‘Lakbayin ang Sining’: A journey to the unique experiences in Philippine arts and culture

COMMEMORATING four decades of the CCP Outreach Program, Lakbayin ang Sining: Readings in Creative and Cultural Work in the Philippines, launched virtually last March 12, 2021, takes readers on an exciting journey to the unique and inspiring experiences in Philippine arts and culture.

The book features the narratives, testimonies, and heartwarming stories about arts and cultural work in the Philippines as recounted by Filipino artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations from various provinces and communities nationwide. It seeks to inspire the present and future generations of artists and community organizers and to instill in them the value, importance, and wisdom of cultural work. The publication also provides a venue for artists, cultural workers, and community leaders to relate how their organizations and communities grew, evolved, and survived the challenges of cultural work. More significantly, Lakbayin ang Sining serves as an invaluable source material on Filipino art and culture for students, teachers, scholars, academics, and researchers.

During the launch program, CCP

President Arsenio J. Lizaso and Vpartistic Director Chris B. Millado delivered their special messages. Similarly, video performances by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, RMMC Teatro Ambahanon, CPU Handbell Ringers and the Baao Children and Youth Choir, and readings by Rosalie Zerrudo, Dr. Steven Fernandez, Dulce Obusan, Coke Bolipata, and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Antonette Go and JV Ibesate (who also emceed the program) of excerpts from their contributed articles were interspersed in the proceedings. The launch was attended in zoom by the contributors aand other distinguished guests from the CCP Outreach network. A special sign language interpretation of the livestream program was also provided by Nicky Templo Perez and Mark Jayobo from the Tagapagsalin ng Wikang Senyas Workers Cooperative (TWS-WC).

CCP Cultural Exchange Department Manager and Executive Producer of the book, Carmencita “Chinggay” Jasarenobernardo, remarked: “Completing this book was made harder by the global onslaught of COVID-19 in the middle of production work. Nevertheless, our commitment to our contributors and the readers transcended the pandemic, hence we prevailed. We are too excited about each and every story told and we are thankful that we can finally share it with the public.

Edited by Alejandro D. Padilla and designed by Paul Pagunsan, the book highlights for its cover Leonardo “Bing” Cariño’s artwork billed as MINTODA (short for Mindanao Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) Series. It is the General Santos City-based artist’s tribute to the tricycle, a major mode of public transportation in Mindanao and other parts of the country.

Copies of Lakbayin ang Sining can be ordered and purchased online through the FB page of the CCP Shop.