Story: JOSEPHINE M. MENDOZA
Photos: Calbayog Journal
Photos: Calbayog Journal
“Artists Kolektib is an occasion that links up artists who give life to our culture, the cultural workers, and educators throughout the island of Samar. . . in the years to come, as this assembly progresses every year, this is seen to help our artists grow to earn recognition in respective fields locally and worldwide,” City Mayor Raymund Uy says in his speech on the occasion of the first conduct of the convergence.
February is celebrated as the National Arts Month in the Philippines.
Calbayog City, made popular as the center for
culture and the arts
in Eastern Visayas, highlighted the celebrations by directly and actively engaging artists, cultural workers, educators and stakeholders in a Samar Island-wide event named “Artists Kolektib: A convergence of Samar-wide cultural workers, educators and artists of different disciplines.”
“The City Arts and Culture Office (CACO) conceptualized the convergence having seen the need for collaboration of artists and partnerships with the local government and other significant sectors throughout Samar Island, as well as in consonance with programs of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for this year’s celebration of the National Arts month,” CACO Officer-in-Charge Sally Roleda informed.
February is celebrated as the National Arts Month in the Philippines.
Calbayog City, made popular as the center for
culture and the arts
in Eastern Visayas, highlighted the celebrations by directly and actively engaging artists, cultural workers, educators and stakeholders in a Samar Island-wide event named “Artists Kolektib: A convergence of Samar-wide cultural workers, educators and artists of different disciplines.”
“The City Arts and Culture Office (CACO) conceptualized the convergence having seen the need for collaboration of artists and partnerships with the local government and other significant sectors throughout Samar Island, as well as in consonance with programs of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for this year’s celebration of the National Arts month,” CACO Officer-in-Charge Sally Roleda informed.
Further, Roleda told that the main objective of the event, being initial, is to make an updated and official directory of artists according to discipline for future collaboration, partnership and networking. Artists Kolektib also envisions to identify the kind of assistance the artists in each discipline will need and respective contributions that these artists can provide.
City Mayor Raymund Uy who led city government officials in attendance to welcome the guest speakers and the 295 participants in his message, said: “Artists Kolektib is an occasion that links up artists who give life to our culture, the cultural workers, and educators throughout the island of Samar.”
City Mayor Raymund Uy who led city government officials in attendance to welcome the guest speakers and the 295 participants in his message, said: “Artists Kolektib is an occasion that links up artists who give life to our culture, the cultural workers, and educators throughout the island of Samar.”
“In the years to come, as this assembly progresses every year, this is seen to help our artists grow to earn recognition in respective fields locally and worldwide,” Mayor Uy said by way of inspiration to the artists.
Raul Isidro, acknowledged as the first Filipino contemporary artist to recognize and document our indigenous designs and symbols, as guest of honor to the event, talked about his inspirations and experience in the field of visual arts that led him to fortune and fame. (separate article written)
To share prowess in his craft, Isidro worked on-the-spot. For less than an hour, he demonstrated to paint and filled a 4’ x 6’ canvas with colors. He called the painting “Yellow Sky.” The work is presently displayed at the walls of the CACO office.
Raul Isidro, acknowledged as the first Filipino contemporary artist to recognize and document our indigenous designs and symbols, as guest of honor to the event, talked about his inspirations and experience in the field of visual arts that led him to fortune and fame. (separate article written)
To share prowess in his craft, Isidro worked on-the-spot. For less than an hour, he demonstrated to paint and filled a 4’ x 6’ canvas with colors. He called the painting “Yellow Sky.” The work is presently displayed at the walls of the CACO office.
Lectures and demonstrations by established artists in different fields also formed part of the features of the convocation: Lucien Letaba for music; Aaron Kaiser Garcia for dance; Professor Catherine B. Rodriguez for theater and Professor Harold Mercurio for literary arts.
The day-long activity held at the city’s convention center on February 27, 2024 also aims to examine the artistic and creative production of art works on all disciplines in the context of Waray culture.
The day-long activity held at the city’s convention center on February 27, 2024 also aims to examine the artistic and creative production of art works on all disciplines in the context of Waray culture.
Retired university professor, Dr. Val Villanueva, Ph.D., who also established a name having a significant contribution to the field of visual arts in the city expressed his enthusiasm over the efforts of the city government towards a collaborative work with artists in creating works in the context of the Waray culture. He is concurrent Member of the Committee on Visual Arts of the NCCA.
“The visual artists will be needing a lot of information about our culture for them to be guided in their work,” Prof. Villanueva said and added that “talents should be nurtured and fostered with values in order for them to produce meaningful pieces of work in protection, promotion and upholding our culture.”
Dr. Villanueva also believes that orientation of Waray culture should start as early as the school years of an artist for a more realistic illustration of a concept which makes the participation of the academe in the event significant.
“The visual artists will be needing a lot of information about our culture for them to be guided in their work,” Prof. Villanueva said and added that “talents should be nurtured and fostered with values in order for them to produce meaningful pieces of work in protection, promotion and upholding our culture.”
Dr. Villanueva also believes that orientation of Waray culture should start as early as the school years of an artist for a more realistic illustration of a concept which makes the participation of the academe in the event significant.
As the City Mayor said in his speech, “Ang ‘Artists Kolektib’ ay hindi lamang isang kaganapan sa kalendaryo. Ito ay isang patunay ng matibay na diwa ng ating bayang malikhain.” (Artists Kolektib is not just another event in the calendar. It is a proof of the powerful spirit of our nation’s creative citizenry.)
CACO-OIC Roleda said that “Artists Kolektib” will be made part of the programs of the city government being geared towards upholding that powerful spirit of creativity in celebration of the artistic excellence or our artists without neglect to paying “tribute to the uniqueness and diversity of the Filipino heritage and culture,” with the guidance of the NCCA.(CJ/JMM)
CACO-OIC Roleda said that “Artists Kolektib” will be made part of the programs of the city government being geared towards upholding that powerful spirit of creativity in celebration of the artistic excellence or our artists without neglect to paying “tribute to the uniqueness and diversity of the Filipino heritage and culture,” with the guidance of the NCCA.(CJ/JMM)
