President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos host the fifth Konsyerto sa Palasyo (KSP), titled “Para sa Pelikulang Pilipino,” at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang on December 15, 2024. Ryan Baldemor, PPA pool

MANILA — Malacañang  held a concert to honor members of the local film industry on Sunday, ahead of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival that showcases a slew of locally-produced movies in time for Christmas. 

Artists, film producers and production personnel were welcomed in the Philippines’ seat of power, where they were treated to performances that paid tribute to some of the highlights in the Philippine film industry. 

“Mahalaga talaga na bigyan natin ng honor and importance yung ating film industry dahil nagbibigay ito ng kabuhayan sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino,” Tourism Secretary Maria Christina Frasco told reporters. 

“This gives opportunities for our fellow Filipinos and the rest of the world to discover our country and the talent of the Filipino people,” she said.

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The Philippine movie industry was among the sectors hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with 760,000 workers affected by the closure of cinemas and tighter production rules, according to data from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). 

The cinema sector lost P21 billion, while the production industry lost P16 billion, data from 2021 showed. 

“Naaappreciate namin ito (concert). Malaking tulong ito lalo na’t naghihingalo ang pelikulang Pilipino,” said Vice Ganda, who was among the artists who attended the “Konsyerto sa Palasyo para sa Pelikulang Pilipino.” 

“Anumang tulong ay naaappreciate nating lahat,” said the Kapamilya star, who is headlining the upcoming movie “And the Breadwinner Is…” 

Among the veteran actors and actresses who attended the event are Tirso Cruz III, Sharon Cuneta, Christopher de Leon, Helen Gamboa and Maricel Soriano. 

Younger stars also graced the occasion including Arjo Atayde, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Enrique Gil, Sid Lucero, Sue Ramirez and Christine Reyes.

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“Maraming magaling na aktor at aktres sa Pilipinas at malaking bagay ito dahil mas mapapalawak pa ang pamilya ng pelikulang Pilipino at mas marami pang kayang ibahagi at matulungan tayo,” said Fedelin, who will star in the MMFF film “My Future You.” 

The movie industry is part of the so-called “creative economy” in the Philippines, which generated P1.60 trillion in 2022 alone, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. 

The amount is 7.3 percent of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

Aside from the local movie industry, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration had also hosted concerts for other sectors by holding concerts in the Palace for soldiers, teachers and athletes, among others.