Galila Arts Festival set

MANILA, Philippines — The fourth district of Pangasinan will hold the Galila Arts Festival from March 10 to 19 to celebrate its “flourishing creative community,” Rep. Christopher de Venecia announced yesterday.

De Venecia said the word galila means “come and visit.”

“The true essence of galila is not fully understood by mere translation alone. You have to experience Pangasinan’s beauty and hospitality to know and encounter the weight and message that galila carries,” he said.

The festival is a 10-day multi-arts event at the historic Tondaligan Blue Beach in Dagupan and other participating venues, where culture and commerce meet to highlight the creative economy.

Among the activities are live painting competitions, public art activations, performances, film screenings, workshops and creative exchanges.

One of the events is the Bizarts Program, which brings together commerce and creativity by partnering with local artists for the creation of artistic spaces.

Festival director Jodinand Aguillon said they hope to inspire more exchanges, not only among local artists and audiences, but also from other creatives in the country wanting to explore the district.

“It’s magical when people from different practices and POVs collaborate or collide,” Aquillon said, referring to points of view.

The festival is a follow-up to the successful Anakbanwa Creative Residency Program launched in 2021 in the district, which provided a venue for creatives to immerse themselves in different communities, experience cultural heritage and learn from diverse practices.