NCCA fetes artistic excellence in ‘Ani ng Sining 2019’

National Arts Month opening ceremonies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

Filipino artistry and creative genius are once again recognized as the whole nation celebrates National Arts Month (NAM).

As the country’s leading government agency for arts and culture, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) leads in the 2019 NAM celebration with the multi-venue series of events — “Ani ng Sining: Philippine Arts Festival” — emphasizing the richness of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers.

The month-long festival offers a wide array of events and activities aim at celebrating a bountiful harvest of Philippine arts as well as inspiring Filipinos to immerse in and appreciate the diversity of cultural expressions, insights and creativity. It is composed of the flagship projects of the seven national committees — Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Dramatic Arts and Visual Arts — and held at different venues all over the country.

Opening ceremonies are to be held in the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

For NCR, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila, will host the opening on February 3, while in Luzon, it will be in the municipality of Bagac in Bataan on February 8. Opening ceremonies will also be held in Bago City, Negros Occidental on February 1 for the Visayas; and Koronadal City, South Cotabato on February 15 for Mindanao.

NCCA is burgeoning under the leadership of Chairman National Artist Virgilio Almario, executive director Rico Pableo and deputy executive director Marichu Tellano,

Ani ng Sining is under the aegis of NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts (SCA) led by commissioner Teddy Co.

Architecture and Allied Arts

The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by Rogelio Caringal, will present “Loob at Labas: Talakayan at Pagpaparangya,” an exhibit and forum which will travel around the country to enhance appreciation and awareness on Philippine architecture from February 22 to March 21.

Cinema

The National Committee on Cinema headed by Co will hold the eleventh installment of Cinema Rehiyon Film Festival, a non-competition film festival which highlights some of the best works in the regions from February 23 to March 1 at Foundation University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Dance

Headed by Shirley Halili-Cruz, the National Committee on Dance will once again amaze the public with the month-long traveling dance concert series “Sayaw Pinoy” in different parts of the country, bringing together different dance forms such as classical ballet, folk dance, contemporary and modern dance as the country’s top dance companies perform with the local dance troupes of host cities and municipalities.

Dramatic Arts

The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Rossana Palm, will hold “Tampok,” convergences in the regions to gather and document the pioneers and key theater practitioners from February 27 to March 1 in Malabon (NCR); from February 26 to March 1 at University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna (Luzon); from February 28 to March 2 in Bohol (Visayas); and from March 2 to 4 in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental (Mindanao).

Literary Arts

The National Committee on Literary Arts, head by Hope Yu, presents “NAMnamin,” a convergence of food and literature from February 25 to 27 at The Orchid Gardens, San Fernando, Pampanga, with a food trip on February 27 in Angeles City.

Music

Headed by Mauricia Borromeo, the National Committee on Music will hold “Musicapuluan: Music of the Philippine Islands,” a music festival with performances, lectures and workshops that celebrates local music. It will be held in different venues—Baguio City on February 8; Catbalogan City, Samar, on February 1 and 8; and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on February 23.

Visual Arts

The National Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Edgar Talusan Fernandez, will mount the Philippine Visual Arts Festival in Manila from February 4 to 7. It will include workshops, art talks, exhibits and numerous activities that will highlight the works of visual artists around the country.

Ani ng Dangal

As a tradition for several years now, the NCCA’s NAM celebration will close with Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremonies, recognizing artists who have earned international awards and accolades during the past year.

Presidential Proclamation 683 signed in 1991 declared February as National Arts Month. Over the years, NCCA, as well as private and government agencies, has been organizing events and activities to highlight Filipino artistic brilliance and creativity.

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