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There is a sector of society that works without benefit of social
security, health insurance or pension benefits yet they contribute
significantly to national development. They often bring great honor
to the country in the international arena and their work in
different fields brings great delight to our people.
They are the artists, musicians, painters,
sculptors, dancers, writers, actors, production people, weavers,
builders and creators of beauty. They, too, are the cultural workers
and arts managers, the keepers of traditional arts, the exponents of
national identity. The work they do is of immeasurable value and yet
when they are faced with sickness or disability or other material
and physical needs, they are generally left on their own, to fend
and provide for themselves.
In an effort to meet this urgent need, the
Artists’ Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI) was formed late last year to
extend, provide or grant financial, legal, medical and
hospitalization privileges or benefits and/or similar assistance,
support and/or advice to Filipino artists who may be disabled or
incapacitated by reason of age or physical or mental infirmity and
are thus unable to “earn, support or maintain his subsistence,
health and basic life needs.
A SEC-registered, non-stock, non-profit
organization, AWPI is run by a 15-member Board of Trustees and
currently has 182 members. Its immediate concern is to build up an
endowment fund that will enable it to provide members with benefits
such as medical and legal assistance, emergency loans, pension and
death benefits, among others.
AWPI founding President Fernando Josef, a stage,
screen and television actor and currently artistic director of
Tanghalang Pilipino, says: “We must support and help our artists,
especially during their times of need—for example, when they are
sick, or when they need legal assistance. Artists usually are not
practical or business-minded people; they don’t invest their
money—most of the time they don’t have much money anyway—or
have health or any kind of insurance. We at AWPI are trying to fill
that gap.”
Beyond meeting emergency needs, AWPI also hopes
to assist artists achieve security in terms of having a place to
live, providing education for their children and having funds for
their retirement.
For details, call 832-1125 locals 1606/07 or
e-mail at drama_ccp@yahoo.com.
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