a year. Para po sa ganun, meron tayong December showing at meron tayong summer showing pag start ng bakasyon ng ating mga kabataan.
"In that way, if there's a demand, the industry will survive and prosper. Parang kulang po sa akin na two weeks lang sa December. Dapat meron po tayong summer para sa two weeks na yun, wala tayong ibang ipapakita kung hindi pelikulang Pilipino. It will not entail funding, it will only take political will and legislation. And perhaps the second film festival can be run by people from the industry."