Local singers up against the ‘Phantom’ menace

September 19, 2012 | 9:32 pm

JETT Pangan hopes Filipinos will support local productions, too.

Singer-actor Jett Pangan, the lead star of Atlantis’ new musical “Nine,” has added his voice to the campaign of local artists to impose proper dues on foreign productions like “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Pangan said foreign artists should pay P5,000 each pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in 1989 between the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and local artists groups, led by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) and the Asosasyon ng mga Musikong Pilipino (AMP).

“I support both the OPM and the Theater Actors Guild (TAG), which want the BI to honor the MOA on the Equity Rights Program,” said Pangan, who straddles both the music and theater scenes. “The equity dues will go to local artists’ welfare fund.”

Filipino singers, actors and musicians under the banner of the Alliance of Working Artists for Rights and Equity (Aware) have protested the decision of the BI to grant special working permits to the foreign cast and crew of “Phantom.”

Aware is an umbrella organization of artists that includes OPM, AMP, TAG and other groups raising this issue.

“I don’t agree that just because (the ‘Phantom’ stars) are theater actors, and not singers, they should be exempt from equity obligations,” Pangan asserted.

He explained that these foreign performers also sing onstage, adding that international productions compete for the same audience and sponsors as those of local shows.

However, the BI said the foreign cast of “Phantom” was issued a special work permit even without clearance from the OPM because it was not covered by an agreement between the agency and the local group.

CAST of “Nine”: (standing from left) Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Sitti Navarro, Jay Glorioso, Cherie Gil, Eula Valdez, Yanah Laurel, (seated from left) Ima Castro, Pangan and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

According to a statement released by BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang: “There is no basis for the bureau to require stage actors who are not singers or musicians to submit to the equity program.”

Mangrobang, in an earlier statement, explained that the MOA between the bureau and the OPM only applies to foreign singers, backup vocalists and instrumentalists.

Not fair

“Why should they be allowed to circumvent our laws?” asked Cherie Gil, another “Nine” star. “They should pay the right taxes.”

Costar Carla Guevara-Laforteza, agreed: “It’s not fair. Filipino artists can’t perform abroad without paying all sorts of levies.”

Ima Castro, who is also in the cast of “Nine,” recounted that she dutifully paid taxes in the United Kingdom, where she played Kim in the musical “Miss Saigon” a decade ago.

“It was automatically deducted from my salary,” Castro recalled. “In a year, I paid a total of 6,000 pounds (or around P407,000 at the prevailing exchange rate).”

Kalila Aguilos, TAG president, told the Inquirer that the funds from equity dues being imposed by the BI are “to be divided equally among different artists groups and are to be appropriated for (their) health care.”

“Now why would the BI want to deprive artists of that? I find it so immoral,” she said.

The BI for its part said that TAG was not yet part of the MOA.

Aguilos countered that this was because of the numerous paperwork being required by BI. “It’s as if TAG’s integration is being stalled,” she noted.

Displaced

According to Pangan, the fact remains that Filipino artists are being displaced by these international productions.

For instance, he said “Nine” will run at the same time as “Phantom.” “Nine” will go onstage at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7.

“But we have fewer performances compared to ‘Phantom,’” he said.

He could only hope that Filipino audiences would be more supportive of local productions.

He observed that local theater companies couldn’t mount a play without paying royalties (performance rights license), which could be pretty steep for a Tony-winning musical like “Nine.”

“Then you have to pay the actors and the crew,” he added. “You cannot scrimp on the crew because they are the most hard-working people in this business.”

Pangan considers himself fortunate that, apart from being a stage actor, he also gets gigs as frontman of the rock band The Dawn.

“We will go on tour next year. It’s pretty strange that a lot of local artists now go abroad to perform since there are more work opportunities there,” he noted. “While in our own country, foreign artists are much more in demand. It doesn’t make sense.”

He expressed optimism that the construction of Bay City—a Las Vegas-style entertainment center on reclaimed land along Roxas Boulevard, would spell good news for local artists.

“I can’t wait for that entertainment center to be finished … that would be our Broadway,” he said.

E-mail bayanisandiegojr@gmail.com

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Tags: Carla Guevara-Laforteza , Cherie Gil , Jett Pangan , Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo , Phantom of the Opera , Sitti Navarro , “Nine”

Theater_Enthusiast

I don’t get why the artists keep on complaining without doing their homework. From what I gather, BI does honor the 1989 MOA, which obviously applies only to concert artists (During that time, there were no foreign theater productions coming into the Philippines). If it’s a matter of revising the MOA, then OPM and TAG should do their due diligence in submitting the required papers.
Theater_Enthusiast

“According to Pangan, the fact remains that Filipino artists are being displaced by these international productions.
For instance, he said “Nine” will run at the same time as “Phantom.” “Nine” will go onstage at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7.
“But we have fewer performances compared to ‘Phantom,’” he said.”

–> How does displacement apply here? Do something about your promotions, instead of complaining.
If you want a royalty-free production, then write and create your own world-class musical worthy enough to be staged abroad. If foreigners buy your musical, then they themselves would be paying royalty to you.
koolgal

If foreign acts have to pay taxes, then let them pay. but to complain that local artists are displaced by these foreign acts – huh! improve local acts first. I am sure Filipinos will line up to see local but world class worthy shows.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anton-Dans/1282066866 Anton Dans

I
have been touring with Filipino acts as part of their production crew
for the past 6 years. I’ve been to New Zealand, Australia, US, Canada,
and Hongkong.

Levy and taxation and equity is standard practice everywhere else in
the world. If you bring a Filipino concert to the US, you will pay musicians
guilds, production unions, etc. because of jobs that Americans
supposedly lose. It’s standard. Most producers in the US are also kind
enough to absorb part or all of the taxation as part of the costs of
producing a concert.

It’s standard practice and these foreigners are more than willing to
pay these taxes. They’re use to it. Why are so many Filipinos fighting
on the side of the foreigners when the foreigners didn’t even ask for
it?

Theater_Enthusiast

I am not fighting for the side of the foreigners. I just get the impression that the OPM is whining without doing its part in having the 1989 MOA revised. As a result, it gives the impression of kotong.

Equity tax is indeed a standard practice abroad, but I suppose, their practice is supported by a solid law. Why can’t the OPM submit the required documents to have the 1989 MOA ammended? Doesn’t the OPM have the rules and regulations of the equity program? Doesn’t it have the ITR’s required by BI? If the organization is well-managed, what’s the big deal about submitting the documents?

andrutan

jet pangan? in a theater production? complaining? man! you should be thankful producers still gamble their money on you. do you really feel deserving of our hard earned money? ASUS!

http://profile.yahoo.com/UAOUKHIBZ7OQ2LNGAQABMRSGFI Adlai

baka nman si jet pangan e naiingit laang,gawa nga ng siya e isang bakla,

akramgolteb

P5 000.00 lang naman, pagbayarin na sila para matapos na. Tinga lang ang halagang ito sa kinikita nila.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JFB3XM3CT77OMSWHBJU5MUL3LQ rohirrim_31

This is the first and (could be the last time) that the Phantom of the Opera will be performed on-stage by international artists. I am not familiar with the MOA but if it does not have a provision that may include Theater Actors in the tax loop then there is no point in complaining. In effect, it is unfair also to the foreign artists that are not covered by such MOA. It is not fair to say it is “common practice”. It is more of a “common law” perhaps the question now is again, is the tenor of our law similar to those of other countries? If not, there is no use complaining there is no “same banana” in laws.

Also one of the biggest risks of producing any entertainment show, whether it is a theater performance, a concert, etc, is that there might be a “bigger name” than the show you are producing. The Phantom of the Opera is arguably the biggest name in theater and its quite hard to be pitted against it but it is the risk of the producer and I’m sorry but you cannot expect people to feel sorry for you and spend their well-earned money to watch a show just for “support”.

Theater_Enthusiast

Well said. I do believe in supporting the local artists, the local culture and the arts, but I also expect quality shows. Complaining instead of promoting is a big letdown for me.
I only got to know of a local production of Nine only through this article, and it didn’t give me a good impression because it was mentioned in the form of a complaint against Phantom of the Opera. Contrast this with the promotions of “The King and I” in last night’s news, and how they really encouraged Filipinos to watch it — now I’d be willing to go watch “The King and I” even after watching Phantom 2x.

I support OPM and AWARE, but complaining in public instead of doing aggressive promotions and improving the quality of local arts and entertainment scene is not a good thing.

Fulpol

if paying equity is a common practice, why the MOA is not yet amended?

and the OPM is complaining, and keep on complaining.. act now, amend the MOA or revised it.

stop arguing because the MOA clearly states that the agreement applies to foreign singers, back up vocalists and instrumentalists..

musical play is combination of theater act and music, but is different from performing a concert by a foreign singer, specifically just to sing with some stunts, not act.

why the apprehension to include musical play and theater in the MOA? because you have never produced your own play in foreign lands? and will never be… you only perform concert, which majority of the audience are Pilipinos.. why not try to stage a play in the US? you have less to offer compare to your foreign counterparts?.. why, both in stage play and concert, you can’t offer a true entertainment that foreigners could appreciate?

revised the MOA, include theater artists that will be charged for equity… that is an extortion, as you know by heart you have less to offer to the audience. your artists have healthcare at the expense of good play made by your foreign counterpart.

if BI is not listening to your demand, go directly to the President.. he can understand the flight of local artists because her sis an artist too, whatever it implies to be called as an artist.. why can’t you reach out with the President? BI is a government agency. why go directly to media and spew your complaints? is this just a gimmick? i hope not, otherwise you will lost your credibility as an organization.

Local singers up against the ‘Phantom’ menace

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