The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will lead the celebration of the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) next month, which is National Arts Month, according to Presidential Proclamation 683.

NCCA chair Felipe de Leon Jr. said the theme this year is “Celebrating Icons.”

Activities will highlight the different cultural icons of the country, emphasizing their enriching roles in our lives and identity as a people, explained executive director Emelita V. Almosara.

PAF will consist of the flagship projects of the seven committees of the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts—architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theater and the visual arts.

The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by Gerard Lico, will hold several exhibitions, conferences, lectures and competitions on Philippine architecture and allied arts, collectively called Achi[types/texts] 2013.

The National Committee on Cinema, headed by Miguel Rapatan, will be holding Cinema Rehiyon 5 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna, with screenings and fora that focus on the film productions from the regions. Partners are pelikuLAB and the UPLB Foundation Inc.

Cinema Rehiyon, which has the theme “Cinemas of Home,” will run Feb. 5-8.

Independent filmmakers from Baguio, Pangasinan, Naga, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and others will showcase their latest films. Film curators, festival programmers and film enthusiasts will be in attendance.

Sayaw Pinoy

The National Committee on Dance, headed by Shirley Halili Cruz, will be presenting Sayaw Pinoy, the longest-running NAM project with a full-house audience in every performance. It is a touring dance concert showcasing the different dance forms (folk, ballet, hip-hop and contemporary) by various dance companies performing back to back with upcoming dance groups.

Now on its 10th year, Sayaw Pinoy will highlight dance icons in the major venues of the event in key cities around the country.

Sayaw Pinoy 2013 will have 30 performances in 30 different venues with at least 30 dance groups.

The National Committee on Dance will also be preparing a video documentation of 25 dance icons from the different regions.

Taboan writers fest

The National Committee on Literary Arts,  headed by Precy Macansantos, will hold Taboan 2013: Philippine Literary Arts Festival, in Dumaguete City. Vice head Christine Godinez Ortega is festival director.

Taboan will gather writers, teachers and students for fora, lectures, a book fair, literary readings, performances, food and arts and crafts exhibits, a cultural tour, satellite projects in 11 sites across the country, a literary contest for flash fiction and poetry, an awards ceremony for outstanding writers from the regions, and a closing program highlighting Bisayan literary traditions, culture and arts.

The National Committee on Music, headed by NCCA chair Felipe de Leon Jr., will be staging the Tunog-Tugan: First International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival in Dipolog City, Iloilo City and Baguio City.

The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Lutgardo Labad, will be holding Tanghal 2013, highlighting the works and achievements of community- and university-based theater groups from Marikina, Albay, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro City.

The National Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Nemesio Miranda, will be holding the Philippine International Visual Arts Festival in the island province of Camiguin. Lineup of activities includes conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, painting sessions, tours.

The opening ceremony of the 2013 PAF will be at Quezon Memorial Circle.

Likha Asya

Also of importance is the Likha Asya: The First Asian Festival and Conference on Community Theater, Creative Industries and Community-Based Tourism for Sustainable Livelihoods, a cross-cultural exchange of experiences and expertise in the creative industries and in 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 livelihood. It will be held in the island province of Bohol, Feb. 22 to 26.

Always the unsung heroes, artists and cultural workers will be honored with the Ani ng Dangal. Held at the Malacañang Palace, the awarding ceremony has served as one of the culminating activities of the PAF since 2009. It honors Filipino artists who have earned top honors in international competitions and festivals.

Call PAF media director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office head Rene Sanchez Napeñas at tel. 632-5272192 or  0928-5081057.  Visit www.ncca.gov.ph; e-mail [email protected].