Sand, sea and art in Boracay

BORACAY , Philippines  – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) held last week what it hopes will be an annual celebration of Filipino talent and creative imagination.

Seven visual artists from Iloilo, Siquijor, Cebu, Samar, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City and Zamboanga City painted banners representing the seven arts. The artist from Kalibo painted the banner of Aklan culture.

Ross Capili, project director of the Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PIVAF) 2010, said they chose to launch the project in Boracay because of the distinct way of life in the island. 

“Boracay has the niche market for this kind of event, with the many local artists who seem to be confined to tattoo and t-shirt art. We want them to explore art beyond tattoos and t-shirts,” Capili said.

“The idea is to inject art in Boracay, so that people would think that there is more here than swimming and partying,” he added.

Capili said they hope future celebrations will include song, dance, photography, even poetry, and the participation of foreign artists.

Lorna Fernandez of Hugis Kulay Zamboanga made a banner for Cinema; Jefferson Bangot of Davao City did Dance; Florence Cinco of Calbayog, Samar, Literary Arts; Michelle Lua of Cagayan de Oro Art Guild, Visual Arts; PG Zoluaga of Bacolod and Marisol Alquizar, Dramatic Arts; Audie Estrellada of Grupo Suquijor, Architecture and Allied Arts; and Javy Villacin of Pusod-Cebu, Music.

Ricky Molo, with students from Northwestern Visayan Colleges International Pre-School and Learning Center, made the banner for Aklan culture.

The PIVAF also had body painting and sand sculpture with ecological themes.

The PIVAF is one of the highlights of the Philippine International Arts Festival, a celebration of National Arts Month this February with the theme “Ani ng Sining” (Harvest of the Arts).

Another PIVAF at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City with artists from Luzon ends today.