Eastern Visayas rolls out Arts Month activities

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 15  -- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and a local partner have lined up several activities to celebrate the National Arts Month this February.

The activities, under the National Committee on Literary Arts’ Maartext, include poetry and theatrical performances, interactions with critics, writers, and other cultural workers.

Activities will start on February 16 through “Pagpasamwak” (announcement), a live streaming poetry and musical performance of writers and artists from the region, which will be held at the city’s KBox Studio.

“Songs and poems using languages of Eastern Visayas people which are Winaray, Cebuano-Bisaya and Inabaknon will be performed by our local artist,” Jen Garcia, Katig-uban han mga Magsusurat han Sinirangan Bisayas or Katig (group of Eastern Visayas writers) president said.

On Feb. 20, a book and zine fair of Eastern Visayas writers called “Merkado Sinirangan Bisayas” (Eastern Visayas market) will be held at the University of the Philippines Visayas-Tacloban Campus.

Inside the zine are compilation of selected poem and literary piece of local artist which can be bought for only PHP15 each.

From Feb. 22 to 26 “Kaliding han Siday” (wheel of poetry) will be held in 11 different areas in Eastern Visayas to be hosted by local government units.

“Kaliding han Siday” features poetry reading by members of Katig and local artists from the host local government, arts exhibit, book and zine display and book introduction will start in Naval, Biliran.

Other participating local governments in this event are the towns of Carigara and Dulag in Leyte province, Ormoc City in Leyte, Catbalogan City in Samar, Borongan City in Eastern Samar, Baybay City, Calbayog City, and the towns of Catarman and Capul Island in Northern Samar.

A lecture on forum on Eastern Visayas literature and imagination primarily delivered in Waray called “An Pinulungan ngan Imahinasyun” (the language and imagination) will be held at that University of the Philippines-Tacloban campus on Feb. 26.

During Feb. 26 culmination day, Katig members will hold a short story writing workshop at the same venue.

With the activities lined-up for the celebration of the National Arts Month, Garcia said members of Katig hopes that youth in Eastern Visayas will develop interest in enriching their knowledge and talent on Region 8’s literature and help in preserve local culture and history.

“Our long term of goal is not only for the youth to have interest on our local arts and culture but also for us to share it with them so that they can share it to other youth in the future and for more people to recognize and appreciate our own literature,” Garcia said.

The annual celebration of National Arts Month started with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683, in 1991, declaring February as National Arts Month. Over the years, NCCA as well as private and government agencies organize events and activities to highlight the artistic brilliance of the Filipinos. (RTA/PNA)