Lights, camera, action! Good take! Cut! That’s a wrap! These were words we thought we wouldn’t hear echoing across production sets any time soon, given stringent health and safety measures to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic. But as of May 16, they well may be returning with film and audiovisual production shoots now allowed in most parts of the country.

The audio-visual culture and industry have always been ingrained in the Filipino experience, whether through the consumption of film or witnessing live events and performances.

Regional Cinema is Philippine Cinema. I have maintained this mantra since the moment I stepped in as Chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). And among the first of my efforts was to go around the country to connect with regional film communities and discover more about it.

As we draw closer to the date of the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the National Capital Region, the local audio-visual industry is becoming more restless. Some are excited, others are confused, while the rest are still scared.

With each new day in this coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis comes the latest government action plan or private sector project that aims to alleviate the public health situation. Covid-19 may have single-handedly impacted the world, but it is not strong enough to dampen the creativity and fighting spirit of Filipinos, most especially those in the film and audio-visual (AV) industry.

It started with the Taal Volcano eruption, when the ashfall made people stay put for safety. Then came the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

As the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases rises each day, it was no wonder that the President announced the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine to April 30 in Luzon. While we are hopeful that the country has started the road to recovery, much effort is still needed to flatten the curve of the pandemic.

The Filipino Audio-Visual (AV) industry was one of the first casualties and the most terribly hit by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic due to the cancellation of events, performances, production work and activities, especially when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in different parts of the country.

The Filipino film industry is supposed to have its banner year this 2020 with the ongoing Sine Sandaan or Philippine Cinema Centennial celebration. Sine Sandaan affairs that aim to honor luminaries and unsung heroes are slated to continue this year, leading up to the closing of the yearlong commemoration of One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema in September. In addition, screenings, talks, conferences, film development lab programs, film markets and film festivals here and overseas have been finalized.

Almost 10 months ago, I had one of the biggest surprises of my life when The Manila Times Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante A. Ang offered to me this Sunday Times Magazine column while we were having a meeting on our partnership for the “Sine Sandaan” on The Manila Times TV (TMT TV).