One of the sectors gravely affected by the current pandemic is the creative sector—this includes the entertainment industry, specifically live entertainment, among others. Numerous workers in this industry lost their jobs, clients, income, and sidelines as businesses and establishments shuttered their operations.
And yet actual figures would show that the work of artists and other creatives is crucial to the country’s economic recovery. According to data, the country generates $4.1 billion worth of creative exports, making it the fifth largest and most valuable creative economy in the whole of Asean, and that the Filipino market for creative services is the largest in Asean at $3.2 billion.
The creative sector is a large category that is somehow difficult to pin down, partly due to the lack of a governing or regulating body, and because the industry players—along with their products and services—are wide ranging, among other reasons.
In a nutshell, this sector includes the following workers: artists, cultural workers, freelance writers, designers, chefs, architects, art dealers, advertising professionals, painters, musicians, couturiers, digital creatives, animators, photographers, film industry professionals, live entertainment professionals, arts and culture professors, make-up artists, e-sports gamers, furniture makers, beauty industry professionals, owners of businesses like production studios, organizations that support the arts and the abovementioned sub-sectors, and many more.
The available definition reads: “The creative industries consist of any line of work involving the creation and consumption of knowledge and expertise.” And as people navigate their way around this new normal world, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more Filipinos working from home as creative freelancers.
Given this reality, one lawmaker seems to believe that the sector needs both protection and regulation by way of a new law, which is the Creative Industries Development Bill. The congressman is no other than Pangasinan’s 4th District representative and chairman of the Special Committee of Creative Industry and Performing Arts in the House of Representatives, Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia.
The Bill aims to centralize and address the welfare of the Filipino creative economy. The recognition of the creative sector also means the recognition of its potential and needs, and the importance of making it part of the government’s national development plans.
Part of the creative industry is the freelance writing sector. One would assume that due to the limitations imposed by the pandemic, more professional writers are now working as freelancers—and their number is seen increasing in the months to come.
One good thing going for our Filipino freelance writers is the existence of a DOLE-recognized workers’ association serving this particular group—the Freelance Writers’ Guild of the Philippines (FWGP). Being part of an organized group makes it easier to lend one’s voice to the collective message; air grievances, recommendations and needs; and take part in shaping the policies that govern the profession.
FWGP is currently accepting membership applications from professional Filipino freelance writers until October 4, 2021. Send an e-mail to fwgp2011@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming part of this professional writers’ association.