Legal basis and regulatory framework
- The circular is issued to promote the welfare and protect the interests of entertainers being recruited and hired for overseas employment.
- The guidelines are issued to implement Rule VIII, Book VII (Certification of Entertainers) of the Rules and Regulations on Overseas Employment, as amended.
- Sanctions for violations by agencies and entertainers are anchored on the Rules and Regulations on Overseas Employment.
- Sanctions involving talent managers build on the additional effect of CHIME sanctions and a separate disqualification consequence regarding dealings with PECC.
- Transitory rules reference Paragraph (h), Section I, Rule II, Book II of the Rules Governing Overseas Employment and the licensing requirements of the Licensing and Regulation Office.
Coverage and persons bound
- The guidelines apply to all Filipino entertainers seeking overseas employment.
- The guidelines apply to licensed private employment agencies engaged in the recruitment and placement of Filipino entertainers for overseas employment.
- Only entertainers certified by the Philippine Entertainment Certification Center (PECC) are eligible for overseas employment.
PECC structure and policy mechanisms
- A special unit called the Philippine Entertainment Certification Center (PECC) is created at the Manpower Registry Department, Workers’ Assistance and Adjudication Office.
- PECC undertakes the function of auditioning and certification of entertainers for overseas employment.
- PECC operates as a joint undertaking with the private sector represented by the Chamber of Industries in Music and Entertainment (CHIME).
- A PECC Advisory Committee is created to assist in effective policy formulation and implementation relative to certification.
- The Director of Workers’ Assistance and Adjudication Office serves as Chairman of the PECC Advisory Committee.
- The PECC Advisory Committee supports pre-qualification for the Board of Auditioners pool based on specified criteria.
Certification as prerequisite for deployment
- Overseas employment of entertainers is conditioned on audition and certification by PECC.
- Only entertainers who are duly auditioned and certified by PECC are eligible for overseas employment.
- The certificate issued by PECC is valid for 3 years.
- The certificate is renewable, unless it is sooner revoked.
- Presentation of the certificate is a pre-requisite for:
- processing travel exit passes at the Contracts Processing Department; and
- obtaining departure clearance by the Labor Assistance Center at the Manila International Airport.
Auditioners: pool, qualifications, and Board
- PECC establishes in the PECC a Pool of Auditioners from which the three (3) members of the Board of Auditioners are drawn.
- Board members are designated by the Administrator from among the nominees of CHIME, and are pre-qualified by the PECC Advisory Committee based on the stated criteria.
- Auditions are conducted before a Board of Auditioners composed of three (3) members drawn from the Pool.
- The identification of Board members for a particular audition session is done by drawing lots at least two (2) days before the audition session.
- The Secretariat ensures Board representation from:
- (1) entertainer-auditioners,
- (2) instructor practitioner-auditioners, and
- (3) manager/agents-auditioners.
- Auditioners must have adequate experience and expertise in their specific entertainment sector.
- Auditioners must be Filipino citizens.
- Auditioners must have good moral character.
- Experience requirements for auditioners are five (5) years, specifically:
- for entertainers: professional experience in the local entertainment circuit or overseas;
- for instructors or professors and professional practitioners: experience as dance, song, or music instructor or professor in a reputable school of music or dance or entertainment production firms;
- for talent managers: experience in the management and/or training of talents for overseas or local employment; and
- for agency staff: experience in the actual booking and employment of talents locally or overseas.
Conflict rule: prohibition on manager-auditioners
- An auditioner engaged in overseas deployment of talents as a talent manager, promoter, or agency manager must inhibit participation in any Board of Auditioners if the auditioner has any talent to be auditioned before that particular Board.
- Violation of the inhibition rule results in removal of the auditioner from the pool.
Entertainer categories and scoring standards
Entertainers are categorized for audition and certification as:
- Singers,
- Dancers,
- Musicians,
- Novelty Act Performers,
- Showgirls, and
- Self-contained Performers.
Audition criteria use the following percentage weights:
SINGERS (Individual/Group):
- Tonal Quality/Harmony: 30%
- Rhythm and Tempo: 30%
- Phrasing and Diction: 20%
- Stage Personality/Showmanship: 20%
DANCERS (Individuals/Groups):
- Timing/Musicality Visual Appeal: 30%
- Technique Precision: 30%
- Projection Technique: 20%
- Stage Personality Projection: 20%
MUSICIANS:
- Expertise and Technique: 20%
- Tonal Quality (Musicianship): 30%
- Rhythm, Tempo and Flow: 30%
- Projection or Showmanship: 20%
NOVELTY ACT PERFORMERS:
- Mastery: 30%
- Impact: 30%
- Costume and Props: 30%
- Showmanship: 10%
SHOWGIRLS:
- Visual Appeal: 30%
- Production Value: 30%
- Projection: 20%
- Precision: 20%
SELF-CONTAINED PERFORMERS (Individual/Group):
- Tonal Quality/Harmony: 30%
- Phrasing and Diction: 20%
- Rhythm and Tempo: 30%
- Stage Personality/Showmanship: 20%
Passing grade and audition process
- Certification eligibility requires an entertainer to obtain a total of seventy percent (70%) from any two members of the Board of Auditioners.
- An individual entertainer or a CHIME accredited agency or manager applying for an entertainer or group of entertainers must fill up and file a PECC REGISTRATION FORM with the Secretariat.
- After filing the Registration Form, the applicant must pay an audition fee of P10.00 at the Application Counter.
- Upon payment, the applicant is issued an official receipt and an Audition Schedule Advice stating the audition date and venue.
- On the audition date, the applicant must present to PECC staff:
- the official receipt for the audition fee, and
- the Audition Schedule Advice.
- Immediately after audition, the applicant may check with PECC staff the result.
- The applicant is furnished the original copy of the Audition Rating Form.
- The Audition Rating Form is accomplished by the PECC staff in triplicate based on an individual Auditioner’s Report of Rating prepared by the three Board members.
- Two other copies of the Audition Rating Form go to PECC records and to CHIME.
- An applicant who passes must claim an Artists’ Accreditation Certificate by reporting to PECC Secretariat on the claim date indicated in the Audition Rating Form.
- Certificate claim requires presentation of the Audition Rating Form and payment of a certification fee of P30.00 at the Certificate Claim Counter.
- If an applicant fails to appear for or fails the audition on the audition date, the applicant forfeits the audition fee.
- If an applicant desires to audition later after failing, the applicant must undergo the full procedure again.
- Re-audition is allowed if the applicant files an application for re-audition after one week from the date of the first audition to allow practice and improvement.
- For re-audition, the audition procedure applies as in the filing and audition steps described for regular applicants.
- If the applicant fails the re-audition, a third audition is allowed only after one month and after proper training.
Testimonial accreditation for certain artists
- Professional artists with records of performances in first class venues such as five star hotels or clubs and/or ocean-going luxury liners and/or those who have gained popularity in their category may apply for testimonial accreditation.
- Applicants for testimonial accreditation must submit a formal letter request addressed to the Chairman, PECC Advisory Committee, with:
- a duly accomplished PECC Registration Form;
- proof of performance in first class venues such as:
- a Certificate of Engagement/Performance issued by a responsible officer of the venue; or
- copies such as news clippings, newspaper or magazine ads, brochures, or souvenir programs; or
- proof of performance in special shows or concerts, if any; or
- copies of tapes, records, record jackets, musical arrangements, or special awards or citations, if any;
- photographs; and
- an endorsement letter from CHIME.
- The Secretariat evaluates and verifies documents within two (2) days from receipt of the application.
- If documents are in order, the Secretariat prepares a recommendation to the Chairman for grant of testimonial accreditation.
- The Secretariat communicates appropriate advice on the decision of the Chairman to the entertainer-applicant.
- Applicants who meet requirements must pay a testimonial certification fee of P50.00 prior to issuance of the certificates.
Replacement of lost accreditation certificates
- An entertainer who lost an Artists’ Accreditation Certificate may request a replacement by filing a letter request with the Secretariat.
- The request must be accompanied by an affidavit of loss detailing the circumstances leading to and surrounding the loss of the certificate.
- If managed by a talent manager or agency, confirmation of the loss by the manager or agency must be sought.
- If the request is found meritorious, a new Artists’ Accreditation Certificate is issued upon payment of a replacement fee of P100.00.
- A replacement certificate may be issued only once.
- Subsequent loss subjects the entertainer to new audition.
Sanctions and disciplinary consequences
- Violations of the guidelines by agencies, including involvement in false documentation of entertainers or tampering or faking of PECC documents, are subject to appropriate sanctions under the Rules and Regulations on Overseas Employment.
- Violations of the guidelines by entertainers, including involvement in false documentation or tampering or faking of PECC documents, cause disciplinary action and imposition of appropriate penalties under the Rules and Regulations Governing Overseas Employment.
- Violations by a talent manager, including involvement in false documentation or tampering or faking of PECC documents, result in:
- sanctions imposed by CHIME, and
- disqualification of the talent manager from transacting business with PECC.
Transitory rules and replacement deadlines
- Effective October 1, 1985, only talent managers duly registered by CHIME can transact business with PECC.
- Effective 01 January 1985, only agencies certified by the Licensing and Regulation Office as meeting the specialization requirement for deployment of entertainers overseas can transact business with PECC.
- Effective January 1, 1986, all PECC Artists’ Accreditation Certificates issued before July 15, 1985 (yellow cards) become null and void.
- Holders of yellow cards must surrender the yellow certificates at the PECC Secretariat for replacement together with a replacement fee of Twenty Pesos (P20.00) only.
Repeal clause and effectivity
- All previous memorandum circulars issued by the Administration relative to the certification of entertainers are repealed.
- The guidelines take effect on 15 July 1985.