NCCA set to open Philippine Arts Festival 2014 for National Arts Month
As the country’s main agency for the arts and culture, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), headed by its chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr., leads in celebrating National Arts Month with the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) in February.
Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts, PAF comprises mainly the flagship projects of the seven committees of the sub-commission — architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater and the visual arts. It aims to highlight the artistic talent and brilliance of the Filipinos. PAF activities will be held all over the country.
For 2014, PAF has taken the theme “Art on the Edge: Arts for Healing, Arts for All,” highlighting the advancements achieved in different art forms, the innovations, the modern evolution of art and the artistic creations in the peripheries.
The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by architect Gerard Lico, will hold several exhibitions, conferences, lectures and competitions on Philippine architecture and allied arts, collectively called Achi[types/texts] 2014.
The National Committee on Cinema, headed by Dr. Miguel Rapatan, will hold Cinema Rehiyon 6 in Cagayan de Oro City with screenings and forums that focus on the film productions from the regions. Independent filmmakers from Baguio, Pampanga, Calabarzon, Naga, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga and others will showcase their latest films.
The National Committee on Dance, headed by Shirley Halili Cruz, will present Sayaw Pinoy, the longest-running NAM project with a full house audience in every performance. Sayaw Pinoy will highlight the dance icons in the major venues of the event in the different cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The National Committee on Literary Arts, headed by Dr. Priscilla Macansantos, will mount the literary arts festival Taboan 2014: Philippine Literary Arts Festival, to be held at the Subic Freeport Zone from Feb. 24 to 26.
The National Committee on Music, headed by Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., will stage the Taal-Tunugan, wherein a new musical ensemble will be trained and then toured using musical instruments they made themselves from scraps and other recycled materials.
The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Lutgardo Labad, will hold Tanghal 2014, a theater festival highlighting the works and achievements of community and university-based theater groups.
The National Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Nemesio Miranda, will hold the Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PVAF), gathering visual artists from all over the country for a lineup of activities including conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, painting sessions and tours.
The opening ceremony, to be held in Roxas City, Capiz, on Jan. 31, will include performances and other activities that will afford attendees a taste of the seven arts and their sumptuous offerings.
Also of importance is the second Likha Asya festival and conference on community theater, creative industries and community-based tourism, 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 region, and similar groups in Asia striving for sustainable livelihoods.
The Ani ng Dangal awarding ceremony honors Filipino artists who are recognized with top honors in international awards, competitions and festivals. It will be held on Feb. 2, at the Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier.
For details, contact PAF media director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head, Rene Sanchez Napeñas at 527-2192 or 0928-5081057, visit www.ncca.gov.ph or e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com.