The Main Act

Envisioning a vibrant community of actors by 2030, AKTOR aims to empower the local entertainment industry and foster solidarity among peers in the Philippines

- Maritess Garcia Reyes

It all began with one big question: “What problem are we trying to solve?” Seasoned actor Dong Dantes starts to relate the story of AKTOR, of which he serves as its chairman.

This relatively young organisation is dedicated to elevating the Philippine entertainment sphere with initiatives centred on nurturing professionalism, contributing to nation-building, promoting cultural excellence and safeguarding the welfare of the community. Behind it is a league of Filipino actors led by Dantes, along with other prominent names in the industry.

“When AKTOR was born in May 2020, the world—and the industry—was in crisis. The pandemic had shut down productions, venues and opportunities. Our industry was on pause, but our needs weren't,” Dantes starts. It then became clear to him and his fellow actors what the industry lacked: an organised support system that could speak up, respond swiftly and provide structure in times of uncertainty. “We asked ourselves, 'Who do we turn to when the work stops? When our safety is at risk? When we're unsure about the future of our craft?'” he says, recalling the Zoom meeting that started it all with the 26 actors who were just as concerned.

Bound by fear and uncertainties of the future of their work and, more importantly, of their dreams, they asked themselves: What kind of future do they want to build for their industry—and for the generations after them? “That was the night we decided to formalise our community and form a guild. Perhaps others had come before us, but the needs of actors evolve with the times. We knew we had to respond to this moment—with agility, clarity and purpose,” Dantes says. And there and then, AKTOR came to life.