REAPING now from crafting enabling laws on doing culture and heritage preservation here, Bohol gathers at the Acacia Garden at the Capitol this month to celebrate the National Arts Month themed “Ani ng Sining 2009”.
With capitol leading, Governor Erico Aumentado is delivering a special message for the occasion, one that may elaborate his stand on the role of art and culture in development.
Earlier, he was quoted saying “With our sustained and persevering leadership in the protection of our cultural heritage, we believe Bohol is on the road towards attaining its dream of a higher quality of life through eco-cultural tourism development as a major driver for progress.”
“Art is Right. Culture is a Human Right. Through our traditional and new songs, dances, poetry, dramas, visual arts, and modern media, we shall continue to protect this unending and God-given potentials of creativity and imagination and put them to good use for our people,” he shared earlier.
Through its Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) and the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council, the Capitol spearheads the monthlong celebration with national government agency mandated to spur country’s cultural development.
As the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) bannered “Ani Ng SIning 2009” for this year’s theme, Bohol rises to the occasion to make its celebration memorable.
TO be launched with a short program at the Capitol’s Acacia Courtyard, Tuesday, at 8:30 am, no less than Bishop Leonardo Medroso leads the opening prayers for the assembly.
At the program would be Bohol legislators led by the Chair of Arts and Culture Committee, the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council (BACH) and national resource persons doing the inputs on culture and heritage conservation.
BACH Chair Lutgardo Labad and cultural consultant states the celebration’s purpose while Bonifacio Quirog Jr. the SP secretary would share salient points of the new legislation on arts and culture code of Bohol.
The BACH Code, a local legislation on matters of local arts and cultural heritage preservation would be complemented by a special talk on the Philippine Heritage Bill.
No less than Heritage consultant Dr. Eric Zerrudo for the NCCA would share the national government’s policies on culture and heritage programs.
Filling the gathering with the dose of culture and arts would be the Holy Name University Diwanag Dance Theater and the Maribojoc Punta Cruz Cultural Collective through Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. and BANGON.
Governor Erico Aumentado is set to deliver a special message for the event to be facilitated by Code writer Mitzi Ibaya.
The program also kicks off activities that run until the beginning weeks of March.
Up on the charts are Bohol’s participation to the festival through an upcoming workshop on Printmaking on stencils and mono-print February 7, Visual Arts Exhibit on Bohol’s Cultural and Natural Heritage on February 12-28 at the HNU Photographic Museum; Bohol Pipe Organs Festival Concerts set February 15, 22, and March 1, Boholano Artists Works and Urna Exhibits on February 16-24 at the Bohol Cultural Center (BCC).
Also on schedule are artists talks and lectures on February 17-23 at BCC and the Search for Scholars to the Philippine High School for the arts in creative writing, dance, music, theater arts, visual arts at the Dr, Cecilio Putong National High School on February 26-27.
The month-long celebration culminates at the Punta Cruz Watchtower Theater featuring Loboc Children’s Choir, Tubigon Dance Troupe, Monodrama from Boholana USA, Pangalay Showcase and the Punta Cruz Cultural Collective performing Tawag sa Bantawan at 7 o’clock PM. (rachiu/PIA)