MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ newly minted Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante revealed his plans for the cultural arm of the government for his term until December 2022.
“One thing that I have to focus [on] will still be to finish the full restoration of the Metropolitan Theatre,” he told adobo Magazine in an interview.
Chairman Escalante shared his pride in the theater’s state-of-the-art technology, surround sound system, cinema facility, rivaled only by the Sydney Opera House when it comes to seating capacity.
He also wants the theater to go beyond cultural shows and stage plays. Due to its accessibility, partnering with universities around the area is also something he’s keen on. Also in the works is whether a part of the theater would be commercialized to generate additional funds.
Chairman Escalante has been overseeing the restoration project ever since his stint at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which he also chairs.
Apart from this, defending the commission’s budget and reviewing and revising the rules on the selection of National Artists are a few things on his plate. According to him, the rules on the selection have been reviewed and they have identified areas that can be enhanced. This year, eight new National Artists have been named: Agnes Locsin for Dance, Salvacion Lim-Higgins for Design, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Nora Aunor, and Ricky Lee for Film and Broadcast Arts, Dr. Gémino H. Abad for Literature, Professor Emeritus Fides Cuyugan Asensio for Music, and Tony Mabesa for Theater.
On decentralizing the concentration of power in Metro Manila, the Chairman assured that regions are well-represented in NCCA’s structure. He also said that the Quincentennial Commemorations in 2021 was done in Visayas and Mindanao regions. The pandemic also gave way for the activities of the NCCA to reach nationwide and even worldwide via live stream, he added.
When asked what role culture plays in establishing the identity of Filipinos, the chairman said, “Para isang bansa umunlad, kailangan niya munang magkaisa and I think culture is a unifying factor.” (In order for a country to progress, it needs to unify and I think culture is a unifying factor.)
Summing up, the chairman said that it is a source of pride how talents and excellence become apparent in cultural activities.
“[The] promotion of culture and the arts to the extent that we will be competing in popular and world stages would really elevate our identity, our status as a nation.”
