Over the past five years, SB19 went from being ignored and mocked to OPM superstars. Along the way, they’ve consistently made history, not just for themselves and P-pop, but for OPM in general. They hold several records under their belt as the first Filipino artists to ever achieve them. But their growing platform isn’t just limited to fostering their own success, but also that of their fellow artists.
One of the main reasons why SB19 formed 1Z Entertainment was so that they could manage themselves and train and guide a new generation of Filipino artists to reach their potential in the Philippines and internationally. The company will even be holding its very first One Zone Fest later this October that serves as more than just a music festival, but also as a way to showcase and grow their creativity and celebrate OPM with their fans.
And in that mission is SB19’s understanding of the roadblocks many local artists face regardless of stature. Their track VISA was directly inspired by this, as it illustrates how hard it is for musicians and creatives to secure the necessary visas and other needed documents to fly abroad and participate in overseas activities. This is why SB19 is taking their platform to the government with their support of a proposed bill for the local creative industry.
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SB19 and Senator Bam Aquino Team Up for a Bill for Creatives
In recognition of their historic performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago and Summer Sonic in Japan, where they were the first-ever homegrown Filipino act to perform at the former, as well as for their contributions to championing local creatives through their international performances, SB19 was recently honored with Senate Resolutions No. 545 and 573. It was during their time at the Senate that Senator Bam Aquino announced that he was preparing to file a bill seeking to further support the local creative industry through the establishment of a new agency to assist artists in their endeavors, especially those involving overseas activities.
Following the session, SB19 revealed that the bill has actually been a collaboration between the group, 1Z Entertainment, and Senator Aquino. The members met with the Senator several months ago and, spearheaded by Josh, presented him with the idea of establishing a dedicated agency for local creatives with the goal of supporting their activities that, for the most part, have often been self-driven with little help from government institutions.
The result of that meeting is the proposed Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy (PACE) Act, which aims to give Filipino creatives the dedicated institutional support that the industry has long been asking for by helping them go abroad and share their work with an international audience, which in turn also promotes Filipino culture and creativity on a global scale. The bill, which has yet to be voted on, has the support of the Department of Trade and Industry, and if it were to be passed into law, would establish a dedicated agency under the DTI.
Support Filipino Creatives
It’s a step in the right direction, as any Filipino creative can tell you how often they have to rely on themselves to get their work out there internationally, which does not come cheap. Whether it be music, art, graphic design, film, and the like, opportunities are hard to come by because of the lack of support. SB19 knows this firsthand and understands the challenges that come with bringing their work overseas and the lack of a dedicated government institution for the creative sector.
It’s admirable that the group is turning their support for P-pop and OPM into concrete steps that hopefully bring about positive change. But this isn’t just a way to help SB19, but Filipino creatives in general across several sectors.
Talent, creativity, and potential are abundant among local creatives. But the problem comes when they want to go abroad or are given opportunities to present their work overseas. The resources are few and far between, which is similar to other local industries, such as national athletes who aren’t given the proper funding and support to compete internationally. Oftentimes, creatives have to pay out of pocket, do it alone, or have to decline because they can’t afford it or can’t secure a visa in time.
In a society that has unfortunately deemed the creative sector as secondary and even tertiary to other fields, Filipino artists deserve support. Time and time again, Filipinos have proven they can make it on the world stage, and this bill aims to turn that into long-term support to ensure more artists can make it rather than becoming a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for select creatives.
Read the full bill here.
Featured Image and Photos: SB19 (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
The PACE Act is a proposed bill to create the Philippine Agency for the Creative Economy under the DTI. It aims to help Filipino creatives go abroad and share their work internationally.
SB19 collaborated with 1Z Entertainment and Senator Bam Aquino on the proposed bill. The members met the senator months earlier, and Josh led the pitch for a dedicated agency supporting creatives whose overseas work is largely self-driven.
“VISA” was inspired by how hard it is for musicians and creatives to secure visas and other documents to fly abroad and take part in overseas activities, the same obstacle the proposed bill aims to address.
The Senate honored SB19 with Resolutions No. 545 and 573 for their historic Lollapalooza performance in Chicago, where they were the first homegrown Filipino act to perform, and for their Summer Sonic performance in Japan.
No. The article reports the bill has yet to be voted on. If passed, it would establish a dedicated creative-economy agency under the DTI.
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