Enchong is new Taoid envoy

MANILA, Philippines - Enchong Dee (photo) lends his support to Philippine arts and culture as he becomes the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) ambassador for heritage.

Enchong is a member of the Philippine national swimming team, who became a model and endorser, paving the way for him to be involved in showbiz. He appeared in many ABS-CBN dramas such as Tanging Yaman, Magkaribal, Katorse, Maria La Del Barrio, Ina, Kapatid, Anak and Muling Buksan Ang Puso; and films such as Sa ‘Yo Lamang, I Do and The Reunion.

What many don’t know is that Enchong is interested in heritage structures.

“I travel a lot,” says Enchong, “and whenever I go around, I make it a point to visit a place’s historical landmarks and heritage structures. I think these make a place unique and interesting. It is very important that these heritage structures are taken care of and preserved. I am glad that I was chosen as NCCA’s ambassador for heritage. As such, I can encourage and inspire people to appreciate these treasures.”

This month, the NCCA, headed by its chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Adelina Suemith, leads in the celebration of National Heritage Month. Awareness and preservation of heritage are vital in the construction and strengthening of our national identity, which will engender pride, enable us to overcome crises, and guide us towards progress. Because of these, Proclamation No. 439 was signed on Aug. 11, 2003, declaring the month of May as National Heritage Month. This is “in recognition of the need to create among the people a consciousness, respect and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history and love of country.”

The NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Heritage (SCH), headed by Rev. Fr. Harold Ll. Rentoria, OSA, has lined up activities for the whole month as well as beyond collectively called the 2014 Taoid Heritage Program Celebration. With this year’s theme, Pamanang Pinoy, it will give us a glimpse of the legacies of the past and how it remains to shape the present and the future. It is a recognition and celebration of the different aspects of our national cultural heritage — our traditional art forms and practices, important cultural structures both movable and immovable and other objects of national importance whether tangible and intangible. 

Enchong will also be a special guest at the Taoid 2014: Pamanang Pinoy Heritage Concert, which will be held tomorrow night at 7 at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. The concert aims to promote and raise awareness of the 2014 Taoid Heritage Program Celebration activities as well as to gather financial support for the rehabilitation of heritage sites devastated by recent disasters. The concert will feature Noel Cabangon, Joey Ayala, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the UP Singing Ambassadors and the NCCA Rondalla.