MANILA, Philippines - visitors and locals will have a delightful artistic feast this month as The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) celebrates National Arts Month (NAM) the whole month February, with the theme “Pride of Place.”
Instead of holding the Philippine Arts Festival, the NCCA is spurring local government units, schools and non-government organizations to mount events in their communities for the celebration of NAM, promoting local culture and arts and featuring the talents, performances and creativity of the many artists and arts groups around the country.
The activities and events are spread out from Luzon to Mindanao, comprising performances, exhibits and workshops. Several projects are festivals of different art forms, involving several activities. ?
In Manila, the Lyceum of the Philippines is holding Kultouravan: The Lyceum of the Philippines Cultural Caravan involving students and artists. Several cultural activities will be held in Intramuros and Rizal Park on Feb. 9 to 14.?
In La Union, the Saint Louis College of San Fernando will hold the Tawid Taoid: Bridging Cultures on Feb. 9, 10 and 20 to promote arts and culture to students. Exhibits will feature the works of visual arts students. Launching in campuses, the works will tour the province for wider audience. ?
In Burgos, Ilocos Norte, the local government will mount Panagkaysakaysa: Ti Umili Ti Kultura Ken Sining from Feb. 16 to 21 promoting the town’s heritage through different art forms. ?
The town of Liliw in Laguna, known for its slipper-making industry, will hold the Sining Tsinelasan sa Liliw to tell legends and stories about the local industry through theatrical presentations and an exhibit at the Plaza Gat Tayaw Covered Court. ?
The Ligao National High School of Ligao City in Albay will have Hablon: Habi ng Sining sa Paaralan at Komunidad comprising forums, workshops and a theater performance from Feb. 21 to 26. ?
The Kanlaon Theater Guild recognizes the artistic contributions of artists and cultural groups and institutions in the province of Negros Occidental through Ani: A Harvest of Traditional and Contemporary Artistic Expressions in Negros Occidental on Feb. 18 and 19. It will include the performance of Circulo, a “breakdance theater” with the members of Critical Breakdance, a Bacolod-based hiphop/break dance crew; the sarsuwela Gugma nga Indi Mapunggan; a musical by Armin Paredes on the 1898 Al Cinco de Noviembre event; the plays Baganihan, Si Iska nga Permi Handa and Pedro Kalungsod; a fashion show focusing on the local wraparound skirt patadyong; and a monologue by an Ati group.
Also in Bacolod City, Ani Dos will highlight the harvest of creative works of the Maskara Theater Ensemble, Santermo Writer’s Group and the La Salle Chorale with the special participation of the Jean Baptiste Dance Company. The performances on Feb. 19 and 20 will feature poetry of Filipino writers and Visayan folk songs.
Farther south in Mindanao, Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro City will hold Panag-hugpong 7: Xavier Arts Festival until Feb. 25. This year’s edition of the school’s annual arts festival will feature a visual arts exhibit, theater performances, dance, choral music, string and wind instrument ensemble performance and lectures. ??
Two literary events will happen in Bulacan and Camarines Sur. The town of Baliuag in Bulacan will pay tribute to its most prominent writer, fictionist, playwright and poet in Filipino Pedro Dandan, who was born in Baliuag. His works will be showcased in musical and dance performances in different parts of the town. ?
On the other hand, Bikol literature will be spotlighted in the fifth mounting of the Pintakasi Kan Literaturang Bikolnon on Feb. 20 in Pili, Camarines Sur, spearheaded by the Altamarino Clasio High School. The event will include the Aklat Ani Bikol Book fair, a creative writing workshop and a poetry reading and literary performance session in an effort to promote Bicol literature and hone the skills of Bicol writers. ?
In Paombong, Bulacan, 13 local visual artists will be highlighted in an exhibit.
Meanhile, Angono in Rizal, which is known for the abundance of visual artists, will put the spotlight on an icon of Filipino music – National Artist Lucio San Pedro. On the occasion of San Pedro’s 102nd birth anniversary, there will be performances of music, poetry and different art forms on Feb. 11.??
The NAM celebration will be highlighted by the Ani ngDangal awards on Feb. 12 at the Old Senate Hall of the National Museum. The Ani ng Dangal Awards recognizes artists, cultural workers and works that have earned international awards and accolades during the past year.
It will be headlined by actress and politician Vilma Santos, who won the Best Actress trophy at the 2014 Dhaka International Film Festival for the Jeffrey Jeturian film Ekstra.?She leads more than 50 awardees this year.
The awardees’ trophies, clippings and ephemera will be featured at the Ani ng Dangal exhibit, which will be unveiled at the event. The exhibit will be mounted at the SM North Edsa from Feb. 13 to 20, SM Megamall from Feb. 21 to 27, and at the Rizal Park at Feb. 28.
Some of the awardees will give performances: Philippine National Folk Dance and Aleron Choir on Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. at the Rizal Park; the Xtreme Dancers, the Bayanihan and Novo Concertante on Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Rizal Park; Halili Cruz Ballet, Novo Concertante, SLU Glee Club and The Crew on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at SM North Edsa; and the A Team, UPSA, SLU Glee Club and the Bayanihan on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at SM Megamall.?
The closing ceremony for NAM will be held at the Rizal Park on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. featuring performances by Novo Concertante, Sinukwan Kapampangan Performing Arts, Xtreme Dancers, A Team and guests representing the different arts.
Aside from these local art events, outreach performances are set in Balanga, Bataan on Feb. 20 and in Malolos, Bulacan on Feb. 23. Ani ng Dangal exhibits will be featured in SM North EDSA on Feb. 13 to 20 and SM Megamall on Feb. 21 to 27.
For details, email ncca.paio@gmail.com or visit www.ncca.gov.ph