Charter day celebration begins: Cebu City holds first Arts Week

CEBU, Philippines - In celebration of National Arts Month, the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) is holding its first Arts Week, which started yesterday and will continue until Friday, to develop the Cebuano’s talent in art.

The Arts Week formally opens the 80th celebration of Cebu City Charter Day, said CHAC Officer-in-Charge Bryner Diaz.

“Ato gitagaan sila og panahon aron ma-develop pud ilang mga talent with respect sa arts, unya manghangyo ta nila nga mosuporta ini atoang programa kay para man ni sa ilaha (mga artist), ug para pud ni sa mga tao sa Cebu City,” Diaz said.

The weeklong celebration which opened yesterday evening with a folkdance competition, and the start of the exhibition of artworks made by Cebuano artists that would be displayed until Friday, Diaz said.

All the events for Arts Week are being held at the Plaza Independencia.

Today, Diaz said they have prepared activities fitting for Valentine’s Day like portrait sketching and poetry.

“Naa ka sa Plaza Independencia, suroy ka ngadto, makakita ka sa artist, pwede ka magpa-sketch sa imong kaugalingon or magpa-sketch ba sa imohang lover. Kung ganahan ka mas romantic kamong duha magpa-sketch mo,” Diaz said.

The portrait sketching fee would depend on the artist, he said. But it would be cheaper than getting it done in the malls.

At night, there will be a Gugma sa Balak, ug Balak sa Gugma event which would feature Cebuano poets. CHAC has also invited Leo Lastimosa of ABS-CBN Cebu, and Ahmed Cuizon, Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 7 to participate in the event.

On February 15, CHAC will hold an art seminar where the street children in the care of Task Force Street Children would be introduced to art.

As one of the supporters of the celebration, Diaz said the University of San Carlos – School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design will conduct a lithography lecture in the afternoon of February 15.

Everyone is also welcome to attend another set of art talks and lecture-demonstrations that will happen on February 16 at 9 a.m.

“Kinsa’y ganahan mangadto, magpa-seminar how to draw, how to paint, adto na didto mahibaw-an na nila… This is open to all, wala ni siya’y bayad,” Diaz said.

The highlight of the art celebration is the on-the-spot painting of the scenery around Plaza Independencia on February 17, Diaz said.

Winners of the painting competition would receive P50,000 for the first placer, P30,000 for the second placer, and P20,000 for the third placer, Diaz said. —/JBB (FREEMAN)