MANILA, Philippines - Every February since 1991 has been celebrated as National Arts Month (NAM).
The different NAM activities were consolidated in 2007 into the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), mainly comprised of the flagship projects of the seven committees of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA)’s Subcommission on the Arts – architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater and the visual arts.
NCCA has taken the theme “Celebrating Icons” for next year’s PAF. Activities will highlight the different cultural icons of the country, emphasizing their enriching roles in our lives and identity as a people.
The seven committees of the NCCA are preparing a rich repertoire of activities.
The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by architect Gerard Lico, will hold exhibitions, conferences, lectures and competitions on Philippine architecture and allied arts, collectively called Achi[types/texts] 2013.
The National Committee on Cinema, headed by Miguel Rapatan, will hold Cinema Rehiyon 5 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, with screenings and forums focusing on film productions from the regions. The NCCA partners with pelikuLAB and the UPLB Foundation for Cinema Rehiyon, with the theme “Cinemas of Home” from Feb. 5 to 8. Independent filmmakers from Baguio, Pangasinan, Naga, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and others will showcase their latest films.
The National Committee on Dance, headed by Shirley Halili Cruz, will present Sayaw Pinoy, a touring dance concert showcasing the different dance forms (folk, ballet, hiphop and contemporary) by various dance companies to perform back to back with upcoming dance groups. Now on its tenth year, Sayaw Pinoy will highlight the dance icons in the major venues of the event in the different cities in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Sayaw Pinoy 2013 will have 30 performances in 30 different venues.
The National Committee on Literary Arts, headed by festival director Christine Godinez-Ortega, will mount Taboan 2013: Philippine Literary Arts Festival in Dumaguete City. Taboan 2013 will gather writers, teachers and students for forums, lectures, a book fair, literary readings, performances, food and arts & crafts exhibits, a cultural tour, satellite projects in 11 sites across the country, a literary contest for flash fiction and poetry, an awards ceremony for outstanding writers from the regions, and a closing program highlighting the Bisayan literary traditions, culture and arts.
The National Committee on Music, headed by Felipe de Leon, Jr. will stage Tunog-Tugan: First International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival in Dipolog City, Iloilo City and Baguio City. It will gather local and foreign gongs and bamboo ensembles for performances, lectures and workshops.
The National Committee on Dramatic Arts headed by Lutgardo Labad will hold Tanghal 2013, highlighting the works and achievements of community and university-based theater groups from Marikina, Albay, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro City.
The National Committee on Visual Arts headed by Nemesio Miranda will hold the Philippine International Visual Arts Festival in Camiguin with conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, painting sessions, tours, and many others.
Likha Asya: The First Asian Festival and Conference on Community Theater, Creative Industries and Community-Based Tourism for Sustainable Livelihoods is a cross-cultural exchange of experiences and expertise in the creative industries and cultural tourism between Lihok Bisaya, a cultural association of seven community-based cultural groups in the Visayas, and similar groups in Asia striving for sustainable livelihoods. It will be held in Bohol from Feb. 22 to 26.
Always the unsung heroes, artists and cultural workers will be honored with the Ani ng Dangal at Malacañang. It honors Filipino artists who are recognized with top honors in international awards, competitions and festivals.