Different provinces are hosting next month’s celebration of National Heritage Month by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Proclamation No. 439 of Aug. 11, 2003 declares May as National Heritage Month “in recognition of the need to create among the people a consciousness, respect, and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history, and love of country.”
Leading the celebration is NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Heritage (SCH), headed by Regalado Trota Jose. This year’s theme is “Taoid: Weaving Our Stories, Threading Our Paths,” which SCH says aims at giving Filipinos “a glimpse of the legacies of the past and how it remains to shape the present and the future.”
It is also “a recognition and celebration of the different aspects of our national cultural heritage—our traditional art forms and practices, important cultural structures both movable and immovable, and other objects of national importance whether tangible or intangible.”
The Heritage Month celebration has started early and will be observed throughout the year, according to the SCH.
On March 11-13, the National Museum and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines conducted assessment of sites in Capul, Northern Samar, for possible declaration as National Cultural Treasures.
On April 3-7, the National Heritage Month celebration was held in Mahatao, Batanes, coinciding with the Rakanen Festival. A heritage clinic was also conducted by the National Committee on Historical Research.
Heritage clinics were also conducted by the National Committee on Art Galleries; National Committee on Libraries and Information Services; National Committee on Museums; National Committee on Archives; and National Committee on Monuments and Sites; as well as technical assessment of sites for possible declaration as National Cultural Treasures on April 9-14.
From April 15-18, there were workshops on cultural mapping, art, festival management, theater, music and dance in Glan, Sarangani, as well as technical assessment of sites for possible declaration as National Cultural Treasures.
Tam-awan
The Tam-awan Village in Baguio City will hold the fourth Tam-awan International Arts Festival on May 15-19. It will feature a cañao, art installations, performances, exhibits, artists’ talks and cultural shows.
On May 20-23, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines will hold the Eighth National Convention of Church Cultural Heritage Practitioners in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.
Topics to be discussed include the cultural heritage of the church in Dipolog; Philippine liturgical music; church ceiling paintings; painting conservation in the country; conservation management plan; and conservation of stone-built churches.
On May 24-25, the Sarangani Bay Festival and National Heritage Month 2013 celebration will be launched in Glan, Sarangani, with heritage clinics conducted by the National Committee on Historical Research; National Committee on Art Galleries; National Committee on Libraries and Information Services; National Committee on Museums; National Committee on Archives; and National Committee on Monuments and Sites.
On May 31, the grand launch of the National Heritage Month as well as Gabii sa Kabilin will be held in Cebu City. This is a night-long tour of the 23 museums and 18 arts galleries in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue. An exhibit will also be mounted.
Steering committee
In June, workshops on cultural mapping, art, festival management, theater, music and dance will be conducted in Capul, Northern Samar.
On July 26-28, the Saluka Festival and National Heritage Month 2013 celebration will open in Capul, Northern Samar. There will also be heritage clinics and an exhibit.
In August, capability-building workshops will be held in Glan, Sarangani.
In September, workshops on cultural mapping, capability building, art, festival management, theater, music and dance, as well as technical assessment of sites for possible declaration as National Cultural Treasures will be conducted in Pudtol, Apayao.
On Oct. 8-9, the Say-Am Festival and the National Heritage Month 2013 celebration will be launched in Pudtol, Apayao. There will also be heritage clinics and an exhibit.
The Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI) will hold special events this May such as the traditional Santa Cruz de Mayo in Batangas City, Batangas, on May 29; Majayjay, Laguna, on May 26; Pampanga on May 22; and Cavite on May 16.
It will also organize a heritage pilgrimage on May 4 and 9; and a pahampang in Negros Occidental.
The steering committee is composed of Regalado Trota Jose, head of SCH and the National Committee on Archives; Imelda Loste, head of the National Committee on Art Galleries; Maria Nela Florendo, head of the National Committee on Historical Research; Antonio M. Santos, head of the National Committee on Libraries and Information Service; Dr. Jaime C. Laya, head of the National Committee on Monuments and Sites; and Antonio Julian Montalvan, head of the National Committee on Museums.
The NCCA is led by chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and executive director Emelita V. Almosara.
Call NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office head Rene Sanchez Napeñas at 0928-5081057, 5275529, 5272192 loc. 207-208; or Marga Madera, project manager, at 0949-9309265, 5272192 loc. 512. E-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com or nccaheritage@yahoo.com. Visit www.ncca.gov.ph.