By Terence Repelente Images by Pinggot Zulueta In preparation for the National Arts Month (NAM), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) held a press conference at the lobby of the NCCA building in Intramuros, Manila. Led by its chairman National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, executive director Rico Pableo, and deputy executive director Marichu Tellano, NCCA dressed General Luna Street in a traditional Barrio Fiesta theme. A festive presentation from singer Joey Ayala, who sang NCCA’s NAM theme song “Ani ng Sining,” which featured different traditional musical instruments and Filipino folk dances, and a touching piece from spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo, among many other performances from various cultural workers opened the press conference. With the theme “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining,” which emphasizes the bounty of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers, the month-long fete will offer a wide array of events and activities that will show the diversity and richness of Filipino creativity. To give a glimpse of what’s in store for us, different sectors of NCCA, architecture and allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music, visual arts, headed by respected cultural workers, revealed snippets of their programs and events, which will run all throughout the month. But in an interview with the media, Chairman Rio Alma opened NAM with a protest and an advocacy. “Ang aking pangunahing instruction para sa pagdiriwang ngayon ay una, kailangan masangkot ang mga regions (My main instruction for this year’s celebration is that first, we need to involve the regions),” he said. “Ayoko ng celebration na nakapako lamang sa Metro Manila (I don’t want a celebration that’s limited to Metro Manila),” which is why, according to Rio, the programs are scattered all over the country, like the literary arts program Maartext, headed by Dr. Hope S. Yu, which will be held in the Bicol Region, Baguio City, Tacloban City in Leyte, Pampanga, Cebu, and Aklan. “Ikalawa, isama ang mga bata at estudyante sa mga eskwelahan (Second, we need to emphasize the inclusion of kids and students). For Rio, the children and youth sector are always the least one to benefit from the NAM, when in fact they should be the number one benefactor of it. “Kailangan maging kaagapay ang mga kabataan sa mga proyektong pangkaunlaran ng bansa (The youth sector needs to participate in nation-building projects),” he said. “Ito lamang ang paraan upang tunay na magamit natin ang kanilang lakas at talino (Only then can we really utilize their natural strength and intellect).” Rio stressed how the youth sector is one of the biggest in the country, and it is of really great importance that we should use them for the country’s overall cultural development, which is why, year after year, according to him, Arts Month should always be about creating avenues, opportunities, and stages for the younger generation. Rio also believes that putting importance to the development of education and arts appreciation for the young will give birth to a new kind of approach to culture. This transformation, or transition, of our cultural consciousness is Rio’s dream. What kind of transformation? Even Rio doesn’t know, but what he does know is that it will come after the development of education, through a fortified cultural system that will utilize all the regions’ artistic richness. “Sa totoo lang, ako mismo ayoko at hindi ako nasisiyahan sa ginagawa ko (In fact, I don’t even like what I do anymore),” he said. “Gusto ko ng pagbabago kung paano natin tinitignan an g ating sarili (I want a change on how we see ourselves).” New ways to look at ourselves, new ways to create, new ways to express—these are Rio’s cries. He is on a search for a new identity, one that will define the new landscape of Philippine culture. “Bagong pagkatha, bagong layunin, at mga bagong aral ang ating kailangan (New way of crafting, new goals, and new knowledge these are what we need),” he said. Rio believes that the Philippines, and everything in it, are a product of the imaginations and efforts of past revolutionaries such as Rizal and Bonifactio. And for him, that’s precisely what we need. “Palagay ko sapat na ang isang siglo upang baguhin muli at kathain natin ang Pilipinas (I think a century is enough for us to rebuild and recreate the Philippines),” he said. “Hindi na ako nasisiyahan sa lumang uri ng ating pagkatha, sa tingin ko (I have become dissatisfied with how we craft as a nation), we failed at fulfilling their imagination, so we need to reimagine everything.” Rio’s request to the Filipino artist is to work hard. Never be contended with what’s there, keep the hunger to create. While Rio agreed that culture and the arts don’t get the attention it deserves from the government, he swiftly said that there’s no other way but to make them realize its importance. “Kung hindi priotiy, e ‘di gawin nating priority (If it’s not a priority, then let’s make it a priority), he said. “Kapag iniwan lang natin sa ganito, walang mangyayari (If we just leave it as it is now, nothing will be achieved). Kailangan mabago ang status quo, at magsisimula yun sa pagsisikap ng mga manggagawang pangkultura (We need to break the status quo, it will start with the collective effort of all our cultural workers.” www.ncca.gov.ph