Mowelfund

Mowelfund
FormationDecember 3, 1974
FounderJoseph Estrada
TypeNGO
PurposeSupport film industry workers
HeadquartersQuezon City, Philippines
Location(s)Mowelfund Plaza
No. 66 Rosario Drive corner Ilang-Ilang Street, Barangay Immaculate Conception, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates14°37′24″N 121°02′25″E / 14.62341°N 121.040237°E / 14.62341; 121.040237
Chairperson
Boots Anson-Roa
President & CEO
Rez Cortez
Websitemowelfund.com

Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) is an organization in the Philippines that provides for the welfare of marginalized and undeserved workers in the film industry. As well as helping film workers in times of need, it provides support to various organizations including the Mowelfund Film Institute.

History

The Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) was incorporated on December 3, 1974. It was established by then-San Juan Mayor and then-President of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association Joseph Estrada to fund the social welfare of workers in the Philippine film industry. It was incorporated The first members of the board of trustees consisted of Estrada, Jess Garcia, Jess Lee, and Rolfie Velasco.

They raised funds for the 1975 Metropolitan Film Festival, the Filipino Film Festival Tour in Canada and the United States, and the Supershow 76 at the Araneta Coliseum. The third event was the only one who managed to profit.

Mowelfund took over the organization of the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1978, after the controversial conduct of the 1977 edition.

In addition to supporting the welfare of movie industry workers, Mowelfund reorganized the Board of Censors to become the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and created the Film Academy of the Philippines.

Mowelfund handled the Metro Manila Film Festival until the People Power Revolution in 1986, when the government assumed responsibility.

The old Mowelfund Plaza (c. 2016)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the proposed seven-storey Mowelfund Building Complex on December 21, 1990. Mowelfund moved to the building in 2001. However the completion of the building had delays with it being described as "half-finished" in 2007. In 2015, the seven-storey structure is noted to be underutilized.

In 2019, plans which has been seven years in the making for a new office was announced. A new six-storey building called the Mowelfund Center in Quezon City was inaugurated in July 2022.

Activities

With about 4,500 members, Mowelfund provides financial support for hospitalization, surgery, medical fees and death benefits, and helps with housing and employment. The foundation maintains an archive of old Filipino movies. A museum was opened in 2005 in the Mowelfund headquarters, which are in a quiet part of Quezon City. The museum is run on a shoestring budget, and can be visited only through arrangement. Working with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Mowelfund Film Institute holds Intensive Filmmaking Workshops twice a year. These have helped many aspiring young Filipino filmmakers who are now active internationally. Mowelfund also campaigns against film and video piracy.

Fundraising

In March 2011 Mowelfund celebrated its 37th anniversary at the Mowelfund Plaza in Quezon City. Former president and founder Joseph "Erap" Estrada was a guest of honor. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Mowelfund sweepstakes partnership were launched at the event. Through the partnership, Mowelfund beneficiaries could become dealers or agents of sweepstakes tickets, thus providing a livelihood. In June 2011 Mowelfund organized a fundraising concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of Dalagang Bukid, the first Filipino-produced film, which was directed by Jose Nepomuceno. Performers included Mitch Valdes, Dulce, Bituin Escalante, Jolina Magdangal and Janno Gibbs, supported by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. In November 2011 Mowelfund held a celebrity bowling event in Eastwood Mall, Quezon City, to raise funds.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "MOWELFUND". Film Academy of the Philippines. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Artists: Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND)". CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. VIII. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. 1994. p. 282-283. ISBN 971-8546-23-5.
  3. ↑ San Diego Jr., Bayani (December 21, 2011). "Giving MMFF back to movie industry". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Why Mowelfund is venturing into real estate development". Rappler. March 19, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Javellana, Juliet (March 12, 2000). "Criticisms don't bother me—Erap". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Barely surviving". The Philippine Star. March 6, 2003. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ "33 years of quietly helping the film industry". The Manila Times. August 15, 2007. p. C2. Retrieved November 7, 2026. Thirty-three years, a half-finished building nestled on a 6,000-meter property in Quezon City, and a drastically cut subsidy later...
  8. ↑ "Beneficiaries question use of MMFF funds". Vera Files. December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ Gabinete, Jojo (March 18, 2019). "Gusali ng Mowelfund, gigibain na para sa pagpapatayo ng bagong gusali" [Mowelfund Building, will be demolished to give way for new building]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ Requintina, Robert (August 17, 2022). "MOWELFUND inaugurates new building in QC". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "MOWELFUND marks '37th'". The Philippine Star. March 24, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Mowelfund to preserve old films". The Philippine Star. May 18, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  13. ↑ "MOWELFUND complex: reflecting the state of Philippine Cinema". Urban Roamer. March 16, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ "2010 Mowelfund Intensive Filmmaking Workshop". Pinoy Film. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  15. ↑ Marinel R. Cruz (March 31, 2011). "Mowelfund marks 37th year with livelihood project". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  16. ↑ Bayani San Diego Jr. (June 19, 2011). "Silver celebration for Philippine cinema". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Celebrity Bowling for MOWELFUND". Pinoy Parazzi. November 1, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.