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Isabela celebrates first National Arts Month

The opening ceremony of the 2022 National Arts Month (NAM) celebration of Isabela town on February 14 was led by Mayor Irene Montilla together with several members of its Local Culture and Arts Council (LCAC) and its Tourism Office headed by Jacel Pineda.

Local artists and advocates converged to celebrate 2022 National Arts Month (NAM) in the town in its first-ever “SAKDAG TALIAMBONG: Mugna sang Matam-is nga Handum nga puno sang Paglaum, a weeklong celebration that aims to showcase the local culture and arts by uniting its people and artists thru the spirit of volunteerism while integrating arts in the community life.

The weeklong celebration also aims to conserve, promote and popularize Isabela townsfolk’ artistic craftsmanship; integrate the arts in the community life; provide opportunities for artists to harness their creative energies, especially during this time of public health crisis, calamities and disasters, to encourage artistic creation and or freedom, and to increase the conversation on social issues among communities.

It was organized by Isabela municipal government, Tourism Office and with Kuris Project, a youth-led pool of aspiring artists, advocates and leaders. The event gathered various aspiring and renowned artists in the said town for collaboration on art exhibitions and performances.

“We always want to create crafts and connect communities through arts and stories while working on with advocacies that are close to our (volunteers) hearts. Our community efforts were just realized in the time of the pandemic. In line with the celebration of NAM, we gathered artists and art enthusiasts to raise art awareness in the town, and to provide a platform to spread hope and to use art as a voice for social issues,” said Francis Ryan Pabiania, events’ executive director.

The event was kicked-off with SANLIBUTAN: Mugna sa Dalanon, an installation performance art that depicted issues of environmental destruction, natural calamities and recovery. The performance art was held on a giant tree that fell when typhoon Odette hit the town.

This was followed by a PASUNDAYAG, led by Montilla. Francis Ryan Pabinia who is also a member of LCAC was recognized as the culture and arts ambassador of the town.

Award-winning singers, dancers, fashion designers, and aspiring models flaunt their original compositions, advocacy-driven performances, and creations in a fashion show.

This included Isabela National High School – Special Program in the Arts students in Music who performed “Panibagong Simula”, their original song composition that won during the 9th National Performing Arts Festival for Music, organized by the Philippine Arts and Culture Educators Society. Also the Isabela Gay Association, Hiraya Dance Troupe, Rosalie Vales, also joined the list of performers.

Meanwhile, Social Artist Maria Rosalie Zerrudo who is known for her Super Inday Exhibit and cultural worker Rocky Nicor were the guest speakers.

Moreover, among other activities were mural painting that was in partnership with ARTisabeleno, an art exhibit displayed at SUR_Isabela, a photography exhibit at Rensel’s Kitchen. These exhibitions were titled, “TUBO KAG IBAN PA” to weave the narratives of the SweetHeart of Negros, and are on display until the end of February.

“KAON ‘TA,” a cooking demonstration was also held at Rensel’s Kitchen with Chef Mae Selene Puentespina-Resultay who showcased various locally sourced dishes highlighting spinach as main ingredient.

Chef Selene showcased Grilled Native Chicken with Kulitis Pesto, Creamy Kulitis Pesto Pasta, Kulitis Salad with Vinaigrette, Krispy Kulitis w/ Aioli sauce, and Kulitis Chicken Roulade.

Pagpakabana: ARTvocacy night gathered artists for an art jam and open mic on February 18.

To end the local celebration of the national arts month, SAKDAG TALIAMBONG featured award-winning films that have been screened in national and international film festivals, some were made by Isabela artists and filmmakers.

A total of 12 short films had a public screening at SUR_Isabela, showcasing various stories of hope, dreams, struggles, and among other related social issues.

Among of the closing films were Kahayag sa Kangitngit (Light in the Darkness) of Carl Joseph Lara who won BINISAYA Shorts Jury Prize in BINISAYA Film Festival 2021, a Cinema Rehiyon 14 Film Festival Official Selection, and “Buding, Ang Babayi Nga Naglutaw” (Buding, The Woman Who Floated) of Mark Raymund Garcia, one of three Negrense short films debut for exhibition in the Indie Nation Shorts section in Cinemalaya 2020. (PR)

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