A cultural agenda for the new president

MANILA, Philippines - IT IS NECESSARY TO FORMULATE a national policy that fully recognizes and gives due importance to culture as the core and foundation of government’s political and economic policy; that considers fundamental the protection and fostering of the nation’s native and historical heritage; that takes a principled position on the advancement and solidification of a national culture based on the multicolored elements of ethnic and regional groupings as key national and democratic aspirations for the people’s welfare and well-being. On this basis, the following, among many others, are earnestly proposed:

1. The formation of a separate and full-fledged Department of Culture to oversee and manage the present cultural agencies of the government and to take the lead in undertaking all necessary tasks and efforts for the advancement of national culture and in protecting the interest of writers and all artists.

2. The establishment of a National Institute for the Creative Industries at the University of the Philippines to undertake cultural research, train cultural workers and design a national plan for genuine cultural education and its effective management in order for the public to benefit fully from any product of creative work, and to help in the full realization of the potentials of all writers and artists of talent.

3. Support for the potential of culture and creative work in economic production, meaning, invigorating literature, fine arts, architecture, music, dance, film and other arts as cultural or creative industries that are capable of generating sizable employment and export earnings, apart from promoting and enshrining national talent and dignity.

4. Promotion and empowerment of Filipino as the national language, symbol of unity, and most effective language of national education, while protecting ethnic and regional languages as important components of the nation’s cultural wealth and improving the teaching of English for practical and global requirements.

5. Financing undertakings for the protection and upkeep of the nation’s natural and cultural heritage not only in the interest of tourism but more importantly because these are symbols of national dignity and unity.

6. Designation of an official cultural coordinator in every municipality, city and province who shall be the representative of the Department of Culture and implementer of cultural projects in those places.

7. Training of teachers (especially teachers of language, literature and social studies) in the elementary school and high school, for them to become active representatives of effective cultural education; this apart from the enrichment of textbooks and references on proper and accurate cultural information and values. —VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO, National Artist for Literature; BIENVENIDO LUMBERA, National Artist for Literature; BENEDICTO “BENCAB” CABRERA, National Artist for Visual Arts; GEMMA CRUZ ARANETA, Chair, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission; ISAGANI R. CRUZ, representing Wika ng Kultura at Agham (WIKA); University of the Philippines Diliman Deans ZOSIMO LEE (Social Science and Philosophy), DANILO SILVESTRE (Architecture), and ROLANDO TOLENTINO (Mass Communication); ROMULO BAQUI-RAN JR., chair of the Filipinas Institute of Translation; VICTOR EMMANUEL CARMELO NADERA JR., UMPIL chair; PHILLIP KIMPO JR., LIRA, president; and GARY GRANADA