Around a year ago my friend Kalila Aguilos (a Pilipina actress from Metro Manila) and I were having one of our classically intense life discussions. At the time I had no idea that I was actually participating in the birth of something truly special for the hardworking theater actors in the Philippines, The Philippine Theater Actors Guild (TAG). Honestly, I was completely impressed by what Kalila was selflessly doing, essentially unifying the Philippine actors for the first time, a goal that was historically touted as impossible and unachievable.
On January 10 of this year, Kalila (President) and her fellow officers were officially inducted into their elected positions, solidifying a year of hard work and signifying a historic achievement for its 200+ members. Kalila was nice enough to answer a few questions, and I’m very pleased to be able to share this inspiring story.
BW: So, when was it roughly when we were first talking about TAG?
KA: I think we first started really talking about it when I got invited to the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts), and you became the sounding board for my free-floating ideas about it. That was February 2011.
BW: Tell me about those early days when you were formulating the idea of TAG, did it start just with you and then expanded?
KA: In May 2010, I fell asleep at the wheel coming home from a shoot and had posted a Facebook shout out, "Does someone need to die, before we pass a law curtailing shooting hours?" This sparked a long discussion about the urgent need for an artists' union. I think everyone in the theater world was just waiting for one to be formed, but I sure as hell did not want to be the one to form it. I was a struggling artist and single mother who could barely make ends meet, who had barely the time for herself. I let the idea go, but then my friend Allen Umali (Chillitees, Sinosikat?) started the Bicycle Rights Group in the Philippines on account of that discussion. That it inspired him inspired me.
When I finally got the invitation to go to the NCCA to participate in a discussion about the influx of foreign acts in the county, I took it as a sign and went. I was surprised to see that all the arts where represented, save for theater actors. Sometimes, life just drops things on your lap and you gotta find out what to do with these things. I decided that I should just start with a call to form the guild and discuss how to go about it with people who know how, and many people from the theater community have since lent their knowledge and their efforts to get the guild to where it is now. What we all agreed on was to take things one realistic step at a time, and to not overwhelm ourselves with too many ambitious projects.
BW: What was the biggest high for TAG so far?
KA: The biggest high for TAG really was the first General Assembly on October 10, 2011. TAG was merely a discussion group on Facebook before then, but that night, we signed up more than a hundred members, and got so much monetary and moral support from important people in the industry. It was a very inspiring night! Everyone was excited for everyone (haha).
BW: How about the biggest low?
KA: We have not experienced lows yet. And I hope to not have to.
BW: So the recent event in January, that was TAG swearing in the officers for 2012. During its infancy, how was it managed beyond you?
KA: In the beginning, we appointed the most regular attendees to become part of what we call the steering committee. Most of those people also were the 15 incorporators needed to make the group legal. We all pitched in to do things like run to the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the group, draft by-laws and membership qualifications, and organize the General Assembly, etc. Most of these people were also (as expected) elected into the new and official core of TAG.
BW: How was the reception at the event?
KA: Let's say we were all excited about getting prominent people in the industry to back the group up. Actually, both of our big events were well attended and were really exciting.
BW: What are your goals with TAG in 2012?
KA: First, we have to organize our membership and give out the membership ID’s (we have product discounts and perks that come with membership). Also, we are working on getting healthcare for the members this year, and maybe a discount for theater shows for theater actors, specifically members of TAG, to foster support for the arts, instead of complimentary ticket fishing (hahaha). Right now we are working something out with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Because we are freelance workers, we take taxes for granted and this gets us in trouble later on, so we want them to give TAG a seminar on the ins and outs of taxes. TAG also wants to help in terms of education, so our Training & Development Committee is working on workshops for the year.
BW: You mentioned prominent people in the industry. Who are some of the well known members?
KA: We have Lea Salonga on the board of trustees along with other respected people from theater such as Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo, Menchu Lauchengco (famous theater performer and producer), Jett Pangan (theater actor and lead singer of a well known band in Manila called The Dawn), Cesar Apolinario (journalist/activist), Butch Jimenez (producer), Tony Moncupa (EastWest Bank), Ronald Pineda (fashion designer/entrepreneur), Guia Gomez (Mayor of San Juan, Manila, and also patron of the Arts). Also, my sister Bituin Escalante (singer/recording artist), Cris Villonco (singer/recording artist), and John Lapus (famous comedian and TV show host) are members.
There are many who do not share the celebrity status of the above, but are familiar faces and respected individuals (various directors, commercial models, and actresses for TV and movies).
BW: How does TAG work exactly? In your own words, how is TAG important in terms of what it does and the long term legacy and impact if things continue to go well?
KA: TAG works as a support system and a repository of information. It is basically theater actors helping theater actors. We will try to get for ourselves, the benefits a regular office employee enjoys. For now healthcare and perks, but I hope in the future to work out maybe retirement benefits, and better pay. Anything is possible, if you want it enough. We want to make our lives just a little bit better, by making ourselves better and perhaps influencing changes in the current systems to our benefit. Of course the aim is to be as organized as say, SAG or the Actors Equity. We just want a little bit more respect as artists, and for the majority to recognize how important we are in nation building.
BW: How were you viewed publicly for what you did organizing this? I really picture you as this hero, fighting for a cause.
KA: Eek. I don't feel like a hero, I just started it. I didn't know a thing when I did it. I started it, and that's all the credit I can take for it. It's really the concerted effort of all the people involved in it right now that made it happen. REALLY!
BW: Anyone you want to thanks to or give a shout out to?
KA: Thank you to each and everyone who volunteered themselves to help TAG along. You know who you are. Thank you to all the people who donated, money and services to the group. Most importantly, thank you to the members for joining us.
BW: What are you currently working on in terms of your acting-theater acting career?
KA: Right now I’m in Repertory Philippines's staging of the Broadway musical,Jekyll & Hyde. I play Lucy -the whore.
BW: That's a very cool role! You know the first thing I actually ever saw you act in was Darwin Go's Buhay Dalaga (scored by Pasta Groove)?
KA: Wow! Really?
BW: Yep! I owe our entire friendship to Pasta Groove and Darwin Go (haha). So, any final thoughts?
KA: I think I said it all. I just want TAG to work, and I hope it will always stay fun to drive it to where it should go.
BW: Thank you for your time. I am so proud to have been able to write this for you!
KA: Thank you Tony!!!
Uniting the actors with a collective voice was really only the beginning, with many lofty goals in 2012, such as providing healthcare for all in guild members. However, knowing Kalila’s determination and passion, and hearing all the praise of her fellow officers and members, I have no doubt that TAG will be a success and hopefully inspire others to never settle for the status quo.
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"What makes you an artist is LOVE. You love what you do so much that your spirit dies if you stop doing it."
- Kalila Aguilos
