Art, Culture and Peace: Koronadal City’s Arts Month Celebration

   The City Government of Koronadal, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), conduct Dungog: Ani ng Sining sa Mindanao (Philippines Art Festival). Koronadal City celebrates the Arts Month through conducting series of arts events that runs from February 14 to 16, 2019.

   “The National Arts Month is a nation-wide celebration. Koronadal City is one of the launching areas in the country to host this project. The preparation is quite heavy since there is an assemblage of activities that will be conducted such as strings and drums concerts, Sayaw Pinoy, and arts workshops for the seven art disciplines,” said Elric Batilaran, Event Manager of Dungog. “Working with the NCCA is a notable experience.” 

   Koronadal’s Arts Month celebration is not only a showcase of tangible and intangible culture of the region but also a representation of peace and friendship among the people living in Mindanao. The celebration is also a collaboration with the local artists and cultural workers in the region who continuously advocate for cultural diversity, preservation and promotion. 

   “I hope that everyone in our locality will realize the importance of Arts Month celebration. I hope the people, especially the younger generation, will enjoy the benefits that come from participating in arts and culture events,” Elric said. 

   “I invite the public to join us in our activities. Let us bring together folk art performers in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere. For the different art workshops, I hope to give the participants a better insight on culture and the arts and a better understanding on cultural heritage and tradition of other tribal communities. This event shall be a meeting place of culture, organized in the spirit of friendship, promoting and serving the cause of peace and non-violence thru cultural cooperation.” 

   The annual celebration of National Arts Month started with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683, in 1991, declaring February as National Arts Month. Over the years, NCCA, as well as private and government agencies, has been organizing events and activities to highlight the artistic brilliance of the Filipinos. The Arts Month celebrates the flare of the seven arts, which include Architecture and Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music, and Visual Arts.

The schedule of Activities: