The ongoing Philippine Art Festival dubbed as “Sikatugyaw Festival,” which is an acronym for Sining, Kanta, Tugtog at Sayaw, is championing artists across all fields of the arts is now on its second year with Palawan Government as the host.
It is spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and is literally a venue for artists to showcase their masterpieces or hone their talents.
NCCA Executive Director Al Ryan Alejandre, in the press conference held before the grand opening last February 4 at SM City Puerto Princesa, explained that the festival honors and gives credit to all artists—-from visual to dance to musical performers, including those who want to learn arts.
“Marami kaming mga programs. We have competitive grants sa ating mga artists, may mga series of activities or proposal na puede sila mag-apply. At the same time may mga speakers’ bureau workshop sa ating mga artists. Example yung festival management, yung dance workshop so on and so forth. ‘Yun yung gusto namin sabihin na si NCCA andami nyung puedeng i-avail na mga services sa LGU, or yung mga groups. All you have to do is browse our website para makita yung mga activities. We are an agency na tumutulong sa ating mga artists, andaming puedeng gawin, puedeng maitulong sa ating mga artists,” Alejandre said.
Choosing Palawan as this year’s venue, to Alejandre, is a perfect choice for the commission. They saw that Culture and Arts program of the province is ready for this big project.
He expressed gratitude to the Provincial government in accepting the hosting for this year, and guaranteed that they will see and check all artists here who can become beneficiaries of their grants.
“I’m very happy that I’m back here. I was here way back 2004 and medyo malaki na ang pinagbago. Marami ng magagaling na artists, and we hope that we can collaborate and work with these talented artists in Puerto Princesa,” Alejandre added.
Aside from the grants and training they provide, the Commission added that it also provides assistance to artists in making proposals because it understands that many of these artists are not used to write proposals.
“May mga binibigay din kaming writeshop. Paano magsulat ng mga proposals para dun sa mga organizations at artists na hindi sanay sa pagawa ng ganung papel. Marami kung kailangan ng mga facilitator or spokesperson na kayang i-provide ni NCCA. Yun yung aming sinasagot, as long as may proposal na dumating doon sa commission,” NCCA Head for Visual Arts Edgar Fernandez said.
After the presscon, the grand opening ceremony took place at the City Coliseum with NCCA Arts Ambassador Catriona Gray as the main speaker.
Gray emphasized the importance of arts and culture in the country, and that became an edge for her when she competed in Miss Universe 2018.
“When I competed and represented Philippines, I want to tell a story, and I believe that the art allows us to tell us a story. They told us stories for those who come before us, and tell us stories of who we are, how we express our self, what we hold dear, our human experience that we have today,” Gray said.
The ceremony was highlighted by the grand performances of the Provincial Capitol Choir, to the Palawan Dance Ensemble, and numerous dance groups in the City, singers and a lot more.
But the major event was the recognition ceremony of the Provincial Government to selected local artists, patron of arts, and lover of the arts that helped shape the art scene of Palawan.
Among the awardees were: Nonoy Lanzanas for music, Sydney Loyola for Dance, Auraeus Solito and Dante Nico Garcia for Film, Yasmin Arquiza for literature, Lui Oliva, Jane Timbancaya-Urbanek, Dinggot Conde-Prieto, Jonathan Benitez, Pat Marquez, Bimbo Fernandez, Eva Valledor, Czarina Lim and a lot more. There are post humous recognition also given for Fe Tria Fernandez, John Christian Jardin, and Sr. Tess Medalle OP.
All awardees received a customized trophy made of Ipil wood created by one of the awardees, Alvin Bayking.
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