The Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation shows full support for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in its festive celebration of National Arts Month (NAM) 2019.

The NCCA, led by its chairman National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, Executive Director Rico S. Pableo, Jr., and Deputy Executive Director Marichu G. Tellano opened the 2019 National Arts Month celebration through a press conference on January 22, 2019 at the NCCA Lobby, Intramuros, Manila.

Manila Bulletin’s innovative project, Hatch showcased the creative artworks made by genius Filipino artists. Four Hatch artworks were displayed during the press conference: Maria Magdamit’s “Whimsical Circus”, Jingoy Salcedo’s “Fragile”, Carlito Ortega’s “Bintana”, and Danny Rayos del Sol’s “Karuzel”.

Hatch’s concept is to give life or transform an object into a dynamic form of art giving artists an opportunity to work outside the usual canvass and work with a 3D acrylic egg. 

Throughout the NAM 2019 celebration, Manila Bulletin released advertisements, news articles in their newspapers and social media accounts to show support to the Commission.

The Manila Bulletin continues to flourish in the last 115 years with its partnerships with governments, businesses, shareholders, and varied stakeholders. It is the second oldest newspaper published in the Philippines and the second oldest English newspaper in the Far East.

As the Philippines’ leading government agency for arts and culture, the NCCA spearheads the celebration under the theme Ani ng Sining and is conceptualized under the aegis of NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), led by its commissioner Teddy Co.  The theme of the Arts Month emphasizes the richness of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers.   

The month-long Ani ng Sining will offer a wide array of events and activities aim at celebrating a bountiful harvest of Philippine arts as well as inspiring Filipinos to immerse in and appreciate the diversity of cultural expressions, insights, and creativity.

Ani ng Sining: Philippine Arts Festival will be composed of the flagship projects of SCA’s seven national committees—Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Dramatic Arts, and Visual Arts—which will be held in different venues all over the country.

Apart from the opening in Bagac, NCCA also held opening ceremonies for NAM in the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, and Mindanao. For NCR, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila, hosted the opening on February 3, while in the Visayas, the municipality of Bago, Negros Occidental on February 11. Opening ceremonies will also be held in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on February 15, for Mindanao.

For the whole of February, expect a plethora of activities such as exhibits, workshops, shows, concerts, lectures, tours and others happening in different parts of the country. 

For more details, please contact Mr. Rene Napeñas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Office, through 527-2192 loc 208 or through email address ncca.paio@gmail.com.