The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has lined up monthlong art fests across the nation in observance of National Arts Month (NAM) this February.
The celebration is spearheaded by the NCCA Subcommission on the Arts headed by its chair, Teddy Co, of the National Committee on Cinema.
Theme of NAM 2017 is “Malikhain. Mapagbago. Filipino.” “It underscores the creative and transformative dimensions of Philippine arts and culture,” said Co.
For the whole of February, Katig Writers Network Inc. will hold “Pagparibhong Magsusurat sa Leyte ug Samar,” consisting of poetry readings, lecture-forum on Ninorte-Samarnon writings, and book launchings in Samar and Leyte.
At University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, “Kwentong Bayan, Kaalamang Bayan” is being held for the whole month. Activities include an art installation exhibition, a night of folk music, a puppet retelling of popular Filipino legends, and a stage play.
The province of Bohol is also holding its NAM celebration to promote Bohol artists: “Visual Arts and Literary Explosion of Creative Transformative Art Works” (Feb. 16 to 18); and “Cinema Explosion of Creative Transformative Filipino Films” (Feb. 20 to 21) at Bohol Cultural Center. Bohol government will also launch the Abatan River Theater Space on Feb. 28.
Syano Artlink will hold Nature Encounter IV in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. There will be workshops on paper art, photography, mud-house making, community children’s theater and children’s dance.
The Bicol Arts Festival 2017 in Albay will have a three-day theater workshop to be facilitated by Cris Bongan and Eleanor Marco. A conference on dance pedagogy for teachers will be conducted by Ricky Marco and Sheila Marquez on Feb. 24-26 at Bicol University College of Education.
Dumaguete City will hold Kisaw on Feb. 10 to 28. Events include “Balitaw sa Tempurahan” at Rizal Boulevard on Feb. 17; “Teatro Kilat sa Tiangge” at the public market on Feb. 18 and 25; “Putting Tabing sa Terminal” at the Ceres Bus Terminal on Feb. 24; Daguit Arts and Crafts Trade Fair at Robinsons Mall on Feb. 25 to 28; and Tayada sa Parke.
Theater group Sipat Lawin will hold “Bantayog: Bata, Banta, Bantay, Tayo, Tayog,” Feb. 12 and March 3, at Bulwagang Sarimanok of National Arts Center on Mt. Makiling, Laguna. To be performed are fragments of such plays as Chris Millado’s “Ilokula” and “Buwan at Baril,” Rolando Tino’s “May Katwiran ang Katwiran,” and Rody Vera’s stage adaptation F. Sionil José’s short story, “Pragres.”
“Cinema Rehiyon 8 Reloaded” will be held Feb. 14 and 16 at the Sentro Oftalmogico José Rizal, Philippine General Hospital, and Rizal Hall, UP Manila.
Hubon Manunulat and Kasingkasing Press will hold “Magsugilanonay Kita: Second Western Visayas Mother Tongue Books Summit” on Feb. 18. Focus is on children’s books in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Aklanon.
NAM is ordained by Presidential Proclamation No. 683 in 1991. —CONTRIBUTED
Call Rene Napeñas of Public Affairs and Information Office at 09285081057, 5272192 loc 208; e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com.