#MINDANAO
John Tria
ILIGAN CITY — Walking along the halls of a major shopping mall in this northern Mindanao city, I see a large art exhibit. What impressed me was that near the exhibit were restaurants that serve wonderful native food and a music store that offers a rather substantial constituency of musicians. A lot of creativity and culture in one place and in a single afternoon! I can imagine how, if consolidated and promoted well, the creative industry can drive livelihoods for thousands, in this city alone.
If there is one thing that should be an added driver to our growth, it is the creative economy. In the country, it is defined in Section 3 of Republic Act 11904 or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act or PCIDA as “trades involving persons, whether natural or juridical, that produce cultural, artistic, and innovative goods and services originating in human creativity, skill, and talent, and having a potential to create wealth and livelihood through the generation and utilization of intellectual property.” This includes different types of media including the digital space.
The PCIDA law prescribes governmental support and development of this industry through programs and activities such as marketing and promotions, research and development and shared service facilities that industry participants can avail of. It also involves protection of intellectual property.
This will harness the innate creativity of Filipinos. Around the world live musical performers in music lounges are Filipinos. I chanced upon them many times in my travels. If these bands, artists, designers are promoted and harnessed further I am sure there will be hundreds of thousands of Filipinos- natural artists all, will gain competitive and sustainable livelihoods that bring out the best in these individuals.
At the local level where I reside, the principal implementing agency of this law, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) can organize efforts in line with regional creative industry development councils to strengthen implementation of the industry development roadmap in their respective areas, in collaboration with various local governments, academic institutions and business groups. Sometime in late 2022, the DTI promulgated the implementing rules and regulations. Its time to fast track its implementation.
What can be done to further deepen this governmental support is for mainstream business groups to harness the power of this industry, by matching enterprises engaged in the industry with other industries such as manufacturing to enable scaling production of and promotion of products with a strong cultural value. Moreover, cultural products, events and interests can strengthen the tourist draw of our spots. Many tourists relish watching a local cultural show or cooking demonstration, displays of visual and performing arts. Its all part of satisfying the natural curiosity of the traveler, and validating and giving flesh to wonders merely read about or seen on social media reels and Instagram posts.
As I returned to Davao I realized that many Mindanao cities and provinces are culturally rich, and their diversity and history serving as truly fertile soil for creativity. Sample the cuisines and you’ll see why. A Mindanao flavor twist to Filipino food is a definite delight, with fresh ingredients combined with spices enhance and elevate its dishes. Its dance, music, garments and fabrics tell the stories and weave the dreams of a people that the world is beginning to get to know much better. Its cultural warriors both visual and digital can help us discover new ways of looking at old worlds and our children's future.
Thus, Mindanao's potential as a creative industry stalwart in ASEAN stems from its diversity, it is a cultural powerhouse that will emerge over the coming years.