NCCA gets ready for Philippine Arts Festival 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines celebrates the National Arts Month (NAM) for the whole month of Februrary of every year. Since 1991, when Presidential Proclamation 683 was signed declaring February as National Arts Month, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the country’s prime agency for the arts and culture, has been spearheading the celebration, initially with activities centering around the National Capital Region until they spread out to the regions. Now, NAM activities are being held all over the country.

The different NAM activities of the NCCA were consolidated and given a certain format in 2007, coming up with the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF). Now, the PAF is mainly comprised of the flagship projects of the seven committees of the NCCA’s  sub-commission on the arts — architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater and the visual arts.

Under its chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr., and executive director Emelita V. Almosara, CESO IV, the NCCA has taken the theme “Celebrating Icons” for next year’s PAF. Activities will highlight the different cultural icons of the country, emphasizing their enriching roles in our lives and identity as a people.

The seven committees are preparing a rich repertoire of activities and events: the National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts headed by architect Gerard Lico; the National Committee on Cinema headed by Dr. Miguel Rapatan; the National Committee on Dance headed by Shirley Halili Cruz; the National Committee on Literary Arts headed by its vice head and festival director Christine Godinez-Ortega; the National Committee on Music headed by Prof. Felipe de Leon Jr.; the National Committee on Dramatic Arts headed by Lutgardo Labad; and the National Committee on Visual Arts headed by Nemesio Miranda.

Also of importance is the Likha Asya: The First Asian festival and Conference on Community Theater, Creative Industries and Community-Based Tourism for Sustainable Livelihoods, a cross-cultural exchange of experiences and expertise in the creative industries and cultural tourism between Lihok Bisaya, a cultural association of seven community-based cultural groups in the Visayas region, and similar groups in Asia striving for sustainable livelihoods. It will held in the island province of Bohol from Feb. 22 to 26, 2013.

For details on the activities and schedules, contact the PAF media director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head Rene Sanchez Napeñas at 527-2192 or at 0928-5081057.  Visit www.ncca.gov.ph or e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com.