A newly-formed alliance of film industry workers added to calls in holding corrupt officials accountable.
The Film Workers Against Corruption (FWAC) in a press conference at the UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman, Quezon City today, November 22, 2025, asserted calls to end prevailing government corruption and hold corrupt officials to account, chiefly President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
The anti-corruption alliance is composed of a broad range of film workers including filmmakers, directors, cinematographers, producers, production designers, and film educators. JL Burgos, lauded director of multi-awarded documentary ‘Alipato at Muog’ took part in the panel of speakers and urged fellow artists to wield their art in the fight against corruption.
“Matindi na ang nangyayari sa kasalukuyan. Now is not the time to be silent, now is the time to stand up for what is right. Nananawagan ako sa mga kapwa ko filmmakers na sumama sa mga pagkilos, kasama pa yung ibang sektor sa ating lipunan, laban sa korapsyon,” Burgos said.
The group stresses that the plundered billions of public funds could have been used to develop culture and arts in the Philippines. Members of the group also lament the deplorable conditions film workers have to face, such as job insecurity, meager wages, poor working conditions, and inhumane working hours. Filmmaker, activist, and Kilusang Mayo Uno Deputy Secretary General Joanne Cesario shared hopes that the alliance might be transformed into a group that could advocate for film workers’ labor rights.
“Dahil sa current labor laws, actually hindi kami considered na employees. Sa halos lahat ng projects, naeerase yung employee-employee relationship kaya hindi ensured yung labor rights. Kaya wala rin talaga kaming right to form unions. Yung Film Workers Against Corruption, dahil lumilitaw na ang problems ng industry, hopefully ay mag-turn siya into a group na kayang mag-represent ng mga manggagawang pampelikula at kayang mag-negotiate ng rights ng mga manggagawang pampelikula,” said Cesario.
FWAC is set to join the November 30 ‘Protestang Bayan Kontra Korapsyon’ in Luneta, Manila and encourages the public to join the fight against corruption, for systemic change.
