Lower House approves bill for recovery of ailing music, film industries

by Ben Rosario, Manila Bulletin

Among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s film and music industries are the beneficiaries of tax exemptions and assistance in a bill unanimously passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives on Monday, Jan. 17.

With Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Christopher De Venecia as principal author, House Bill 10541 or the Film and Live Events Recovery Act will be transmitted to the Senate which has a few session days left to either adopt the De Venecia measure or pass its own version.

HB 10541 proposes to amend Section 140 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code by reducing the amusement tax rate on gross receipts from admission fees in movies, concerts and other entertainment events identified under the law.

Under the bill, amusement tax collected by local government units will be lowered from the current ten percent to the proposed five percent.

HB 10541 also suspends for two years the power of local government to levy an amusement tax as provided under RA 7160.

Such suspension may be extended for a minimum of two years subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.

The measure also exempts from payment of amusement tax all locally-produced operas, concerts, dramas, musical plays, recitals, painting and art exhibitions, flower shows, musical programs, literary and oratorical presentations and local film productions so long as Filipinos own at least ten percent equity of such local entertainment productions.

De Venecia, chairman of the House Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, filed the bill noting that the local movie industry is in grave danger as evidenced by the dismal performance of the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, which recently returned movies to the local cinemas.

“We need to embolden movie producers to keep churning out content by the very least, relaxing the 10% amusement tax levy in cinemas and earmarking collections for this purpose for the development of the Philippine Creative Industries, De Venecia said in sponsoring the bill.

De Venecia, a former actor, director and producer, is being hailed in Congress as champion of the creative industries, which include the film and music industries.

What is normal in the Philippines but is considered delusional in the rest of the world?

Bisaya

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One thing that is normal in the Philippines but considered delusional in the rest world is the belief[1] in lucky charms and superstitions. In the Philippines, it's not uncommon to see people wearing amulets or talismans around their necks or carrying good luck charms with them. Some people even believe that leaving garlic cloves under your bed will bring you good luck.

Superstitions are also common in the Philippines. For example, many Filipinos believe that crossing your fingers will bring you good luck, knocking on wood will keep bad luck away, and making a wish while blowing out candles will come true. While some of these beliefs may seem like nonsense to people from other countries, they're taken quite seriously by many Filipinos.

One reason for this is that, because of the heavy influence of religion[2] on everyday life and culture, superstitions and lucky charms are often seen to keep things like illness and poverty away. They're also viewed to ensure good business and school performance. Many Filipinos believe very strongly in superstition because it gives them hope that things will go their way and improve life.

Another reason why superstitions are so popular in the Philippines is because of the country's location and history. The Philippines has been hit by many natural disasters[3] throughout its thousands of years of recorded history. This, combined with the fact that it was colonized and occupied by different countries throughout the years, is why many Filipinos believe that higher powers are trying to help or harm them. Religion plays a huge role in this belief.

The Philippines has one of the most Catholics per capita in the world. Over 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, and most family social gatherings center around weddings, funerals, baptisms, and masses. It's not unusual to see firecrackers set off outside churches or crucifixes hanging around people's necks.

Lucky charms are seen to bring good luck to these religious events. However, with the success of many Filipinos living overseas, there is also an increasing number of Filipinos who have a more Westernized perspective on superstition and the supernatural. Many Filipinos of this group don't necessarily believe in superstitions, but they do respect the beliefs of their family members who have different views.

Superstitions also hold a special place in Filipino culture because they express one's personality or character. In many cases, people who believe in luck charms and superstitions are often viewed as creative. They may also be considered more optimistic than those who don't practice these beliefs, which can be a good thing if you're looking for an adventure buddy.

Finally, many Filipinos have superstitions because they see them as part of their culture. After all, the Philippines has a rich history and culture of its own. Some Filipinos believe it's essential to respect this history and culture by practicing some age-old customs, including superstitions and lucky charms. Whether these people realize it or not, they're also respecting their family members who have practiced these rituals for generations.

On a final note: By looking into superstitions and lucky charms, we may not only learn more about Filipino culture but also more about ourselves. After all, these beliefs are an intense part of who we are as Filipinos. We should cherish them and pass them down from generation to generation so that they can live on for centuries to come.

Footnotes

[1] The Wacky World of Filipino Superstitions

[2] Simbang Gabi: Keeping Faith During the Pandemic

[3] The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture