South Cotabato celebrates Arts Month

   The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through Arts, Culture, Tourism & Museum Development (ACTM) Promotions Unit, and the Local Culture & Arts Council (LCAC) annually celebrates the Arts Month. They have organized a series of art events for the whole month of February. The celebration is dubbed as “Tubas Taliambong” which comes from Hiligaynon terms - “tubas” or harvest and “taliambong”(sining) or arts/beauty.

   “The provincial government endeavors to motivate and solicit involvement in the arts and cultural sector to take active participation in providing opportunities for local artists which enable them to further develop their creative skills and talents. It also helps increase the (art) awareness of the people in South Cotabato through organizing these kinds of events,” said Indira Cagaanan, Tourism Operations Officer II of ACTM. 

   According to LCAC Vice Chairperson Carlito Uy, ACTM and LCAC have collaborated with the province’s artists and performers, to conduct various art events in South Cotabato. 

   For Theater Arts there will be a Drama Festival on February 16-17, 23-24, and March 2, 2019, at Koronadal National Comprehensive High School (KNCHS) Audio Visual Room. There will be an Art Exhibit on February 14-28, 2019, at KCC Mall of Marbel. There will be dance workshops on Contemporary and Folk Dance Workshop, as well as the 2nd Choral Workshop and Festival on February 25-26, 2019, at KCC Mall of Marbel; and Rondalla Workshop on February 25-26, 2019 at Gaisano Grand Mall; and Mural Painting activity on February 18, 2019, at KNCHS. 

   “I hope these events will give an opportunity for the people to look back and discover the rich culture and heritage of the locality, and celebrate its legacy, especially for the younger generation,’ said Carlito. “I also hope that the people will learn to value the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of our ancestors.”

   “We hope that the people will support all activities in this year’s Arts Month and thereafter,” Carlito added. 

   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 National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), country’s leading government agency for arts and culture, led by its chairman National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, executive director Rico S. Pableo, and deputy executive director Marichu Tellano, spur the National Arts Month celebration with multi-venue series of events. 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.

   As a tradition now for several years, the NCCA’s National Arts Month celebration will close with Ani ng Dangal awarding ceremonies. The Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) Awards recognizes artists who have earned international awards and accolades during the past year. The ceremonies will be held on February 27 at the Diamond Hotel, in Manila.