Miss Universe 2018 and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Art Ambassador Catriona Gray once again joins the celebration of the National Arts Month (NAM) for three consecutive years.

Gray was named as NCCA Art Ambassador in 2020 and began to partake in various arts and culture activities such as the KULTURA 101 with Catriona, “The Grand Reveal” featuring the Metropolitan Theater, Padayon: The NCCA Hour where she became one of the first and most viewed guests, and the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

Gray graces this year’s NAM press conference with NCCA’s new chairman and concurrent executive director of the National Archives of the Philippines, Hon. Victorino Mapa Manalo, NCCA executive director Oscar Casaysay, deputy executive director for administration and support services Marichu Tellano, deputy executive director for operation Bernan Joseph Corpuz, NCCA Subcommission on the Arts (SCA) outgoing commissioner Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino and incoming commissioner Dr. Arvin Manuel R. Villalon with the outgoing and incoming heads of the seven national committees: Architecture and Allied Arts outgoing head LAr. Zenaida DC. Galingan and incoming head Lar. Cathe Desiree S. Nadal; Cinema outgoing head Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino and incoming head Mr. Teddy Co; Dance outgoing head Dr. Shirley Halili-Cruz and incoming head Dr. Lordinio A. Vergara; Literary Arts outgoing head: Dr. Julieta C. Mallari and incoming head Mr. Niles Jordan D. Breis; Music outgoing head: Dr. Felipe M. De Leon Jr. and incoming head Mr. Arvin Manuel R. Villalon; Dramatic Arts outgoing head: Dr. Felimon B. Blanco and incoming head Mr. Eduardo P. Perez; and Visual Arts outgoing head Ms. Geraldine B. Araneta and incoming head Mr. Dennis E. Montera.

In recent years, Gray is joined by NCCA Music Ambassador KZ Tandingan and Sentro Rizal and Youth Ambassador SB19. 

This year’s celebration of NAM banners the theme “ANI NG SINING, BUNGA NG GALING.” The theme “galing” refers to excellence in the arts as both a source of bounty despite challenging times, and a product of the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers. In celebrating National Arts Month in 2023, “galing” alludes to artistic excellence as well as underscoring the capacity of the arts to heal, rebuild, and restore in a post-pandemic setting.

Promulgated by then President Corazon Aquino in 1991, Presidential Proclamation No. 683 declared February of every year as National Arts Month to celebrate the artistic excellence and pay tribute to the uniqueness and diversity of the Filipino heritage and culture.

For more details on this press release, kindly contact Mr. Rene S. Napeñas, Head, Public Affairs and Information Section through pais@ncca.gov.ph or 0945 788 5698. Visit NCCA Facebook page or log on to www.ncca.gov.ph