Monday, June 04, 2007 Costanilla: Radio voices rise By Sam Costanilla spotlight
IT IS about time that local radio and television artists come together and group themselves as a solid force. I would even say the move is long overdue, although there have already been similar efforts in the past which, unfortunately, did not prosper. So when veteran radio drama director Emil Rizada, Jr. texted me that an organizational meeting of some retired as well as active radio and television artists was scheduled in his Tisa residence, I replied that I was definitely coming. And I did. As a former voice talent myself, I always look forward to meeting old friends and colleagues in the radio drama industry.
IT was during the organizational meeting that we decided to organize ourselves as a club. Several suggestions and ideas were brought forth and thoroughly discussed until we decided to name the group the Cebu United Radio and TV Artists Corp. (Curta Corp). For it to acquire the necessary legal personality, Curta Corp will eventually be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We chose Rizada as corporation president as well as board of trustees chair. The others elected were Edgar Gutierrez, executive vice president; Debbie Sta. Cruz, secretary; Cora Rosales-Jayma, assistant secretary; Susan Solante, treasurer; Rose Rizada, assistant treasurer; Precy Vidal, auditor; Fred Quino, assistant auditor; and Tony Rabanes, press relations officer.
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WE were also able to come up with the objectives of Curta Corp which include the following: One, to reach out to all those in the local entertainment world, particularly radio and television dramatists; two, to bridge the widening gap between today’s young drama talents and the veteran artists of yesteryears; three, to promote closer bonding and brotherhood among all of them; and four, to raise funds for medical and hospitalization needs of Curta Corp members as well as create an educational scholarship program for children of poor but deserving Curta Corp members.
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TO persuade local radio and television dramatists to exert more effort to present wholesome, delightful and educational dramas loaded with valuable Filipino traits and virtues is another objective of Curta Corp. We also agreed on the move to establish a talent training center which shall educate, guide and train young artists, writers and directors. I fully subscribe to these objectives, particularly the last one. Such training center is really necessary if we are to ensure a more professional production of soap operas. It’s about time we do away with mediocre radio and television dramas - because we believe that such productions should not only entertain but educate as well. Trainors are not a problem - Curta Corp has plenty of them. On a personal note, I salute Rizada, Tatay Emil to me, for spearheading the move to create Curta Corp. I’m optimistic that under his leadership, our group would grow stronger and could easily achieve its objectives.
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THOSE wanting to participate in the komiks writing competition organized by film director Carlo J. Caparas and his wife Donna Villa, kindly call or text me for more details. Cash prizes are P40,000, P30,000 and P20,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placers, respectively.
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THIS radio station manager is not that popular among his subordinates. He is bossy and arrogant, they claim.
