MANILA, PHILIPPINES — THE 2024 CCP Summit of Arts and Culture Advocates, a two-day confab participated by prominent artists and cultural leaders from all over the country, culminated in a collective commitment to continue strengthening linkages, collaboration, education, promotion, and propagation of Philippine arts and culture.
The summit coincided with the 55th founding anniversary of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and celebrated 45 years of initiating outreach and cultural exchange programs.
A roster of notable speakers, panelists, and facilitators led the collective voices of over 100 delegates in articulating concrete actions to maximize the progressive impact of the arts and culture sector on national development.
President of the Governors’ League and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. served as the keynote speaker on the first day of the summit.
Pundaquit Virtuosi artistic director Coke Bolipata, Gawad CCP awardee and singer-songwriter Joey Ayala, and Philippine Madrigal Singers choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio tackled the topic “Music and its Magic”. Pangalay master teacher and 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Ligaya Amilbangsa, Locsin Dance Workshop associate director Biag Gaongen, and National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin discussed the topic titled “When We Dance, We Live.”
The facilitators for day 1 were UP College of Music dean Dr. Pat Silvestre, UP professors Riya Brigino and Angela Baguilat, and filmmaker Elvert Banares.
The first day of the summit featured special performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, T’boli cultural master Maria Todi with Ma. Andrea Wanan Todi, and the RMMC Teatro Ambahanon.
The second day commenced with valuable discussions on the topics: Theater – an inspiring human experience; Film/Visual/Indigenous arts – powerful mirrors of cultural heritage; and Design – illuminating for a purpose.
A formidable lineup of guest speakers and panelists shared their creative processes, initiatives, challenges, and words of wisdom, including Pangasinan District 4 Rep. Christopher Toff de Venecia, principal author of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Law; former CCP artistic director-playwright and director Chris B. Millado; IPAG Philippines artistic director Steven P.C. Fernandez; Tanghalang Pilipino actor Toni Go; NCCA commissioner Carlo Ebeo; Tboli cultural master Maria Todi; Davao City visual artist Kublai Millan; filmmaker Zig Dulay; CCP trustee and lighting designer Monino Duque; Ternocon founding artistic director and set/costume designer Gino Gonzales; and sound designer Jethro Joaquin.
Dulay’s award-winning short film Black Rainbow was also screened, along with videos of Duque’s 50 years of lighting, Millan’s installation art The Most Dignified Carabao, and slides of Gonzales’ sample designs of various productions and projects.
The Sining Kambayoka Ensemble of MSU Marawi City performed an excerpt of “Si Pilandok,” and three new ternos by 2018 Ternocon double gold winner and Pampanga-based fashion designer Marlon Tuazon were showcased.
To cap the program, Manobo singer-songwriter and Katutubong Diva Bayang Barrios performed “Sarap ng Buhay,” with a dance performance by the RMMC Teatro Ambahanon, a Manobo lullaby, and Nangangalahati.
Several online satellite venues were set up for each session to allow wider participation from artists, cultural workers, and organizers from the regions.
The satellite venues were hosted by 14 institutions from the network of CCP’s Kaisa sa Sining regional arts centers to include Holy Angel University, Angeles City; Central Philippines University Iloilo City; Jose Rizal Memorial State University Dapitan City; Iloilo National High School, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges General Santos City, Biñan City, University of St. La Salle Bacolod City; La Salle University Ozamiz City; University of Sto. Tomas Legazpi City, Holy Name University Bohol, Holy Cross of Davao College, Marinduque State University, Ormoc City, and Hulma: Iligan Creatives Collective.
Facilitators Riya Brigino and Elvert Bañares gave a comprehensive synthesis of the two-day discussions, highlighting the most significant insights, learnings, and action points which the delegates brought home to share with fellow artists and cultural initiators in their communities.
The summit culminated with a cultural tour of the historic city of Malolos, Bulacan. Participants visited the Barasoain Church and museum; Casa Real heritage house with demonstrations of pabalat (pastillas wrapper cutting) and puni (leaf art); and the ancestral home of Dr. Luis Santos where works of National Artists, Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo Tolentino are displayed.
The summit was organized and implemented by the CCP through its Cultural Exchange Department, in partnership with the Dumendingan Arts Guild of Pagadian City, the city government of Malolos, with support from Sorpresa Buko Pie and Bakeshoppe, and Yormenok Busog na Manok.
