’We’re not okay,’’ Vivian Velez, director-general of Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), said of her relationship with her predecessor, Leo Martinez.
The semi-retired actress said her entry into the FAP was met with opposition from some officers of the academy. Nevertheless, such cold treatment from them didn’t dampen her enthusiasm in serving the FAP and the entire movie industry.
Vivian explained that the root of her rift with Leo over the latter’s retirement pay wasn’t up to her to decide. In previous interviews, Leo said he stood to collect over a million pesos as retirement pay.
The actor-comedian served FAP for 16 years before retiring on October 31, 2019.
He was able to collect half that amount in October 2019.
Velez stepped in as FAP director general on November 5, 2019.
The FAP, founded in 1981 under Executive Order 640-A, serves as the umbrella organization of different guilds in the Philippine movie industry.
Despite the controversy over her appointment, Vivian remains optimistic in her desire to help ordinary movie workers.
In an online interview on December 12, she said she is more focused on training and education programs which she hopes the FAP under her term can jumpstart.
Vivian, who was also a film producer on top of being a multi-awarded actress, says one of her goals is to set up a training institute for technical workers in the film industry.
She says the planned institute can tie up with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), so that graduates can obtain a license.
‘’Such a license can allow them to find work in film industries abroad,’’ she said.
On a more positive note, Vivian announced that the FAP is reviving the Luna Awards on December 18. The so-called industry award has ceased honoring outstanding artists and craftsmen for two years.
Vivian also considers changing the award’s name to simply Academy Awards, which it is in real life.
‘’Luna is the trophy, not the award itself,’’ she said.