DAGUPAN CITY -- The 4th district of Pangasinan has earned the distinction of being the "Creative Industries Hub" with five National Artists hailing from the province, according to Rep. Christopher “Toff“ De Venecia.
De Venecia said the people of Pangasinan are creative by nature with many famous artists tracing their roots from the province such as Gloria Romero, Barbara Perez, Carmen Rosales, Lolita Rodriguez Jhong Hilario, Donita Rose, Nova Villa, and De Venecia, a former child actor and theater actor.
But what made him more proud, De Venecia said, is the fact that several national artists of the country are from Pangasinan.
They are Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ (Film), Ryan Cayabyab (Music), F. Sionil Jose (Literature), Victorio Edades (Visual Arts), and Salvador Bernal (Theater Design).
FPJ and Cayabyab are from San Carlos, Edades and Bernal are from Dagupan, while Sionil Jose is from Rosales.
De Venecia, Deputy Majority Leader of the House and Chairman of the Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts also hails from Pangasinan.
His efforts to boost the creative industries include the launching of the ExplorePD4 website, social media pages, and photo contests to better recognize the 4th district throughout the Philippines, the building of San Fabian Rural Health Unit III into a modern mural, and San Fabian Biker's Den which have become tourist attractions.