Veteran sexy actress and Film Academy of the Philippines Director-General Vivian Velez has shared her disappointment over the lack of funding for her agency.
In a virtual interview with the press, Vivian denounced some government agencies for seemingly disregarding the film industry as a mere entertainment business.
Velez’s disgust stemmed from the lack of support for funding from the government, especially for the Luna Awards.
According to Vivian, there were friends who advised her not to proceed with the awarding program because of lack of funding and the pandemic but she insisted on continuing because it’s a time to recognize people from the industry.
“So even with this Luna, I was talking to MMDA kasi marami nagsasabi saken Vivian wag mo na ituloy yan, first of all walang kang budget, second its pandemic so I was even considering that.
“When I was trying to reach out with mmda kasi may collectibles pa kame…Alam ko meron pa kameng collectibles na about 2 million yata or something so sabi kong ganon kasyang-kasya yan for our Luna awards and also to give incentives,” she said.
“[But] what made me decide to continue with Luna awards was when somebody told me “Alam mo Vivian maraming nagugutom na tao,starving because of the pandemic entertainment industry ka lang hindi kayo importante at this point.
“That’s what got me boiling because look sabi kong ganon nung naglockdown tayong lahat at ikinulong tayong lahat sa bahay natin, anong ginawa ng mga tao? Hindi ba nanood ng pelikula, nanood ng telebisyon, it was the entertainment industry that saves us from our insanity. so I mean wag mong sabihin na entertainment industry lang kame because we are a content provider industry. without us, sabi kong ganon, naeentertain ba ang tao?” Vivian narrated
Vivian also disclosed that the MMDA still owes FAP 82 million from the MMFF which they still haven’t received.
“Pagusapan natin yung funding ng FAP. Kasi ang funding ng FAP nanggagaling lang naman talaga sa Metro Manila Film Festival funds. Nung umupo ako, when I was talking, nagtaturnover saken si Leo Martinez nagdemanda sya sa MMDA kasi there was about 82 million uncollected proceeds na dapat mapunta sa FAP.
“That was audited by COA. It was COA who said guys FAP meron kayong uncollected 82 million from MMDA. You know it was not just imagination on our part…so I’m on a witch hunt, hinahanap ko yung 82 million kung nasaan na yung 82 million,” Vivian continued.
Because of that Vivian compared herself to a beggar asking alms from government agencies so that her own agency can have the needed funding to run its operations.
“Parang wala akong pera. I work hard. I have businesses. My businesses are doing very well. Hindi ko pinangarap na mag-beg ako. Pagdating sa FAP mukha akong pulubi,” she said.
Recently, Vivian, a known DDS, made a cryptic post on social media regarding her alleged dwindling support for the DDS.
In her Facebook post, Velez said “Unti-unti na bang namumulat ang aking mga mata? Sa mga pangakong napako!? Sayang ang pagod at malasakit. 😪 🇵🇭”
However, after gaining attention from both sides of the political spectrum, it turned out to be just a fame whoring stunt after she edited the post saying it was just clickbait.
“Unti-unti na bang namumulat ang aking mga mata? Sa mga pangakong napako!? Sayang ang pagod at malasakit.😂 #clickbait”
