Bring out the Filipino talent - Gordon

There would be no need to borrow other countries' talents if the country's leader would bring out the talent of Filipinos and guard their intellectual property rights,
Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) has pointed out.

Speaking at the 57th anniversary of Radio Mindanao Network, Gordon said Filipinos are very talented in creating literary masterpieces that there is no need for the country's television stations to borrow telenovelas from Korea and other countries.

"Why should we get Korean telenovelas and translate them into our language when we have our own stories here. Why should we copy from other countries so our television stations can use them here?" he said.

"Kung kaya nilang gumawa sa ibang bansa, kaya din ng Pilipino. Dapat lang na palabasin ang talento ng Pilipino," he added.

Gordon admitted that it is cheaper to get foreign telenovelas and translate them into Filipino but he pointed out that this practice is shortchanging Filipino novelists and scriptwriters.

"Nangongopya tayo sa ibang bansa only because it is cheap. Marami tayong mga kababayan na sumusulat ng libro, mga nobela, mga script at mga drama. Dapat nating palabasin ang talento ng mga iyan. Kailangan nating bigyan ng respeto ang mga artists natin dito," he said.

Gordon said the government should give incentives to encourage talented Filipinos to hone their crafts because it will also make the country proud if their talents will gain recognition abroad.

"Magaling ang Pilipino. Ang ating mga kanta at DVD umaabot sa ibang bansa gaya ng Saudi Arabia. Kayang-kaya nating lumahok at manalo sa mga timpalak sa ibang bansa kung ang lider ay kayang palabasin ang talento ng Pilipino," he said.