NEWSFLASH 

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SHOWBIZ COLLEAGUES ASKED TO BE GOOD MODELS

Quezon City, March 11, 2000 - President Joseph Estrada urged his colleagues in the entertainment industry to help him fulfill his campaign promise to uplift the lives of the poor and ensure good governance by being good role models.

Speaking at the 26th anniversary of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) in Quezon City today, Mr. Estrada issued a similar appeal to fellow entertainers wishing to enter politics.

“Marami sa inyo ang itinuturing na idolo ng ating mga kabataan, kaya malaki ang inyong maitutulong sa aking paglaban sa mga problema ng ating lipunan. Sana rin ay huwag mangyari na kayo pa ang manguna sa pagiging halimbawa ng maling gawain. At sa mga artistang nasa pamahalaan ngayon na tulad ko, maglingkod tayo nang tapat sa bayan at ingatan natin ang pagtitiwala ng mga taong bumoto sa akin (Many of you are regarded as idols among the youth, and you can serve as role models. Many of you are in public service, and you can help me bring good government to the people),” he said.

The President also asked them to help him as he continues to fulfill his pledge to help the poor, to whom he owes his success in show business and politics.

“Alam ko na dahil itinuturing ninyo akong parang kapatid sa industriya, hindi ninyo ipagkakait ang inyong tulong sa akin ngayon (I know you treat me as a brother in the industry. I hope you will not deny me this request for your help),” he said.

He issued a similar appeal to members of the show business industry who are now in public office, or plan to run for public posts in 2001.

Mr. Estrada particularly asked them to uphold the honor of the industry, reminding them that they remain Filipinos serving their fellow Filipinos.

“Alam kong marami sa ating mga kapatid sa larangan ng pelikula ang matagumpay na sumunod sa aking yapak o di kaya’y may balak na pumasok sa pulitika sa mga darating na eleksyon. Kaya hayaan ninyong ulitin ko rin dito ang aking panawagan sa ating mga kapatid sa industriya na pangalagaan sana ninyo ang ating propesyon maging nasa larangan man kayo ng pelikula o pulitika (I know many of our colleagues plan to enter politics, if they haven’t already. I ask you to serve our people sincerely, regardless of whether you are in politics or show business),” he said.

In return, the President promised to continue supporting and strengthening the movie industry so it would play a more active role in nation building.

He promised the movie industry that he would support the construction of the seven-story Mowelfund Building at the Mowelfund compound in Quezon City.

He founded Mowelfund in 1974 to extend financial help to movie workers in need. Before he entered politics, Mr. Estrada gained fame as a movie actor, starring in films where he portrayed roles as defender of the poor.

During Saturday’s event, he said he learned many of his lessons in public service from his life as an actor, such as the value of hard work and the hardships of the small workers in the industry. The President said these traits come in handy to him now, especially as he works to solve the nation’s problems.

He also joked that the long nights he spent on the movie set turned out to be an apt preparation for life as President, where he would go sleepless thinking of the nation’s woes.

Even the criticisms that first greeted him when he tried to set up Mowelfund have taught him to ignore his critics’ brickbats now, he added.

“Bagama’t nasa ibang katungkulan na ako ngayon, hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang aking pinanggalingan (Although I am now in a different field of endeavor, I have never forgotten my roots),” he said.

Still, Mr. Estrada made it clear that he could not solve the nation’s problems by himself, and that he needs the help of a united people.

“Aaminin ko sa inyo ngayon na hindi ko kayang mag-isa ang ating laban sa kahirapan. Kailangan ko ang inyong tulong dahil alam kong malaki ang inyong magagawa tungo sa paglutas ng mga problema ng ating bayan (I must admit that I cannot succeed if I go at it alone. I need your help and I know your help would be very valuable),” he said.

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