National Arts Month opens with a bang

MANILA, Philippines - The National Arts Month unleashed its opening salvo on Feb. 1 at the Rizal Park, Manila.

The MMDA Marching Band, Manila City Band, Jocson Band, Quezon City Band, St. Clement Brass Band, Pangkat Kawayan, Taytay Philharmonic Orchestra, Letran Chorale and Dance Troupe, Navotas Streetdance Group, San Juan Streetdance Group, Museo Pambata, Vanni dela Rosa, Jaime Gubaton, Menchu Arandilla, Amado Hidalgo, Danilo Santiago, Robert Deniega, Edgar Villaruel, Frank Cana, Roger Santos and Buds Convocar performed at the park’s central lagoon.

Tenor Nolyn Cabahug sang the national anthem followed by a string of performances from the Bayanihan Philippine National Folkdance Company, Lahing Batangan, Ballet Manila, PNU Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, UE Silanganan Dance Troupe, UP Dance Company, Sinukwan Performing Arts, the Philippine Ballet Theater, Earthsavers Ensemble, Professional Dance Teachers Association of the Philippines, Silliman University Kahayag Dance Troupe, Sining Bulakenyo, Powerdance, and the Quezon City Ballet at the Concert at the Park open-air auditorium. The Ramon Magsaysay Chorale, UE Chorale, Joey Ayala, and Nolyn and Liza Cabahug serenaded the audience.

There was also a balagtasan which featured poets Vim Nadera, Teo Antonio and Michael Coroza. Theater artist Frank Rivera read a poem.

The Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines held a mini fashion show, while excerpt of Edward Perez’s play Frendster was shown.

After the performances, the opening of NAM was officially declared by National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Vilma Labrador and executive director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.

NAM was also simultaneously launched in the cultural program Sining Gising on NBN 4.

On Feb. 2, NAM was celebrated at the Malacañang Palace. Vice President Noli de Castro struck the ceremonial gong to jumpstart the National Arts Month celebrations called Ani ng Sining sa Iba’t Ibang Sangay ng Pamahalaan, in which the arts will be brought to different government institutions. He was joined by DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Every Mondays of February, the NCCA will provide cultural presentations at government institutions to showcase a panorama of our rich cultural diversity and artistic expressions.

The NCCA, through the Office of the President, marked the beginning of the inter-agency National Arts Month celebrations during the flag raising ceremony dubbed Ani ng Sining sa Malacañang at Kalayaan grounds on Feb. 2.

The occasion was hosted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through the Office of the Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Singing the doxology Pambansang Dalangin ng Alagad ng Bayan was the Office of the President Chorale, Correctional Institution for Women Kalahi Chorus, Ramon Magsaysay High School Chorale. After the singing of the National Anthem, the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas followed led by DepEd Undersecretary and NCCA chairman Vilma Labrador. She was joined by the NCCA committee heads of Subcommission on the Arts, and NAM celebrity endorser Councilor Yul Servo, who is the chairman of the Culture and Arts Committee.

Guests were then ushered into the Malacañang Museum for the unveiling of an exhibit which featured the artistic harvests of the Kalahi Arts Workshops held at National Bilibid Prison, Correctional Institution for Women and Children’s Hospital.

For inquiries, visit www.ncca.gov.ph.