By Edwin P. Sallan, InterAksyon
Jose Javier Reyes is at the forefront of a newly-launched Artists Against Animal Cruelty campaign by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.
As part of PAWS’ campaign that aims to encourage artists in the entertainment industry to speak out against animal cruelty in the making of films, TV shows, commercials and theater plays, the award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter recently shot a commercial for PAWS.
In the commercial, Direk Joey takes responsibility for every cast and crew member involved in the making of his films and television shows. He also notes that animals used in his films are given the same treatment as human actors.“Anumang pang-aabuso ng mga hayop ay hindi bahagi ng pagiging alagad ng sining. (Any kind of animal abuse is not part of being an artist),” he further declared.
During PAWS’s “Bon apPETit” fund-raising luncheon held at the Vikings Venue at SM by the Bay, the director further discussed his involvement in the campaign hashtagged #CrueltyIsNotArt where he cited the case of last year’s controversial Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Oro” where two dogs were killed during filming.
Reyes said there is absolutely no excuse for killing the dogs or any living creature, for that matter and suggested that modern technologies like CGI can make even non-existent animals like dragons come alive and seem real on TV shows like “Game of Thrones.”
PAWS position on encouraging everyone to speak up against animal cruelty is that “Art should never be an excuse to hurt animals on set or on-screen. Not only is it inhumane, it is also a crime because it violates the Animal Welfare Act or Republic Act 8485.”
In addition to the outspoken director who is an avowed animal lover himself, actress Carla Abellana is also revealed to be another spokesperson for the Artists Against Animal Cruelty campaign and also did a commercial that PAWS will release soon.
Other celebrities that graced the PAWS’s “Bon apPETit” luncheon together with their respective pets included Alice Dixson, Aiza Seguerra and wife Liza Diño-Seguerra, sisters Janice and Gelli de Belen, Janice’s daughter Inah de Belen, theater actor Audie Gemora, YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos, rising young actress Alexa Ilacad and Kuh Ledesma’s daughter, Isabella Gonzales.
Watch Direk Jose Javier Reyes’ commercial for PAWS’ Artists Against Animal Cruelty campaign here:
