02.26.2015
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by its chairman Felipe M. de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Adelina M. Suemith, the prime government agency for arts and culture, has been supporting cultural events in the country.
Even after spearheading the celebration of the National Arts Month in February, the NCCA lines up activities which it supported for the summer months of March and April. March will be kick-started by the Saamat Festival, organized by the Basilan Cultural Communities Association, from March 2 to 6 in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
From March 11 to 13, public librarians will gather in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, for the 2nd International Conference on Public Librarians, a three-day conference tackling the role of digital libraries in the regional integration era and its importance in providing digital library services. Meanwhile in Baguio City, the Training Workshop on Disaster Risk Management for Libraries and Information Centers will be held from March 18 to 20 to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks for libraries and information centers as well as promote safety consciousness among Filipinos.
Watch Komedi at Eleksyon from March 16 to 28, mounted by the DLSU Harlequin Theater Guild. Written by Rody Vera and directed by Raffy Tejada, the satirical musical promotes voter’s education as well as educates the audiences on Philippine democracy and good governance.
From March 25 to 27, MAHLAP will hold the 27th National Congress and Seminar Training-Workshop in Davao City, emphasizing on the new standard evaluation tools being used by PAASCU, PACUCOA and ISO.
On March 31, Tawid di Litagwan will happen in Bauko, Mountain Province.
From March to June, Destiyero Theater Commune will mount Acts of Reclamation: Performative Criticisms in Manila. It is six-show dramatized investigation taking inspiration from video documents that became part of a collective consciousness of Filipinos.
In Holy Week, the first week of April, experience traditional Filipino Holy Week by trooping to Cainta, Rizal, to watch a senakulo. Mounted by Samahang Nazareno, this will be seven-night presentation that starts from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday focusing in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
From April to May, watch the commemoration of the Battle of Balisong in Pilar, Capiz, an annual pageantry depicting local history—the chivalry, bravery, courage and heroism of Pilar folks whose creative sprit defeated the Spanish colonizers/invaders at the Balisong Hill.
Also from April to May, Kamalig: Visayas Theater Craft Development and Capability Building Workshop will be held at the Negros Museum and University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The month-long workshop includes courses on playwriting, scenography, acting and directing. On the other hand, on April, May and December, Save the Babailan: Women Playwrights International will be held in Davao, Marawi, Iligan, Palawan and Bagui.
On the third week of April, join the celebration of the Kalan-Onon Festival in Sapian, Capiz. The festival portrays the way of living of Sapianons with street dancing and cultural parade at the start of the festival and the festival dance competition, which is the most anticipated activity, participated in by the barangays of the municipality.
From April to November, Sining at Habi 2015 of the Luzon Arts and Culture Network will be mounted. It is an “interweaving and interfacing” of projects and activities among the cultural network in Luzon through collaborative skills training, research, performances and international conference. Among the events are Fluid States Conference; Malvar, musical theater production in Malvar and Tanauan, Batangas; and at the Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna; research about komedya in Ramon, Isabela; Sinopsining Arts Management Workshop; and the Mandudula Directing Workshop for Teachers.
For more information, contact the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head, Rene Sanchez Napenas at (632) 527-2192 or 0928-5081057; or email us at ncca.paio@gmail.com.
