Why showbiz has special place in the heart of Dan V. Roleda
Senatorial bet Dan Roleda’s life has always been linked to the entertainment industry.
The 61-year-old lawyer and former Manila Councilor (fourth district, Sampaloc, Sta. Mesa, 1992-1998), party list representative under ANG LAKAS NG BAGONG KOOPERATIBA (ALAB) 1998-2001, and Presidential Adviser for Foreign Investments (2001-2010), worked very closely with award-winning director and fellow Waray Chito Rono in the early ‘80s to uplift industry standards.
As Manila Councilor and President of the Philippine Councilors League, Kaibigan Dan authored and passed the Amended Amusement Tax Law in 1995 that primarily protected movie producers. The amended law ensures transparency in the ticket sales for the correct collection of the said tax by local government units, and at the same time allows movie producers accurate data on box office sales.
He has kept tabs with the industry and wishes to address its present problems like the benefits and welfare of all workers related thereto, which are sub-standard, and of course, piracy. Piracy robs the artists, crew, movie producers and cinema owners of millions in revenues.
This in turn, has led to low production output and has deprived actors, producers, directors, musical score composers, make-up artists, film crew, etc. of decent salaries and proper remunerations.
Kaibigan Dan is also just as concerned about film distribution. He knows that movie producers lose a lot of money when theater chains unceremoniously pull out their films from cineplexes after a day or two. It does not help that local films must compete with Hollywood, free TV and social media.
The senatorial bet, therefore, wants to form a special governing body that will help producers and all workers related to the entertainment industry. Knowing that many entertainment workers are freelancers who don’t enjoy the benefits of health care and insurance, Kaibigan Dan plans to come up with a legislation that requires film and television show producers to give insurance and other benefits to members of the production team on a per-project basis.
This magna cum laude and valedictorian of the UST College of Law (batch 1991) graduated with a degree in Economics (UST, 1971). That’s why he was appointed Presidential Adviser for Foreign Investments under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2010. In 1985, he established the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) to uplift the standards and benefits of models.
His other positions include: Chairman of the Metro Manila Councilors League 1995-2009;
One of the Founders of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL); Party List Congressman under ALAB, 1998-2010; Deputy Secretary General of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), 2010-present; Member of the Guardians Brotherhood; Member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles; Lifetime Member of the Philippine Constitution Association.
As an educator, Dan does lectures to graduating students in various schools and universities on different current events and issues as part of the students' thesis or project studies. This God and family-centered man believes we all want better lives.
“We work because we want to upgrade our way of life. We dream of better lives for our children, he says. That’s why his hashtag, #betterthanthat embodies these aspirations, which are Kaibigan Dan’s as well, as he explores all avenues to help his friends -- every Filipino here and abroad.
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