Cebu opens National Arts Month with grand performances

Unlike in past years, the annual celebration of the National Arts Month was simultaneously launched in three major sites, namely Malolos, Bulacan in Luzon, Cebu City in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao.

Spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with this year’s theme "Ani sa Sining, Bahandi sa Kaliwat" (A Harvest of Art, Wealth of the Nation), the festivities in Cebu began with a parade of artists led by NCCA Philippine Arts Month Visayas coordinator Marlinda Angbetic Tan, NCCA Central Visayas visual arts coordinator Palmy Pe Tudtud, NCCA Architecture Central Visayas coordinator Ching Uy, and Cebu Arts Council representative Raul Arambulo. The walk started from the popular Fuente Osmeña Park and culminated at the Provincial Capitol’s beautifully landscaped grounds.

The lively festivities opened with an awesome harvest dance interpretation by the Tribu Basakanon, national winners in the 2007 Sinulog Festival in the Free Interpretation Category. Other performers included Merlie Alunan and the Bohol Literary Arts Committee performing heartwarming Visayan poems, the University of the Visayas Choral and the University of San Carlos Dance Troupe. Cebuana classical diva Yentell Ylaya Beltran sang romantic Visayan songs, and NCCA dance grantee Balletcenter performed excerpts from Peter Pan. 

Guests of honor were NCCA chairman Ambeth Ocampo and National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

In his keynote speech, Abueva narrated the historical progression of the different artistic disciplines in the Visayas, citing several Cebuanos whose valuable contributions led to the awareness, development and growth of the arts in the region.

The highlight of the colorful month-long series of events was the ceremonial lighting of the seven torches that represented the various disciplines: Elvis Somosot for music, Francita Pacana of the University of San Carlos Dance Troupe for dance, accomplished directors Benjie Diola and Allan Jayme Rabaya for drama, painter Celso Duazo Pepito and Palmy Pe Tudtud for visual arts, Lizeta Uy for architecture and allied arts, Bon Quirog and Prof. Merlie Alunan for literary arts, and director Bien Fernandez for cinematic arts.

Now in its 17th year, the National Arts Month celebration has successfully provided opportunities for the general public to access and appreciate the best of Filipino art and culture.