WITH no money to pay for hospitalization, can an artwork by an artist needing medical help be used to pay for his or her doctor, hospital use and medicines? To rephrase the question, can an artist pay his medication with artworks such as paintings, sculptures or other artistic creations?
I am asking these questions because I have yet to hear if there is such a thing or form of compensation for members of my creative sector knowing that many of us are not enrolled in health maintenance organizations or HMOs and we do not usually have medical insurance policies or Philhealth coverage.
In my attempt to find answers, I browsed and scanned news items and instances where penny less artists seeks to be admitted for his failing medical condition and the closest that emerged from the net is the Senate Bill No. 2758 or "Artists" Welfare Protection and Information Act of 2015 which is still pending in the committee of Senator Grace Poe as of May 11m 2015.
It is a known fact in the Philippines that many artists and artisans do not have health insurance, housing, disability, retirement, and death benefits. Sadly, they cry out for help from friends and relatives who do not also have social security. This concern came to me when a former college classmate came up to Baguio for some important family undertaking and we had quick chats about our work as government employees. A fellow artist and fine arts graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Bayani Rumbaoa, like me has already spent three decades in government service. Yannie as we call him has been with the Banko Central ng Pilipinas (BSP) as the Chief Engraver who carved the prototypes of most of our coins in circulation. Older than me, he is turning sixty next year and his records and contributions with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) assure him of certain pensions and health care. Putting myself in the shoes of a private citizens like those Yannie and I we knew were not privileged to finish college and enter an institution with retirement benefits, I wonder if there's a way whether our intellectual creations can someday be considered as a bond or payment for medicines and health services.
I certainly hope that I can help push legislators enact a law that recognizes the valuable contributions of artists from the varied fields and put a corresponding monetary value to their artworks, creations and intellectual properties.
This may sound wishful thinking but I am optimist that this is a fair and implementable suggestion that can also instill dignity and pride to Filipino artists in general.
As a backgrounder, the act that seeks to provide an artist's welfare and protection has made waves in social media as early as 2014. Section 2 of the said bill states, as Declaration of Policy:
u00ecThe State shall protect and promote the rights of an artist to be considered as a person actually engaged in cultural work and to benefit from all legal, social, and economic advantages pertaining to the status of workers.î
It is stated in the Senate Bill authored by the Committee of Sen. Grace Poe that the bill seeks to provide for hospitalization benefits and the establishment of a housing community for artists and cultural workers, or an artist's village. This may appear to be most welcome to all artists but since it is not yet passed and implemented, Yannie and I in behalf of the thousands of artists are proposing that hospitals both private and public accepts artworks as compensatory item to payoff outstanding credits from healthcare, hospital bills, medicines and doctor's fees. The valuation of said artworks may be patterned or derived from the artist's prevailing cost or worth of artworks based from art exhibits or may be appraised by an art curator.
Since the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes, respects, and seeks to protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities, preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies, it is also but proper to also include artisans and indigenous craftsmen who in their lifetime caused the making and preservation of traditional ornaments, garments and artifacts.